INCA rolls-out rural roadshow to highlight full fibre potential for regions and enhance synergy between contributors

The Independent Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) today announced its Rural Gigabit Future Events Programme, a unique events roadshow aimed at developing projects and initiatives to bring ultrafast connectivity to the UK’s hardest to reach and most remote locations.

A series of six workshop events to cover the rural landscape of England and Wales, the roadshow comes as part of INCA’s ongoing commitment to its partners in both local and national government and the private sector. Each event will spark discussion around current successes and areas of future potential, to advance the roll-out of high-speed full fibre and wireless connectivity for all.

The events will combine the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, (DCMS), local authorities and network providers to evaluate the demands and opportunities presented in each location, as part of a strategic, collaborative, approach to further improve the UK’s rural communications networks.

“The DCMS Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) challenge fund has successfully inspired the development of a range of projects across the UK, leveraging the delivery of full fibre connections and demonstrating the potential of extending full fibre networks into rural areas,” said Malcolm Corbett, CEO at INCA.

“These projects, together with rural 5G testbeds, the plans of local authorities and the technologies and commercial models of suppliers, promise to bring advanced digital connectivity to the most rural areas. Our aim is to provide opportunities for collaboration and to share ideas on how best to ensure future-proofed rural connectivity,” added Corbett.

The INCA Rural Gigabit Future Events Programme will build upon the improvements made over recent years, highlighted this week by the 2019 FTTH Council Europe Panorama which, for the first time, included the UK in its ranking of fibre-connected countries. The UK’s inclusion validated the fibre connectivity initiatives of government and reflected the work of independent providers in deploying projects across the country.

Each event will include a series of exclusive presentations, followed by a panel session to answer questions and develop understanding of the issues raised. The events will take place at the following locations:

• Herefordshire & Gloucestershire: Growth Hub, Gloucester, 30.04.2019
• Rural Wales: Business Centre, Llandudno Junction, 24.05.2019
• Cambridgeshire: Shire Hall, Cambridge, 29.05.2019
• North West: The Exchange, County Hall, Fishergate, Preston, 10.06.2019
• Highlands: venue TBC, Stirling, 06.06.2019
• South East: The Memorial Hall, South Downs Centre, Midhurst, West Sussex, 26.06.2019