Response to Labour Party nationalisation plans
Following the Labour Party’s announcement that it would nationalise parts of BT and Openreach and provide free broadband for all, ISPA has had a particularly busy period leading the charge in response.
The ISPA team coordinated discussions across the industry to highlight the likely impact on jobs, rollout and investment in UK telecoms sector.
The response included an open letter co-signed by ISPA and the trade bodies INCA, techUK and BSG, collectively representing over 1,000 UK businesses. The letter featured in a number of publications over the weekend with ISPA Chair, Andrew Glover, appeared on several radio programmes – including BBC Radio 4 and LBC - to discuss ISPA’s thoughts on the proposal. More details of the coverage received can be found further down in this newsletter.
Broadband workstream ramps up as election approaches
ISPA’s broadband subgroup came together for a meeting this month to discuss and find common positions on a number of key policy areas. The impact of the general election was a clear focus for the group, as well as planning campaigns for the new year around barrier busting, particularly in the context of legislation to alleviate wayleave issues.
New switching process on the horizon
Over the Autumn, ISPA have been involved in a workstream run by the Office of Telecoms Adjudicator (OTA) on the future process for cross-infrastructure switching. As a fundamental change in the industry approaches at the end of next year with the move to gaining provider-led switching, the OTA have been under a tight timeline to report back to Ofcom. The working group has discussed a range of options which would have to be implemented by December 2020, which ISPA has then fed back to the membership. The OTA will now report back to Ofcom and ISPA will again engage in the formal consultation to be published early next year.
ISPA Awards launch on 9th December
ISPAs 2020 will launch on Monday 9th December, when the entries will open for 13 categories, covering the popular ISP categories for business, consumer and rural, with the new addition for the Best New ISP for those who have started their business in the last two years. Also returning are categories for hosted service, infrastructure providers, VoIP, customer solution, partnership and our most popular category - customer service. Keep an eye on the announcements as we will introduce another additional two new categories for 2020!
Many categories are still open for sponsorship, this is a great way to promote your company to the wider tech industry as the awards are widely covered by the press and social media. Your logo and links to your company will be included in these posts, as well as on our website and all announcements. Other benefits include a full page advertisement in the awards brochure, presenting the award to winners, photo opportunities, banner at the award ceremony and many others. For more information please check the sponsorship pack below and contact awards@ispa.org.uk
Click here to open the ISPA Awards sponsorship pack.
Sponsors of the ISPAs 2020
Connected London Forum
ISPA attended a workshop meeting at the Greater London Authority (GLA) chaired by Chief Digital Officer, Theo Blackwell. This continues a project of engagement with the GLA on their proposed notification process for new build developments under the New London Plan. The workshop discussed both the requirements and practicalities of such a projects which would seek to help operators in London keep informed of new developments to ensure they can access gigabit capable connections.
Take 5 minutes to complete a survey on ISP entertainment services
ISPA is seeking members’ views on ISP entertainment services to help inform a new ISPA workstream.
Entertainment has the potential to be key driver for faster speeds so together with our partner, netgem.tv, who currently work with several members, we have decided to explore some of the challenges and the possible solutions around providing top-level entertainment services to your customers.
It would be much appreciated if you took a moment to fill in a short survey by clicking here. It is only 9 questions and is to better understand how you use entertainment as part of your customer offering or any barriers to doing so.
Drawing on the survey’s results, we will co-host a workshop in early 2020 with netgem.tv to discuss some of the challenges and opportunities identified, hear from expert speakers in the content space and assess the potential of joining forces to work with content partners.
Click here to fill in the survey
Cyber security subgroup focusses on incentivising business
The Cyber security Subgroup held a call to decide on priorities for 2020 and come to a common position on the call for evidence published by DCMS on their review of cyber security incentives and regulation. The group noted the wealth of existing regulation in this space and the work already being done by ISPs which will form the basis of ISPA’s response.
ISPA Partnership Programme
ISPA Partners for 2019
Please discover below the latest insights from ISPA’s annual partners and feel free to reach out to us if you want an introduction.
New product launch – coming in January!
GBC Photonics® Simple Recode Device
Based on our knowledge and expertise acquired through more than 15 years of experience in data transmission, we have designed and developed a Simple Recode Device (SRD) which will allow you to:
• quickly and easily reconfigure transceivers,
• adjust compatibility with most major vendors’ network equipment,
• set the required wavelength or related channel in XFP/ SFP+ DWDM tunable transceivers,
• have remote troubleshooting and after-sales support,
• save time on shipping transceivers to the service centre.
The device is equipped with QSFP28/ QSFP+/ XFP/ SFP+/ SFP ports.
Increase your business’s efficiency and be the first to have it!
For more information, call us at: 0048 537 295 995 or write to us at: info@salumanus.com
If you would like to join the ISPA 2020 annual partnership programme to regularly engage with our members and benefit from strong visibility, thought-leadership and enhanced networking at many ISPA events, please get in touch now, email admin@ispa.org.uk or call 020 3397 3304.
ISPA in the Press
ISPA Press Office was hard at work this month, with our response to Labour’s nationalising plans and others, these can be found in these articles - International Business Times, The Telegraph, Financial Times, This is money, Mail Online, City A.M., Telecompaper, ISPReview, Fibre Systems, ISPreview, This is money, Forbes, Advanced Television, thinkbroadband, The Telegraph, Computer Weekly, Advanced Television.
We also commented on Microsoft’s plans to support encrypted DNS in ITPro, Sky Statement and Xherald and our Head of Policy Till Sommer gave interview to The Telegraph about WiFi notspots.
Please find all articles here.
Events Partnerships
ISPA offers its members a variety of discounts for events that we partner with. Looking ahead, these are the events of the current media partners: IT & Digital Leaders UK: Public Sector Dialogue and InfoSec UK Public Sector Dialogue in February, Smart Home Expo, Call & Contact Centre Expo and Customer + User Experience Expo in March and Digital Risk: Managing Risk and Security in Digital Age and Digital Identity and Access Management Forum: BFSI Market in May.
For more information and discounts please click here.