Page 41 - SAMENA Trends - April-May 2021

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Marsh argues that a broadband speed Affordable Internet for All (AAIA) Act, calls of policy recommendations that it made
definition built on symmetrical speeds for $80 billion to be awarded through a last week that included recommendations
could dramatically expand the locations competitive bidding process and would about broadband infrastructure funding.
deemed “unserved” and could lead to some require funding recipients to deploy service The association, which represents fixed
areas being unnecessarily overbuilt while supporting symmetrical gigabit speeds – a wireless providers, also argued against
leaving fewer dollars to support areas in target that essentially would require fiber a symmetrical services requirement for
greater need. Fixed wireless technology to the premises. The Fiber Broadband any broadband funding program and
can easily deliver 100 Mbps downstream Association has argued that if the AAIA argued that priority should be given to
when deployed using C-band spectrum, proposal is adopted, funding should only communities that have no broadband over
Marsh notes. (AT&T was one of the biggest go to fixed wireless if no provider bids to upgrades to existing broadband. AT&T’s
winning bidders in that auction.) But she deploy fiber broadband. Marsh argues, fixed wireless advocacy underscores the
adds that “wireless networks are not built though, that requiring funding recipients importance that the technology is gaining
to deliver symmetrical speeds, so any to deploy fiber would increase deployment in providers’ plans – not just the small
mandate around symmetrical performance costs and “there is no compelling evidence rural WISPs but also major broadband
could undermine the delivery of these that those expenditures are justified over providers. And those major broadband
efficient and robust technology solutions in the service quality of a 50/10 or 100/20 providers have considerable influence over
hard to serve areas of the country.” One of Mbps product.” The Wireless Internet federal policymakers.
the proposals for broadband infrastructure Service Providers Association (WISPA) took
funding, known as the Accessible, a position similar to Marsh’s in a broad set

BT To Increase and Accelerate FTTP Build to 25m
Premises by the End Of 2026

Openreach, the wholly-owned, indepen- deliver further shareholder value by fund- to 25 million homes and businesses to de-
dent fixed access infrastructure arm of BT, ing the additional 5m premises through liver further value to our shareholders and
is building Fiber-to-the-Premises (“FTTP”) a joint venture with external parties and support the Government’s full fiber ambi-
faster, at lower cost and higher quality will explore joint venture structures over tions. “This has three massive benefits:
than anyone else in the UK. In the last year the first half of the current financial year. it allows us to go faster, beefing up our
Openreach passed a record 2m premises Commenting on this additional FTTP build, capacity to build fibre to households and
with FTTP. Openreach now believes that Philip Jansen, Chief Executive, BT Group businesses; it allows us to go further, get-
it has the capability to reach around 4m said: “BT is already building more full fi- ting fiber to more people including in rural
premises a year. Given this build confi- ber broadband to homes and businesses communities, and; it will help fuel UK eco-
dence, encouraging take-up on the current than anyone else in the UK. Today we are nomic recovery, with better connectivity
FTTP footprint, the regulatory clarity pro- increasing our FTTP target from 20 million and up to 7,000 new jobs.”
vided by OFCOM’s Wholesale Fixed Tele-
coms Market Review (“WFTMR”), coupled
with the Government’s recent cash tax
super-deduction and the positive outcome
from the recent 5G spectrum auction, BT
has decided that the conditions are right to
increase and accelerate its total FTTP build
from 20m to 25m premises by December
2026. Openreach will start its ramp up to
4m premises a year with immediate effect.
BT has the capacity to fund this additional
build entirely from internal resources while
continuing to stand by its other priorities,
including investing in 5G and its modern-
ization program, committing to a mini-
mum credit rating of BBB flat, supporting
the BT Pension Scheme and reinstating
its dividend in the current financial year at
7.7 pence per share. BT believes it could

41 APRIL-MAY 2021