The Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the government’s advisory body on broadband since 2001, has been reorganised into the Digital Connectivity Forum (DCF), with the aim of actively addressing the transformed connectivity value chain.
The DCF aims to ensure the UK has an economy and society empowered by seamless digital connectivity and has been created after extensive discussion among sponsor members and non-members.
The group is sponsored by several altnets including CityFibre, Gigaclear, Giganet, Hyperoptic and TalkTalk, as well as other familiar names such as BT, Openreach, the BBC, the DCMS, Ericsson, Huawei, Sky, TechUK, Three, Virgin Media, Vodafone and the Wireless Infrastructure Group.
The new-look Forum has an enhanced remit to develop a distinct technology neutral work programme, concentrating on content demand and network design.
Stephanie Liston (pictured), Chair of the Digital Connectivity Forum, said: “The last two decades have seen a dramatic transformation in the UK’s digital eco-system. Consumers and businesses today enjoy a huge number of internet-enabled services delivered over a variety of networks.
“Working with industry, government and others we are today launching the Digital Connectivity Forum with an expanded and ambitious agenda to meet the challenges and exploit the opportunities of the next 20 years.”
Alex Mather, Head of the Digital Connectivity Forum, added: “As the range and diversity of services delivered via the internet has ballooned, the relationship between infrastructure and content has become more central.
“We want to deliver a new focus on content and distribution while continuing to facilitate discussions on the delivery of better infrastructure. New working groups for each will help us to address this challenge.”
