Driving towards a connected Berkshire

The Berkshire Digital Infrastructure Group (DIG) is a unique group of Local Authorities working collectively to deliver and achieve improved digital connectivity across the Thames Valley Region.

The DIG consists of the six Berkshire Local Authorities, Slough, Reading, West Berkshire, Bracknell Forest, Wokingham, Royal Windsor and Maidenhead Councils, as well as the Thames Valley LEP.

They are working together collaboratively towards a ‘Connected Berkshire’ and delivery of the DIG Digital Strategy.

The DIG partnership, including the six authorities, Asset Market as well as CJ Founds Associates, successfully bid for DCMS central government funding to pilot the effectiveness of developing, testing and implementing a digital platform to centralise potential assets for the use of locating mobile technology.

This funding has created the foundation to fulfil that goal and build evidence around the benefits and efficiencies of a digital asset platform.

Its aim is driving consistency in asset data standards and demonstrating the importance of 4G/5G connectivity engagement with Estates, Legal, Highways and Planning teams.

What’s its purpose?

The DCMS DCIA Pilot has developed and tested the effectiveness of an asset platform and workflow management system to accelerate the mobile network operators’ acquisition process.

With the alignment of the DCIA pilot and DIG strategy, we’ve been able to test the adoption of an asset platform that local authorities can confidently utilise with suppliers and MNO’s, delivering consistency across all six local authorities, directly supporting one of the three components of the DIG Digital Strategy; increasing coverage of 4G/5G connectivity across the Thames Valley region.

Progress to date

So far, our project has demonstrated with the local authorities, Asset Market (the digital platform provider) and multiple mobile network suppliers the process required to digitise elements of the site acquisition process.

To date, the project has built evidence of whether the use of a digital asset management platform enables more efficient industry access to public sector assets and whether it encourages deployment of infrastructure in the region.

The pilot has developed potential commercial models and the economic viability of running a digital asset management platform from a Local or Regional Authority, understanding and recognising constraints in affordability for both public sector asset owners and telecommunication infrastructure providers.

All the while, it has increased the development of the partners’ expertise and understanding of what resources are required to expedite telecommunications infrastructure deployment.

It has also included an assessment of the resources required internally to support the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure through this pilot including asset data discovery and management.

The project has demonstrated the application of a digital asset management mapping platform across a diverse range of geographies (urban, suburban, rural) and socio-economic profiles (industrial, agricultural, leisure, business or residential etc) and tested with the platform with multiple asset types (e.g. local authority owned land, buildings and streetlights).

What’s next..?

We’ll continue supporting Berkshire beyond the end of the pilot, working with suppliers and local authorities to allow them to continue their good work.