23 Mar Expanding Opportunities for All programme

All seven boroughs that make up the West London Alliance (WLA) collaborate to improve digital connectivity for residents and businesses. Through the WLA’s digital programme, we are pursuing the shared aim of using cutting-edge technology to provide improved public services, reduce inequality and cut carbon emissions. So far, the WLA has secured around £10m in funding for key digital projects designed to unlock further investment and remove barriers to building the integrated advanced fibre and wi-fi networks which will support a modern, thriving economy, driving innovation, growth, productivity and long-term employment opportunities.

Through the Expanding Opportunities for All programme, we are developing better ways of working with telecom operators, making it quicker and easier to improve mobile networks. As the number of connected devices and amount of data used continues to soar, it’s essential to add capacity to mobile networks so they can keep up with this ever increasing demand.  Activity has included moving to an open-access approach, which allows assets, such as street lighting columns, to be used by multiple operators to host equipment that maximises connectivity. The open access approach is championed by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT).

This is delivering results with two boroughs having signed a long-term open access agreements with telecoms operators that will ensure improvements in mobile connectivity continue.  The Councils will provide access to lighting columns operators to deploy small cell technology used by Mobile Network Operators to increase mobile coverage and capacity, offering residents and businesses world-class connectivity.

The package is further supported by WLA’s Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator, one of eight DSIT pilots developing digital asset management solutions for mapping and brokerage of publicly owned assets for use in the rollout of wireless communication networks. This means that residents and businesses can access faster and more reliable services sooner and will be well placed to reap the economic and social benefits of next generation technology.

David Francis, Director of West London Alliance, said: “The WLA’s digital programme is supporting boroughs to adopt new ways of working with operators and sends a message that West London is ‘open to access.’ This will not only improve mobile connectivity for all, but create opportunities to tackle digital exclusion and support business innovation, by ensuring residents and businesses can access affordable, secure and reliable connectivity.”