FarrPoint Webinar Recording: The Connectivity Puzzle beyond Gigabit

About the webinar

Consumers and businesses need excellent connectivity at home, work and at play. Businesses and public services need smart infrastructure to lower costs, reduce emissions and improve services. However, the benefits of all this connectivity will only be realised if services are fully adopted by ensuring the necessary knowledge and skills are also in place. Gigabit infrastructure is clearly only part of the puzzle and there is much more to consider to ensure regions are digitally enabled and ready to enjoy the benefits that brings.

Key takeaways from the webinar

• Connectivity infrastructure on its own won't solve the digital exclusion problem, it's all about what we do with that infrastructure. How do we increase the uptake of digital services? How do we improve digital skills? How do we help people access digital public services? 
• Connectivity can significantly impact the quality of life and people need it now, not in 2 or 3 years time. 
• Sharing learning and good practices between local authorities is one of the key components for success.
• Local authorities have an important role to play in driving uptake of Gigabit. Once people can connect, we need to get them online so they get the maximum of benefits.
• As banks, post offices and other service providers are closing and going online, it is clear that the only way this works is if their customers are online too.
• We need to look at the future more and ensure our infrastructure can meet future demand.

Watch the webinar recording below.

The Panel

(this will open in a new window)Graham Pinfield, (Team Leader Smart Perth & Kinross) (this will open in a new window)Perth & Kinross Council, (this will open in a new window)Ceren Clulow, (Programme Director) (this will open in a new window)Connecting Cambridgeshire, (this will open in a new window)Dija Oliver, (Digital Project Manager) (this will open in a new window)Swansea Bay City Deal and (this will open in a new window)Glenn Peacey, (Programme Director) (this will open in a new window)Hampshire County Council. With Steve Smith, Principal Consultant at (this will open in a new window)FarrPoint moderating the panel.

Interested in learning more about the LA's Connectivity Jigsaw concept?

At FarrPoint, we came up with a 5-step plan that local authorities could take to evaluate the current connectivity readiness that will then feed into an all-encompassing digital strategy and implementation plan.

STEP 1 - Digital Connectivity Readiness Assessment

As the first step, we suggest undertaking the FarrPoint's in-depth Digital Connectivity Readiness Assesment, which will provide you the scores in 12 readiness categories from digital infrastructure to adoption. We will then compare it with the national benchmarks and other similar local authorities, so you have a starting point to start measuring improvement.

Get in touch about your readiness score