Adrian Wooster, Broadway Partners INCA Seminar: Delivering Superfast Wireless Broadband, Manchester, 25-06-14

1. Superfast Wireless
ADRIAN WOOSTER'S PERSONAL VIEW OF STATE AID

2. Agenda
You have infrastructure?
◦ OMR
◦ Public Consultation
You need help delivering
infrastructure?
◦ Thoughts on State Aid
◦ Especially wireless
Me?
◦ Adrian Wooster
◦ Strategy Director @ Broadway
Partners
These are my personal
observations
◦ BDUK website has plenty of official
guidance:
◦ https://www.gov.uk/broadband-
delivery-uk#state-aid
adrian.wooster@broadwaypartners.co.uk

3. Open
Market
Review
O
M
R
See: BDUK template OMR @ http://bit.ly/1lL3Rhs
PURPOSE OF THE OMR
An OMR is a precursor to a formal public consultation
It is not itself a formal requirement
The aim is to understand what broadband
infrastructure
• is already in place, and
• where there are plans for investment within the
coming three years

4. Public
Consultation
P
C
See: BDUK template Public Consultation @ http://bit.ly/1lL4lnF
What is a public consultation?
It’s a formal & mandatory step in the State
Aid process
It allows interested stakeholders an
opportunity to comment on the areas the
broadband aid is targeting
Anyone with an interest can reply
If you have infrastructure in the area you
should reply

5. Public
Consultation
P
C
See: BDUK template Public Consultation @ http://bit.ly/1lL4lnF
• Is the aid is being targeted at the right
areas?
• Is it being done for the right reasons?
• Are there are credible investment
plans for similar infrastructure
projects now or in the next three
years
You may be asked for more evidence to
confirm whether your plans are credible:
• business plans, detailed deployment
plans, proof of adequate financing , retail
and wholesale pricing, etc.

6. What to send
DON’T
• Make it up
• Present your wildest dreams
DO
• Submit what you have already delivered
• Submit your credible plans for the coming
three years
• The ones you believe and can defend
• If the only thing stopping you is proof of
sufficient demand say so, and show what
you’re doing to secure that
• Ask for a breathing space with an interim
ruling

7. See: BDUK template Public Consultation @ http://bit.ly/1lL4lnF
It is entirely at the local body’s discretion to take into account any
investment plans announced following the start of their tender process

8. So you want a grant?
adrian.wooster@broadwaypartners.co.uk

9. BDUK NGA Technology Guidelines http://bit.ly/1lL74xy
Wireless & State Aid
Fixed wireless can be classed as an NGA
technology
Satellite & mobile wireless are not, currently
It must offer significant new capability where a
basic broadband infrastructure already exists

10. General requirements
Capable of access speeds > 30Mbps
◦ And able to provide > 15Mbps for 90% of your peak times
◦ Not just in theory!
You must deliver a “step change” in performance
◦ Provide at least a doubling of average access speeds
◦ Characteristics that enable advanced services like HD streaming
◦ E.g. low latency, jitter
Show how you will maintain the capability
◦ Increased take-up & demand
◦ Capacity planning for the next 7 years

11. Things wireless operators may be asked
Planning consents
◦ Masts in rural areas?
Radio plans & interference analysis
◦ Is the spectrum appropriate?
Proposed product offerings
◦ Wholesale pricing and open access
Network dimensioning calculations
◦ Contention of masts, backhaul, etc.
Evidence that your technology has a future
◦ International standards, etc.

12. Not FttP?
Where FttP is not economically viable today, any alternative subsidised
NGA solution shall have a commitment to upgrade to fibre components
at a later stage if it becomes economically viable
◦ When revenues increase or deployment costs decrease sufficiently
You will need to demonstrate your willingness to transition to fibre
solutions

13. Clawback
“Clawback” is the repayment of any excess subsidy
◦ or, to use Commission terminology, a “reverse payment”
Any aid must be the minimum necessary for your project
◦ Not just during the build but for 7 years after!
The mechanism will adjust the amount of aid you ultimately get
◦ For example, if your take-up levels mean you no longer needed the full aid

14. Clawback
Clawback will require the
repayment of excess subsidy at the
end of your contract
BUT you may also be asked to
invest further during the life of
your contract
◦ Within the subsidised footprint &
not beyond
◦ Its likely to mean capital only
The obvious capital project for
wireless operators is to increase
the fibre footprint
If you are in a consortium, take
care!
Investing further in fibre may
reduce one partner’s role at the
expense of the other

15. Summary
If you want to protect your plans
◦ Engage with OMR if possible
◦ Engage with Public Consultation at all costs!
If you want public subsidy
◦ Wireless can qualify
◦ Answer the exam question!
◦ Understand the implications
Don’t just take my word for it
◦ BDUK website has plenty of guidance:
◦ https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk#state-aid
adrian.wooster@broadwaypartners.co.uk

16. Superfast Wireless
ADRIAN WOOSTER'S PERSONAL VIEW OF STATE AID
adrian.wooster@broadwaypartners.co.uk