Policy

Recent INCA policy work.

  • Do you want your network to qualify as a VHCN under new guidelines?

    Despite the Brexit uncertainty, this is an important Ofcom/BEREC (Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications) consultation for INCA Members (network operators and vendors) involved in Very High Capacity Networks (VHCNs). Promoting access to and take-up of VHCNs is one of the main goals of the EECC (European Electronic Communications Code). Ofcom are working on their input to the BEREC guidelines which will, along with the EECC itself, be transposed into the UK Communications Act.

    VHCNs are considered to be either wholly fibre or offering similar performance if wireless or coax so this definition will be important to all INCA Members.

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  • Policy Update Dec 2018 / Jan 2019

    Ofcom Annual Plan

    Ofcom has published its draft annual plan for consultation, for the next financial year. Responses to the consultation close on 8th February and the final plan will be published in March. The plan outlines Ofcom’s priority areas for 2019/20, including:

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  • INCA welcomes Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review

    The Independent Networks Cooperative Association has today offered support for the Government’s Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review (FTIR) and welcomed the emphasis placed on full-fibre, 5G and the role alternative network operators (altnets) play.

    Designed to transform the UK telecoms industry, the FTIR aims to open up access to world-class connectivity, regardless of where users are geographically located. It is hoped that this move will ignite new channels of competition within the UK telecoms industry and provide transitions for emerging technologies such as 5G.

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  • INCA calls for shared 5G spectrum following new report

    UK broadband regulator Ofcom needs to consider new approaches to spectrum management to realise the full possibilities of 5G across the country, INCA CEO Malcolm Corbett said today, as a new report revealed Fixed Wireless Access can play a crucial role in delivering high-speed broadband across the country.

    Commissioned by INCA and UKWISPA and conducted by Plum Consulting, the report ‘High performance wireless broadband: an opportunity for rural and enterprise 5G’ discusses the role independent networks will play in realising UK Government broadband targets especially in rural areas where investment in full fibre will take much longer to realise.

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  • Altnet operators reach nearly one million premises with full ultrafast fibre
    infographic

    New report predicts more than 14 million premises will be passed by altnets by 2025

    Nearly one million homes and businesses in the UK are now in reach of ultrafast full fibre connectivity provided by alternative network providers (altnets), approaching double the number of premises reached by BT Openreach. Produced by Point Topic for INCA, and drawing together data from survey responses from INCA members, UKWISPA and Point Topic research programmes, the report also estimates that altnets with Fixed Wireless Access networks can reach up to a further two million premises, mainly in rural areas.

    Digital and Culture Minister Margot James said:

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  • 5G Network Deployment Pilots

    In December 2017 DCMS issued a Call for Views on the 5G Network Deployment Pilots. 

    Through its 5G Strategy, the government aims to accelerate the deployment of 5G networks and to ensure that the UK can take early advantage of the applications those networks can enable. The Call sought views on the appropriate scale and scope of deployment pilots that will help to establish the conditions under which 5G can be deployed in a timely way and help foster the development of the UK’s 5G ecosystem.

    INCA's submission can be downloaded here in full.

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  • DCMS Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review

    INCA has made a submission in response to the Call for Evidence launched in December by DCMS.

    The cross-government Review, led by DCMS, will assess whether any additional policy interventions are needed to create the conditions for long term investment in world-class digital connectivity.

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  • INCA Responses on Ofcom Wholesale Local Access Market Review consultations

    INCA recently submitted reponses on two Ofcom consultation exercises in relation to the Wholesale Local Access (WLA) market.

    Ofcom's Wholesale Local Access Market Review, which ran from March 31 through to June 9, sought views on the regulation of this market. INCA's full reponse is available here.

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  • Extending Local Full Fibre Networks

    INCA has responded to the DCMS Consultation on Extending Local Full Fibre Networks. Rather than going over ground that our members have highlighted in their responses, or re-iterating the points made in our report Building Gigabit Britain, we have instead focused on some general points about how different approaches can deliver excellent results in terms of coverage - with examples from the UK and overseas. We also emphasise that full fibre does not just mean fibre to the premises, it also means fibre to the wireless network.

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  • Building Gigabit Britain Report

    The past few years have seen a flowering of businesses building new digital networks in competition with BT. They provide pure fibre networks (Fibre to the Premise (FTTP)), fixed wireless networks (FWA), hybrid networks and satellite broadband services. They operate in urban and rural areas and have a range of business models. However, none own a copper phone network and, with limited exceptions, they do not rely on state aid. Instead they use commercial investment to build brand new networks and establish close relationships with the communities they serve. These companies are INCA’s members – the Altnets.

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