EU Request Changes to BDUK Program

The EU have requested several changes to the BDUK program. At presnt there are no details on what these changes are. The information at present is if these changes are made the EU will give approval to the BDUK program,.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2e0dd758-0f10-11e2-9895-0014...

Edited by Bob_s2 (Mon 08-Oct-12 08:02:11)

In reply to a post by Bob_s2:

The EU have requested several changes to the BDUK program. At presnt there are no details on what these changes are. The information at present is if these changes are made the EU will give approval to the BDUK program,.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2e0dd758-0f10-11e2-9895-0014...

Not exactly what it says

In reference to www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2e0dd758-0f10-11e2-9895-00144feabdc0.html:

EU happy with UK rural broadband plan

By Daniel Thomas, Telecoms Correspondent

Europe’s competition watchdog is ready to approve plans to pump £530m of UK state aid into rural broadband, a move which would clear the way for long-delayed work to widen access to superfast internet connections.

Joaquín Almunia, the European competition commissioner, has indicated he is happy for state funds to be used to support the initiative

Edited by BatBoy (Mon 08-Oct-12 08:24:43)

And here's the link you got it from

In reference to www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2012/10/eu-requests-minor-changes-for...:

EU Requests Minor Changes for Broadband Delivery UK State Aid Clearance
The European Commission’s (EC) competition boss, Joaquín Almunia, has confirmed that the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) office, which is responsible for managing the country’s national superfast broadband strategy, will shortly be given permission to distribute State Aid funding to related projects around the country.

According to the FT (paywall), Joaquín Almunia, whom is said to have only requested “relatively minor changes” to the BDUK’s design, has now given preliminary approval for the release of public funding.

Edited by BatBoy (Mon 08-Oct-12 09:33:18)

So would this £530m increase the amount of roll-outs, or just speed up the already planned ones?

Well, it ends with

EU go-ahead for state aid would be likely to spur further areas to begin the process, with several local authorities having not yet begun procurement.

BT will also be encouraged to start work on the areas that it has won so far, given that it has been concerned that the terms of the state aid package could mean rivals would “cherry pick” access to the network.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: “It is our understanding that the commission is on track to issue its final decision in late October or early November, which will allow projects to get under way.”

So that suggests both.

You are aware of the BDUK projects and that the £530m is the same money we have known about for two years

The £530 brings new roll-out. Some of it SFBB, some of it a 2Mbps UOS-like minimum.

It will undoubtedly be added to the mix of existing roll-out in the plans, so may speed some up and slow others down.

Yes. My concerns are that the release of this money might reduce others' incentives to put up money for rollouts. I got the impression that things were starting to move (the latest FTTC update), but others (I'm referring to businesses mainly) might sit back and see if these funds save them putting their hand in their pocket, which in turn will delay further rollouts down the line.

It would be nice if there were more rollouts planned through a combination of funding sources. TBH I don't have enough info on the subject, so am throwing out the questions.

Two very different spins, eh!

In reply to a post by camieabz:

but others (I'm referring to businesses mainly) might sit back and see if these funds save them putting their hand in their pocket, which in turn will delay further rollouts down the line.

What kind of businesses are you talking about?