In the world of digital infrastructure it’s clear that we’re moving into a new environment, after a period where
the Superfast agenda resulted in nearly all the public funding going to one big player. Now, driven perhaps by
frustration in rural areas and by investment opportunities in cities, we are seeing the accelerated
development of alternative networks and services and new players entering the market. New solutions are
emerging at scales ranging from community ‘crowd-funded’ projects, private commercial operators in villages
and towns and public companies developing ‘Gigabit Cities’.
In the public policy arena, there is growing awareness that “Superfast is not enough” and probably not the
‘end-game’. The government’s Digital Communications Infrastructure Strategy looks towards the development
of “Ultrafast services” and proposes new financing mechanisms such as the UK Infrastructure Guarantee
Scheme to support investment in new networks. The recently announced Ofcom review of Digital
Communications, the first formal review for 10 years, and the increasingly strident calls for BT Group to be
broken up from key industry players such as Sky, Vodafone (both INCA members) and TalkTalk point to
concerns that the existing industry structures may not be ‘fit for purpose’ in the long run.
Cities across the UK are actively seeking their own solutions as they fear being ‘left behind’ in comparison with
nearby competing economies, where, for example businesses in Stockholm can buy symmetric gigabit
connections for €25 per month. The SuperConnected Cities programme, after a slow start, has become more
interesting - with the use of vouchers for group schemes in business parks for example - and businesses are
more aware of the financial and operational benefits of better digital connectivity. As business becomes
increasingly digital, as more public services are delivered online and as we all seem to depend more on our
connected technology, the infrastructure becomes even more critical to our economic success and social
wellbeing in both urban and rural areas.
The Transform Digital events in Bristol on 19 and 20 May 2015 offer fantastic opportunities to explore the
changes that are happening right now and to get insights and answers:




What’s the difference between superfast and ultrafast and what does it mean?
What sort of digital infrastructure do we really need and are we building it fast enough in our urban and
rural areas?
What should the new Government do to help the market invest in the digital infrastructure of the future?
What regulatory actions and regimes are needed to ensure that the UK has infrastructure that is ‘fit for
purpose’?
Join us on 20th May for the Transform Digital: Bristol conference
Chris Townsend, Head of BDUK heads the speaker list alongside leaders from industry, the public sector, and
community broadband schemes.
Delegates will discuss:






The Rise of the Gigabit Cities - Urban projects led by companies like CityFibre, Hyperoptic, ITS and UK
Broadband. How the new infrastructure fits into the Smart City agenda, economic development and the
need to create jobs in the CDIT sectors
Superfast and Beyond - Rural schemes like B4RN and Cotswolds Broadband alongside private sector
players like BT, Gigaclear and wireless/satellite providers delivering services in the hardest to reach
areas. We have invited BDUK to participate and help shape this part of the agenda
Digital Business - Innovation and the impact of high speed, low cost, symmetric networks on the
development of businesses in the digital and creative sectors and SMEs more widely. Connecting business
parks and enterprise zones. Expansion of the Super-connected cities voucher scheme
Driving Demand and exploiting the wider benefits of new digital infrastructure for service providers and
the consumers and businesses they serve
Investing in Digital Infrastructure - models that are succeeding at getting new investment in both urban
and rural areas - Virgin Media’s investment is encouraging other investors in digital infrastructure.
The New Minister’s In-Box - the big issues for Government over the next 5 years.
Register promptly to get the Early Bird discount (prices increase by £50 per person from April 18). INCA
members benefit from a 25% discount on both early bird and standard rates (members will be provided with a
unique discount code). A small number of free places are available for delegates from unfunded community
broadband projects. Please send email to [email protected] to request a free place for your
organisation.
Additional Events
Prior to the main conference programme on May 20, we are running a complementary programme of related
events throughout May 19:
1. Better Broadband for Bristol Businesses
19 May, 09:30-12:00, @Bristol, Free
Led by Bristol City Council and INCA this workshop is a great opportunity to find out how to get financial
support for better broadband. We will discuss the connection voucher scheme, the benefits of better
broadband for small businesses, the suppliers that can help businesses connect and how to apply to the
scheme.
Geared towards: Owners & Managers of small businesses interested in improving their broadband services,
technical specialists, business connectivity suppliers.
2. INCA Technical Showcase
The Art of the Possible: How to Build a Better Network
19 May, 14:00-17:00, @Bristol, Free for conference delegates (otherwise £50 + VAT)
This showcase will be a series of presentations, educational segments, case studies and roadmap sessions from
a range of companies who can help anyone interested in investing, designing or building a Next Generation
Broadband infrastructure – ‘Superfast’ and ‘Ultrafast’. We will discuss what these terms mean in practice and
give an end-to-end view of the individual components required to create a successful project.
Geared towards: Local project promoters, funders, technical and business consultants, policy-makers.
3. 3D Data Visualisation and Planetarium
19 May 18.00 - 18.45
All conference delegates are invited to an exclusive pre-launch show at the newly refurbished
planetarium where they will be treated to the UK's first 3D planetarium show and data visualisation dome.
The planetarium's system is powered by 17 computers driving two 4K resolution projectors, and for data
visualisation purposes is hooked up via a 100Gbps fibre link to a supercomputer at Bristol University.
4. Pre-conference Dinner
The Riverstation, The Grove, Bristol BS1 4RB www.riverstation.co.uk £84 per person
Join us for dinner on the evening of May 19 at Bristol's Riverstation restaurant.
Local Hotels
If you are plamning to stay overnight in Bristol around the conference, this list of local hotels might be useful.
Event Details
When
May 19th, 2015 2:00 PM to May 20th, 2015 5:00 PM
Location
@Bristol
Anchor Road
Harbourside
Bristol
BS1 5DB
United Kingdom
Map data ©2015 Google
Terms of Use
Report a map error
Map
Satellite
Show large map
Event Fee(s)
Delegate Fee (£145 plus VAT)
£ 174.00
Additional Conference Options
May 19 morning: Better Broadband for Business
£ 0.00
May 19 afternoon: INCA Technical Showcase
£ 0.00
May 19 evening: 3D Data Visualisation/Planetarium
£ 0.00
May 19 evening: Pre-Conference Dinner (£70 + VAT) £ 84.00