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Digital Transformation in the Public Sector

By Joanne Green, Sales Director for Public Sector and Transport

The pandemic has disrupted the way we live in many unexpected ways. It has also become a catalyst for developing a more digitally accessible public sector, as sub-sectors adapt to a new environment and implement innovative ways of working.

Even before COVID-19, the UK government had plans to roll out full fibre by 2025. But with video conferencing, online learning and virtual medical consultations becoming the norm, the need for gigabit-capable coverage across the UK has become even more critical. In December 2020, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) set out the next steps in its £5 billion strategy that promises to create jobs, bolster productivity and provide remote working support.

Of course, transformation is to be welcomed, as services improve and become fit for the digital age. However, public sector IT leaders must not underestimate the challenge of widespread transformation, and what it will demand from existing networks and connectivity infrastructure.

Public sector initiatives now at work

The public sector’s digital infrastructure saw dramatic changes in Spring 2020, when sub-sectors from central government to emergency services, adapted their operations to virtually bring their indispensable services into people’s homes.

One such example is the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme rolled out by the Government in order to cover 9.6 million furloughed jobs across the nation. The channel was designed, built and launched in less than five weeks and helped employers calculate their claim, identify employees they could put on furlough, understand next steps and more.

Of course, the most notable example of a public service under immense pressure during this time is the NHS. To avoid hospitals being overwhelmed, doctors established “virtual wards” where patients with COVID-19 are managed in the safety of their own homes and monitoring their own oxygen levels. This saved Watford, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust 300 bed days in just three weeks.

Initiatives like this have made the public service experience more efficient, making the case that they must continue to evolve well beyond the pandemic. But to keep the pace of change going, more robust digital infrastructure is required.

Three things public sector IT leaders should be considering

While the opportunities for digital transformation advance, IT leaders know that implementing these changes is rarely straightforward and requires significant expertise and support. Public sector bodies must review their current network infrastructure set-up, taking three points of pressure into consideration; bandwidth, reliability and cost.

Greater bandwidth may support growing capacity demands but bandwidth is only one element.

Reliability will ensure uniform experience for citizens across multiple sectors. However, in order to offer this, network design, diverse connections, building entry points, fibre routing, switchover times and single point of failure analysis are more imperative than ever.

The final component in putting the right connectivity infrastructure in place is managing the strain of balancing costs. With fibre technology now advancing significantly and competition increasing, better connectivity doesn’t have to be expensive.

Balancing these pressure points depends on working with a network partner that can offer economies of scale and match the rapidly changing market dynamics.

Read our latest eBook to learn more about how the public sector is transforming and discover how Neos Networks can help in making these large-scale digital changes.

“With Neos Networks, we have complete control over the technologies that we roll out over the infrastructure, which means that when it comes to furthering the capabilities of our research and education community – the sky really is the limit.”

– Jeremy Sharp, Head of Strategic Technologies, Jisc

“We see Neos as a key strategic partner who can help our remit around enhancing Oxfordshire’s digital infrastructure foundations now, and well into the future."

– Craig Bower, Oxfordshire County Council, Digital Connectivity Programme Director

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Why digital infrastructure is critical in the burgeoning demand for renewable energy

Now seemingly ubiquitous across all industries, the term ‘net zero’ has been front and centre for business leaders and non-commercial entities since the UK government committed to cease Britain’s contribution to global warming by 2050.

It was a move that positioned the country as a leading economy in legislation for the delivery of net zero emissions, improving upon the previous target of an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels. The policy came with the additional objectives to grow the value of low carbon exports to £170bn and have two million employed in ‘green collar’ roles by 2030.

But 18 months later and under new leadership, the government has moved the needle once again. While the 2050 target remains, a new 2030 interim objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 68% compared to 1990 levels, was introduced in December 2020.

The initiative came with a ten point plan that promised to mobilise government investment totalling £12bn, while generating £42bn in private investment; a Green Industrial Revolution in what the Prime Minister suggests will position the UK as the global leader in green finance and technology.

A significant portion of the plan focuses around energy generation, with points on nuclear power proliferation and growth in low carbon hydrogen as a source of heat and fuel. The document leads with the advancements of offshore wind facilities, however. It’s here that the majority of private investment is expected to be apportioned, and the government has committed to enabling delivery of content in 60% of offshore wind projects in the UK. It’s believed that power generated by offshore turbines could quadruple to 40GW by 2030, representing around 40% of the nation’s electricity generation capacity as of today.

It’s a fearsome task ahead, but one which is rapidly drawing commitments from the private sector. The most recent crown estate auction has landed the state an income of £9bn over the coming decade, with the likes of BP and RWE bidding huge sums for the rights to build and operate windfarms around the British Isles. Meanwhile, other organisations traditionally associated with fossil fuels, such as Total, have been making the transition into renewables by way of acquisition.

With the news that electricity generated from renewables, wind and solar accounted for approximately 66% of the UK’s generated power in 2020, it comes as no surprise that several oil and gas giants have been seeking methods of cutting their losses. In a little over a decade, the proportion of electricity generated by fossil fuels has halved from 82% to 41%, while the use of coal has plummeted from 40% in 2012 to less than 5% in 2020.

As far as the government and society is concerned, this is fantastic progress. But in the rush to adopt renewable energy, is there a level of risk surrounding its reliability? It has been reported that the intermittence of renewable energy solutions does propagate increased grid instability. And this can have commercial ramifications for energy firms, as demonstrated by fines totalling more than £10m administered by Ofgem in 2019, after lightning strikes left over a million customers without power.

As the integrated energy company becomes a more widespread phenomena, business leaders will want assurances from experts in the field that their investments are sound and unlikely to create more financial headaches, especially after the devastating losses experienced by fossil fuel companies around the globe.

Partnering with those who have substantial experience working in the field will inevitably help to build resilient infrastructure in this regard. And that will be required from the ground (or seabed) up.

One element of the overall ecosystem business leaders would be remiss to overlook is the impact connectivity and a robust digital infrastructure can offer. Most within the industry will already appreciate the extent to which CNI-grade connectivity will be required to underpin the DNO-DSO transition, but a secure and reliable network is truly essential in the smooth running and maintained provision of energy, especially when it comes to renewables.

In order to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance health and safety measures, investment in digital infrastructure is a must. Windfarm operators can rely on fibre to make adjustments to turbine performance in real time, responding to the demands of the grid, and without the need for engineers to leave the operations centre.

This transference of data is crucial in preventing outages and can reduce the extent of turbine damage, should a mechanical issue be identified. It’s also possible to hook up high definition CCTV cameras to turbines to provide engineers with the means to carry out initial inspections, thus reducing the number of visits required to ensure operational optimisation. In fact, the next generation of turbine inspection, and even repair, is in the use of drones and robots which would rely on wireless internet connectivity, perhaps delivered via private 5G networks.

Aside from the provision of connectivity, fibre can also be used to monitor the condition of subsea power cables connecting windfarms to onshore substations. When integrated within the cables or affixed to the outer casing, fibre can indicate instances of damage or interruption to the transmission of power to and from the turbines, as a result of its temperature and acoustic measuring capabilities.

The possibilities are truly fascinating, but at the same time, increasingly essential. You may be interested in the latest way in which we are helping to deliver against the 2030 and 2050 targets set by the government.

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5G roll-out: A race against time

Do mobile network operators need more support from the government to hit 2027 targets?

The roll-out of 5G in the UK has initiated inordinate levels of attention, both from the press and the general public, resulting in much controversy and even a few conspiracy theories. Much of this has been embroiled in the government’s objective to achieve majority 5G coverage by 2027; a target for which £5bn in funding was initially earmarked, but which has since been stripped back by 75%.

It stands to reason therefore, that the likelihood of meeting this target has come under increasing scrutiny, with a parliamentary inquiry reporting that the telecoms sector has no belief in the aptitude of the government to achieve its digital infrastructure goals.

But failure to implement 5G technology swiftly could prove costly, and this is a fact not lost on the current administration. With nationwide roll-out progressing, it’s believed the mobile industry will contribute £198bn per annum to the economy by 2030, equating to almost 6% of UK GDP.

As such, Secretary of State, Oliver Dowden, at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and his team have devised the 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy. With funding to the tune of £250m, the initiative aims to complement legislation introduced to eradicate high risk 5G vendors by facilitating growth and opportunities for new and existing suppliers. It’s built around three core strands…

Supporting incumbent suppliers

With the application of Huawei apparatus in 5G networks now prohibited and mandated to be eradicated from infrastructure by 2027, only Ericsson and Nokia remain as suppliers of mobile access network equipment in the UK. As such, it’s likely they will experience intense pressure to deliver against the relatively tight timescales and targets set by government.

To ease this, DCMS have pledged to offer increased flexibility for suppliers to distribute their operational capabilities across a global supply chain, encouraging them to seek diversity in their range of component providers. It’s hoped this will nurture greater resilience should the market become more turbulent or when demand surges.

It’s also crucial that these businesses sustain their leading-edge capabilities. In this regard, the DCMS has vowed to work collaboratively to ensure research and development is moulded in alignment with both the long-term vision of the government and emerging trends observed in the market. This should help ensure both suppliers remain integral to the application of the latest most desired telecoms innovation.

Attracting new suppliers into the UK market

Meanwhile, attention will also be paid to the generation of greater competition in this space, as well as the attraction of new suppliers to the market.

The DCMS is eager to understand more about the relevance of 2G, 3G and 4G services looking ahead; if and how these technologies will be utilised, and how provision can be optimised. Would it be feasible for those tasked with the rapid delivery of 5G networks to divert their attention away from these legacy technologies? Could other agencies take the reins? Is this an opportunity for new challengers to make their play? It’s been acknowledged that there are barriers to achieving diversification related to the efficient use and allocation of spectrum, and DCMS have vowed to collaborate with Ofcom to address these in the quest to liberate supply chain options.

And in a similar vein, the strategy has assured the market that it will encourage the integration of new suppliers into the networks of operators, by reviewing existing regulation around requirements for resilience and performance, that have proven inhibitory in the past. Furthermore, it’s suggested that the act of onboarding new suppliers could become incentivised in order to aid mobile network operators with the associated costs of doing so.

Accelerating open-interface solutions and deployment

Supporting and nurturing commercial organisations to drive 5G roll-out is important, but equally crucial is the research and development required to fully understand, optimise and use it to its full potential as part of a wider ecosystem of connectivity and telecoms technologies.

As such, the DCMS proposes further investigation into interoperable technologies, accelerating research in this field to encompass a substantial Open RAN (Radio Access Network) trial. Open RAN represents an alternative method of building telecoms networks, allowing for greater interoperability of radio equipment between vendors, and provide network operators with greater choice and flexibility. DCMS will facilitate solution-mapping between operators and suppliers, and provide them with the means to evaluate the security and technical performance of equipment, with the establishment of a National Telecoms Lab.

From a regulatory standpoint, the strategy sets out to provide the UK with a more influential voice in the setting of standards, aiming to ensure diversification and market growth are supported by the governance agreed. It will also assess the ways in which regulatory requirements can be addressed and implemented in such a way that promotes a supply chain that is both diverse and competitive.

Ensuring the UK is at the forefront of 5G

Setting out a strategy is one thing. But getting it off the ground is another, and a task of this magnitude is not one to be taken lightly. But in a little over a month, the DCMS revealed that nine projects would benefit from investment worth more than £28m in conjunction with the UK government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme.

The projects were selected as a consequence of the 5G Create competition, and should help demonstrate the ways in which British industry can thrive using modern technology. Open RAN is set to feature in the majority of these experiments, which should come as no surprise based on the objectives of the strategy described previously.

Many of the ventures focus on the development of consumer experiences, such as those based at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes and the Eden Project in Cornwall. But others will demonstrate the power of 5G to various industries, such as those based in Felixstowe and Bristol, which is hoped will deliver more productive, efficient and dynamic operations in port logistics. It’s with these that the more critical benefits of 5G are likely to be realised.

Couple this with the government’s hasty review of the Electronic Communications Code, discussed here in Computer Weekly, and all signs suggest the present administration are doing as much as possible to streamline the roll-out of future telecoms technologies. In fact, the article’s author, Joe O’Halloran, sums up the status quo rather aptly: ‘Despite the brickbats thrown at the current UK government for its lack of responsiveness and proactivity in many of its programmes, the pace of its comms infrastructure buildout cannot be held to much reproach’.

There is no doubt in the presence of appetite for 5G. Will the UK hit the government-set targets? That remains to be seen. While financial resources have taken a hit, support does appear to be generous in terms of keeping 5G roll-out front and centre. One thing is for certain; the two-way flow of communication between the government and industry is essential for all to pull in the same direction. Through continued collaboration and shared expertise, the UK can at least accomplish its goal of becoming the world leader in 5G, even if this nation falls short of its targets.

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Four reasons your business needs IP-VPN

IP-VPN

As modern business technology and connectivity evolves, managed WAN has become a vital component in every IT leader’s armoury. But assembling a business case for connectivity solutions like IP-VPN or SD-WAN can be complex. IT leaders must find a solution that not only aligns with their own priorities but also with the wider priorities of the business.

As with all technology requirements, a good business case needs to clearly demonstrate the business benefits of implementing a new solution. When it comes to WAN technologies like IP-VPN, there are four key points you should be considering:

1. Connectivity complexity

There is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to IP-VPN. That being said, there are common business challenges where IP-VPN is clearly the right solution.

For example, businesses that work across multiple sites in urban and rural locations with constant large-scale data transference will benefit from the low latency and high network performance IP-VPN offers. Similarly, those that use co-collaboration and management tools need constant high bandwidth guarantees and may struggle without their own VPN – particularly now that businesses have more reliance on video conferencing, file sharing and messaging software than ever before.

In each of these cases, IP-VPN provides close control for IT leaders, offering multiple classes of service, which ensure each application gets the required priority to utilise allocated bandwidth efficiently, providing the optimal quality of service.

2. Security and service

Perhaps the most natural use case for IP-VPN is based around security and data privacy. Businesses that house applications on site need dedicated private networks. Often this is due to the sensitivity and value of the data they work with (such as in healthcare), or because the risk of a breach has huge financial consequences (for example in banking).

IP-VPN has long been the preferred choice for these businesses, with many leading providers offering dedicated lines through which internet traffic is backhauled to a data centre for inspection. It also enables them to have complete network control and bypass the risks that may come with alternative solutions.

3. Meeting high standards

Unresponsive applications, slow transmission and network congestion are all common problems for IT leaders. Particularly as device proliferation continues apace, and their systems are asked to cope with expanding amounts of data, the rise of IoT and to play a key role in ongoing digital transformation efforts.

IP-VPN is known for its quality of service promise, built on low latency and low packet loss, and robust reliability. It will enable IT leaders to improve the basic standards of connectivity for the business, to play a strategic role in the onboarding of ever more advanced technology, and to keep the business operational, whatever challenges are thrown at the network.

4. Network adaptability

The fact is that while IP-VPN is an ideal solution for many businesses, transitioning to SD- WAN is becoming increasingly frequent. The transition between platforms is often motivated by evolving demands or a change in cloud strategy (for example adopting a secure public cloud model).

Sometimes, the move can be held back due to misconceptions about SD-WAN and the complexity involved in switching. However, it remains a viable path over a five or even ten-year period for many businesses.

A key consideration here is the provider. Working with a consultative expert in both IP-VPN and SD-WAN will make any move relatively smooth. At Neos Networks, for example, we provide a managed service for both, allowing us to facilitate a seamless implementation. It also ensures that the provider becomes well attuned to the business and its connectivity requirements, meaning they can easily spot when a growing case for SD-WAN emerges and make the move in time to capitalise on all of the opportunities that enhanced connectivity can bring.

Learn more about how IP-VPN compares to SD-WAN and the benefits of implementation in our new interactive eBook.

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The opportunities and challenges behind creating better connected cities and places

By Joanne Green, Sales Director for Public Sector and Transport

Ethernet

UK local authorities have a clear remit and desire to develop the cities or regions they’re responsible for, including improving environmental, social and economic sustainability. They play a key role in facilitating and sustaining smart ecosystems to better serve the people, communities and businesses that inhabit them, transforming whole areas into ‘smart places’ fit for a digitally-focussed future. Connecting smartphones, charging points, sensors, suitably equipped cars and smart homes can improve energy distribution, decrease traffic congestion and even improve air quality.

Smart cities and places invariably use Internet of Things (IoT) devices to collect data generated by public services, private companies and individuals, then analyse and manage that data for real-time use. Technology innovations such as 5G, machine learning, cloud technology and edge processing can provide the tools required to transform passive assets into smart assets.

Although IoT connections are wireless, the underlying technology and communications infrastructure depends on fixed fibre networks. The powerful data centres needed to receive, process and retransmit data to and from applications and sensors rely on low latency, high-speed connectivity with high redundancy. So while 5G networks will be essential, they will need to be underpinned by a physical fibre network and its supporting infrastructure.

The rise of the smart city

Implementing smart devices and better use of data can improve management by local authorities, making them more efficient and responsive. From simply expanding online services to improve their dialogue with citizens, councils could build up to holding public consultations using mobile apps. For example, offering transparent government data and interactive maps can help smart cities create strong relationships with their residents. Analysing data from these services, as well as from smart devices and sensors, can give councils insights into priority issues to make better, more responsive decisions with greater transparency.

Connected transport systems can also deliver smarter mobility and ease of movement. This could include traffic lights that talk with sensors and cars to change their timing in response to real-time traffic, reducing road congestion. Or connected cars (private or ride-sharing) might guide drivers to the closest parking meters or charging docks, while connected bike-sharing programmes could provide data to improve cycle routes.

Transforming city operations

Better connected services and evidence-based decisions can improve health, wellbeing and quality of life for citizens and enhance public safety. Anonymised hyper-localised data could allow police to analyse crime and incident trends for safer streets and faster response times. And real-time monitoring could allow local authorities to address air and water pollution, fire detection, as well as improved energy efficiency in public buildings.

The efficiencies and greater control delivered by improved gathering and analysis of data, combined with IoT connectivity, could offer a real boost to regional development and growth, as well as deliver sustainability gains. However, there are a number of challenges with creating smart cities and places to overcome first.

The challenges of supplying connectivity

The challenges are different for each community, which means that local authorities are uniquely placed to drive this process and build on existing assets. This calls for close collaboration between local authorities, sources of public funding, and third-party connectivity experts and providers.

The most immediate challenge is that most regions, especially rural areas, don’t have the fibre infrastructure to cope with the huge volume of data needed – and expansion plans are hampered by budgetary issues. A more innovative approach to funding, and to forming partnerships, can address this.

Innovative partnerships

Neos Networks’ ongoing work with Aberdenshire Council, Aberdeen City Council and NHS Grampian is just one example of a new approach to address these concerns. Our most recent fibre connectivity project is set to connect 190 public sector sites with a 275 km network, improving public services, boosting economic activity and improving local quality of life. The £10.5 million Public Sector budget was raised as part of a specific financial agreement to create sustainable digital infrastructure for the future of the region, between the UK and Scottish Governments, Aberdeenshire Council and other regional partners. However, this budget would have been insufficient to complete the build on its own, so Neos Networks contributed to affordability by combining our existing assets and our own investment, driven by a long term view of the future commercialisation opportunity.

Another challenge is the public’s concern around data security, both cybersecurity and the retention and use of personal data by the public and private sector. Sharing information and combining it with contextual data for real-time analysis will be key in developing smart places. All smart partners will need to collaborate to raise awareness of the benefits of such connectivity, and to allay public fears over privacy concerns. Transparent commitments, even legislation, may be needed to build trust, including full disclosure about the data used, when and why and a guarantee of cybersecurity to protect personal data.

A holistic approach should also consider how people are likely to use this new connectivity for both living and working, to maximise return on investment for local authorities. This includes engaging everyone, not only the tech-savvy, by providing clear, easy-to-use, user-centric tools and apps with simple data dashboards and interactive infographics.

Working together for a smarter future

Connectivity and communications infrastructure will be at the heart of any project to create a better-connected city or place. While commercial 5G services are essential, the underlying core networks will need high-capacity fibre connectivity to ensure fast, reliable, secure services. Local authorities will need trusted telco partners to deliver this connectivity, with experience in operations and security and data centre services to enable their smart goals.

To find out more about how we enable the connectivity that lies behind (and underneath) connected cities and places, download our Connected Cities eBook.

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Maritime Connectivity: How Smart Ports can Recover the Sector Post-Covid-19

The maritime sector plays a critical part in the UK economy, with responsibility for the majority of our imports and exports. Maritime UK estimates that this sector alone enables 9 percent of all UK trade and supports over 1.1 million jobs.

But this makes the industry particularly vulnerable to macroeconomic shocks and poor performance in the rest of the UK economy. The wider effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have hit this industry hard: from the disruption to supply chains that have affected logistics firms, to the crippling effects on passenger transport businesses (like ferries and cruises) a lot needs to happen to get the industry back up to its pre-COVID-19 levels.

With this in mind, Maritime UK has worked with its trade association and members to create a comprehensive Sector Recovery Plan. The plan gives recommendations for both industry and government on the three stages of recovery; restart, recover, renew.

This can be further broken down into five top priorities:

  • Environment: to meet the UK’s net-zero commitments
  • Regional growth: to stimulate economic development in coastal communities
  • People: to enrich our workforce and encourage suitable working practices
  • Innovation: to respond to the significant challenges and opportunities ahead
  • Competitiveness: to maximise the attractiveness of UK business

Exploration of digital transformation towards ‘smart ports,’ (which had already started prior to the pandemic) may help address many of these goals. These ports employ digital technologies to continually improve safety, efficiency, yield and environmental impact – technologies that are more complex to implement throughout larger estates. Other ports then gain some of the benefits of this via their interactions with the smaller ports.

Digitalisation and increased connectivity can also lead to cost-effective route to recovery and renewal for the UK maritime sector. Neos Networks’ role in bringing high capacity, high availability, resilient connectivity to remote Maritime and Coastguard Agency locations is just one example of our experience and expertise in this area. In partnership with Telent, a leading technology and network services company, we are deploying a resilient Ethernet network directly into 165 coastguard remote radio sites to keep the agency connected 24/7, 365 days a year. Read the full announcement here.

How getting ‘smart’ can aid recovery

Our ports face some specific issues either created or exacerbated by the pandemic: trade slumps, closed borders and stranded travellers – and with partial lifting of lockdowns, being overwhelmed by renewed production, leaving some unable to process or store cargo. On top of this, the full impact of Brexit is starting to be felt with changes in the way ports can move cargo and people since 1 January 2021. This will will have a huge impact on the maritime sector, and could severely damage productivity for those who aren’t adequately prepared.

Transitioning to smart ports could help alleviate many of these issues, as digitalisation can help to streamline operations with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated systems, plus increased data collection and processing. Investing in digitalisation can also strengthen the post-COVID business case, taking the strain off new regulatory pressures.

The cranes, conveyors, pumps and port vehicles that move goods on or off ships and transport them through the port for storage and further processing, can all be automated through Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology. Ships can also benefit from automation, either via complete autonomous control or remote command systems. Ports could also employ AI to automate smart storage, processing and security. Automation offers obvious cost-effectiveness, as well as bringing speed and efficiency improvements by reducing human error. Such reductions can also improve safety and environmental performance by minimising energy consumption and the associated emissions.

Pre-pandemic, maritime stakeholders were already exploring the best ways to improve how ports, carriers and related parties should share and standardise data. Most consider this vital for long-term growth and recognise the need for new technologies, new thinking and collaboration.

All these applications require robust, reliable connectivity, higher data capacity and better management of application routing to optimise bandwidth use and data traffic. That means working with experienced partners who can advise on best practice, large-scale implementation, and cybersecurity.

Connectivity is the key

Rotterdam, Antwerp, and Singapore have already launched smart ports, involving partnerships between local port authorities, government, academic institutions and shipping/logistics companies. The potential benefits of emulating these partnerships in the UK are clear: Rotterdam, for example, now moves between 25 and 50 percent more containers per hour than any other port in Northern Europe.

But these improvements require connectivity comparable to that available inland. In the UK, connectivity in ports and coastal areas (along with other non-urban areas) currently lags behind that of our major cities. Creating smart ports will depend on the rollout of industrial Wi-Fi or 5G, ideally backed up with hard-wired networks, for low latency, high-speed connectivity with high redundancy.

Antwerp and Rotterdam, for example, have not only made it possible to connect IIoT devices, but also offer high capacity connectivity for visiting seafarers – whereas most ports still use Very High Frequency (VHF) radio to connect ship crews with shore teams. This enables a seamless exchange of operational and transactional data.

Another innovation made possible by improved connectivity is real-time port-call optimisation platforms. This will allow shipping companies, agents, terminal operators, and service providers to share an operational view and exchange information on a dedicated platform, transforming the flow of ships in and out of ports. Combining publicly available data with that submitted by participants, all stakeholders can see both real-time and planned overviews of the port and vessels, while collaborative communication tools can reduce planning and administration time.

Connectivity, and the infrastructure it relies on, will be vital for the recovery of ports and the longer-term project to create smart ports to protect long-term growth in the maritime sector. With solid connectivity and best-in-class deployment teams for remote, difficult to access locations, there’s no sea change big enough to knock your port off course.

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Digital Infrastructure Investment: Why is it booming?

Project Edge

Words by Sarah Mills, Managing Director, Wholesale on 

The role of fibre broadband in digital transformation

On Tuesday 24th November, it was my pleasure to participate in a panel discussion with a number of like-minded colleagues from across the telecoms sector. The panel was set up to deliberate the role of fibre broadband in digital transformation. It rounded off the European Infrastructure Finance Summit and sought to explore opportunities for investment and trends in the digital space.

Digital infrastructure investment during COVID-19

Chairing the discussion, Brendan Malkin kicked off by drawing attention to the way in which demand for fast, reliable connectivity has accelerated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, so much so that it is now widely deemed an essential service.

This was a perspective corroborated by Rafael Canada, who commented that the telecoms industry was really one of the few to benefit from global lockdowns, with fibre and connectivity being catapulted into the Critical National Infrastructure category. He continued to explain that investors have had little choice but to re-evaluate their portfolios, adapt their strategies and subsequently offer up greater sums to those looking to develop digital infrastructure.

Matthew Hare was quick to raise that a proven ability to deliver would be imperative for companies looking to secure the investment they were seeking. Lenders do expect a heathy return after all, and so well-established telcos with a demonstrable credibility in providing infrastructure are most likely to flourish during this time.

Discussing trends in telecoms infrastructure

Neha Puri explored this suggestion further, stating that most investors would primarily be looking for value-add opportunities as the focus on the telecoms sector sharpens. She drew attention to the prospect of real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, primarily in the transport, logistics and manufacturing sectors, and how connectivity would play a crucial role in delivering this. As an emerging technology, this has whetted the appetite of investors, but Neha warned the successful development of this form of innovation is predicated on the widescale availability of 4G and 5G across the infrastructure.

Underpinning wireless technology is, of course, a labyrinth of fibre networks. The discussion quickly turned to consider how telcos are expanding their coverage for both consumers and industry. As alluded to by Conal Henry, incumbents are now being threatened by market challengers across the UK, with this fervent competition also driving investment in fibre.

The challenges of digital infrastructure expansion

But the notion of ‘if you build it, they will come’ is not viable, according to Matthew. He suggested that a certain level of demand must be identified when considering building out network in a given region, and even then the cost and future return must be carefully calculated before committing to a project. But gauging demand is also far from simple. Matthew demonstrated this by drawing attention to Zzoomm’s first full fibre roll-out project in upmarket Henley, where one might expect consumer up-take to be widespread. The reality is the service is considered more of a necessity by residents in some districts than in others.

It’s a conundrum not dissimilar to that faced in the B2B space, as I was able to testify. Neos Networks’ network expansion journey is pushing forward, full steam ahead. But identifying where there are high levels of business demand requires a substantial level of insight as well as proven expertise of the market. This is especially true in the Mobile Network Operator (MNO) space. Here, a significant overhaul to increase capacity and reduce latency is in progress, alongside the ongoing roll-out of 5G networks. MNOs require robust fibre connectivity and access to nationwide unbundled exchanges to support this high capacity requirement, and to aggregate connectivity to mast sites, contributing to their coverage obligations and helping to broaden services to B2B customers of their own.

Conversely, there are also communities looking to commission digital infrastructure enhancements designed to traverse the landscape of entire cities and beyond, such as the full fibre roll-out across Aberdeenshire. These networks are designed to provide leading edge connectivity to public sector facilities, but also to provide local businesses with the opportunity to lease high speed, high capacity fibre. These arrangements require significant collaboration, but can result in a multitude of operational and financial benefits for all parties once complete. In this instance, a portion of the route relied upon the use of Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA), which has been made available to the industry thanks to regulation.

As Conal stated however, a lack of governance in the past now presents providers of full fibre connectivity with greater difficulty when selling their services. He suggested that the fibre brand has been polluted by companies selling copper into a property, and labelling it as full fibre broadband. The consumer is now confused and most hold misconceptions about what full fibre actually means. It’s something that could have been nipped in the bud according to Matthew, who believes regulators should have mandated rules around fibre advertising from the outset.

The future of digital infrastructure investment: fibre vs 5G?

We ended the session considering fibre versus 5G as a connectivity solution, with so much attention and hype surrounding the latter. The truth is both are highly valuable assets in the information age. But as Matthew pointed out, pretty much all properties will ultimately end up with fixed connectivity, just as they do with water and energy. They may sit within a region covered by 5G, but ultimately, the cost of delivering fibre is a fraction of that to provide 5G connectivity. As Conal summed up in the final exchanges, 5G is nothing without fibre in the ground.

What is digital infrastructure?

Digital infrastructure is the collective term for digital technologies providing the basis for information technology and operations for an organisation, city or country. Examples of digital infrastructure include the following:

  • The internet backbone: data routes connecting countries and continents, including those underwater
  • Dedicated internet line: fixed networks between cities and regions, as well as last-mile connections to homes, businesses and other sites
  • Network infrastructure: business ethernet services, for instance
  • Communications satellites: for providing network or information services
  • Mobile telecommunications: cellular networks that provide both wireless broadband and communications services
  • Data centres: where data storage, computing and network services are managed
  • Cloud computing: platforms for instantly accessible computing, network services and data storage
  • Platforms: for creating, deploying and running software services – commonly accessed through the cloud
  • Systems: mainly automation software
  • Apps: software, including mobile apps
  • Internet of things: devices that require an internet connection to function, which can include robots, sensors, products, vehicles or infrastructure
  • User devices: including laptops, tablets and mobile phones

Why is investment in digital infrastructure important?

In the information age, modern societies and economies rely upon digital infrastructure. This has become ever more apparent as working from home has become the norm for a great many people. 

Just as nations that do not invest in digital infrastructure will fall behind, the same is true of organisations that fail to invest in it. Using out-of-date, slow or unreliable digital infrastructure will put your business at a competitive disadvantage. Bad connectivity could cause your organisations’ employees frustration through an inability to carry out tasks effectively.

If you want your organisation to be seen as forward-looking and you want to be ready for the future of business, digital infrastructure investment is non-negotiable.

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New fibre route from Blackpool to Preston a prime opportunity for hyperscalers

As one of the UK’s fastest-growing connectivity providers, we have been continuously focused on broadening our UK network over the past few years. Our latest project is a significant expansion between Preston and Blackpool, which will help us broaden our high capacity network across the north west – and make connections far beyond that.

With the potential for transatlantic subsea cabling routes connecting into the Lancashire coastline, digital behemoths such as the FAMGA organisations (Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Apple) may well have the ability to easily route their traffic into our network, giving access first to the UK, then on to any desired European locations. This makes it an ideal connectivity option for data-hungry content providers and hyperscalers.

The expansion comes hot on the heels of our recent £10.5m full fibre construction project in collaboration with Aberdeenshire County Council, in addition to the announcement that we’ll be more than doubling our UK network, unbundling a further 259 BT Exchanges by the end of 2021. Designed to enable delivery of public services and support local economic activity, both projects are good examples of futureproofing regions and the UK more generally to meet the connectivity demands of today and tomorrow.

A single supplier strategic partnership

The Neos Networks network is well-placed to support hyperscalers looking for scalable, robust, high capacity UK connectivity and network solutions to deliver services across their fast-paced, ever-expanding market.

Hyperscalers can also benefit from partnering with a single end-to-end connectivity supplier that can meet all their network infrastructure needs, reducing costly and inefficient multi-vendor relationships.

Our expansion in Lancashire enhances this network significantly, and we will continue to broaden our fibre core network reach across the UK, connecting into strategic landing stations that are critical for hyperscalers looking to extend into mainland Europe and across the Atlantic.

UK connectivity and beyond

The digital economy plays a huge role in business today, making it crucial for as many people as possible to have access to high speed, high capacity connectivity. We’re proud to say we’re still right on schedule to hit our target of unbundling 550 BT exchanges by the end of 2021 – maintaining progress despite the disruptions and challenges of COVID-19. Classed as a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) project, the push to double our unbundled BT exchanges in just over a year is bringing high capacity fibre services to the doorsteps of approximately 80% of UK business premises.

On completion, we’ll be able to offer a high capacity Dark Fibre network spanning 30,000+km to facilitate the UK’s high capacity digital-first ambitions, including the speed, performance and reach required for 5G networks. We’ll be offering 10Gbps and 100Gbps Ethernet, Optical services, Dedicated Internet Access services and more as standard from the newly unbundled exchanges to businesses across the nation. This will aid in the deployment of such pervasive connectivity technologies as seamless video streaming, immersive virtual and augmented reality, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

The new route from Blackpool to Preston is part of this ongoing commitment. The enterprise-grade connectivity services made possible by this expansion will not only be available to global enterprises and service providers, but also to local businesses, giving a boost to the entire region and futureproofing business connectivity.

Building for the future

Our focus has always been on providing class-leading connectivity and data centre services that deliver very high performance, cost efficiency and a competitive edge. Our private telecoms network currently extends over 20,000km and our 90 commercial data centres span the UK. Our extensive telecoms and data centre expertise offers commercial security with unrivalled in-house engineering resource.

We maintain these services to ensure that, wherever you are in the UK, you have access to the connectivity services your business needs. Our work to connect Blackpool to Preston and beyond is the latest example of that. We’ll continue to invest in expanding high capacity connectivity for the benefit of businesses, large and small, across the UK.

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Decarbonisation, digitalisation and the emergence of the integrated energy company

The coronavirus outbreak of 2020 meant it was a year unlike any other for everyone. But commercially, the decline in travel and deceleration of industrial productivity meant the (already turbulent) oil and gas sector was impacted particularly heavily.

Indeed, Total announced revenue losses of approximately $12bn in the same year, while BP posted a record deficit of almost $18bn. And with widely circulated reports of demand for oil slumping to its lowest levels for more than a quarter of a century, it’s hardly surprising that oil prices dropped below zero barely a month after the world went into lockdown.

But while life as we knew it came to an abrupt halt, targets for longer term goals have stayed intact. The mandate for the UK to become net zero by 2050 for example, is a formidable challenge which oil and gas companies will need to address and invest in heavily to remain compliant.

Digital transformation has been identified as one of the key ways in which the sector may overcome this challenge. The process has been in train for some time already, and the majority of oil and gas organisations have taken major steps in implementing AI and machine learning, advanced analytics and robotic process automation solutions. They are yet to fully appreciate the full potential that IIoT, blockchain and edge computing have to offer, however.

It’s believed that these new digital technologies will factor heavily in improving the movement and management of data, helping to increase safety, reliability and productivity, while eradicating the legacy technology said to be inhibiting the drive to become carbon neutral.

Meanwhile, the big players within the industry appear to be taking far more revolutionary steps to ensure they hit the 2050 net zero target. Their solution? Diversification into the renewable energy market.

Equinor are one of those leading the way in this regard. They are expected to spend around $10bn on specific renewable energy products by 2025, accounting for more than half of the overall sum predicted to be invested by oil companies.

And Total are also making headway into the renewables market, having secured a 51% stake in the Seagreen offshore windfarm project. It’s understood that this particular acquisition represents a significant chunk of the £2bn per annum that Total is looking to invest in low-carbon electricity.

Like their competitors, Total is all too aware that demand for oil and gas is on a downward trajectory, and so the projected 11% ROI on Seagreen will contribute not only to recovering the deficit caused by this trend, but in recouping losses caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

This evolution away from operating purely as oil and gas energy providers has resulted in the coining of a new classification of organisations such as Equinor and Total as ‘integrated energy companies’, or IECs. That’s according to Bernard Looney, anyway. The CEO of BP suggests that this is a response to the changing demands of the world from the point of view of energy provision, and admits that his business are also making the transition.

By 2030, BP will have reduced oil and gas production by 40% and aim to have increased their renewable energy generating capacity from 2.5GW to 50GW by upping investment in the technologies required to $5bn per annum.

It’s an altogether uncertain but undeniably exciting time for the oil and gas industry and, as providers of connectivity in the aforementioned Seagreen project, one in which I am delighted to be playing an active role at the leading edge.

Robust and reliable connectivity will be crucial to the success of this venture and all those akin that are sure to appear on the horizon. The offshore wind farm will be supplying power to more than a million homes in Scotland, and the latest in LTE and 5G technologies will be utilised to help keep the country up and running at all times.

With so much change taking place, both in terms of digital transformation and energy transition, it’s vital that oil and gas companies partner with organisations that truly understand the energy market and the demands with which they are faced.

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Tackling the connectivity challenges of DSO transformation

It’s no secret that the coming years will bring significant transformation for the energy industry. From smart grids to investment in renewables, Britain’s businesses are already gearing up for this shift, with 72% saying they have moderately or significantly factored self-generation of electricity into their strategic planning.

With that in mind, Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) must prepare to become Distribution System Operators (DSOs). Under a DSO model, energy can be generated, distributed and stored more efficiently. Yet while the DSO model is smarter, it’s also more complex. Change is never easy, and the shift to DSO creates an array of challenges – like the need to hire new staff, and the requirement for cross-industry collaboration.

However, as our recent research into the DSO model has revealed, there’s also a broader need that can’t be ignored: network connectivity.

The network challenges of the DSO model

Network connectivity might not be the first difficulty that springs to mind as DNOs consider their transition to DSO. But it is an important one, with the potential to seriously impact how DSOs perform. Our research shows that as businesses and prosumers travel further down the road of renewables, the need for high-performance telecoms infrastructure becomes clearer. In fact, over three quarters of those who have been generating their own renewable energy for more than six years agree that ‘effective communication infrastructure is critical to creating a more intelligent smart-grid approach to energy distribution and management’.

DNOs must be prepared to tackle these challenges. But before they can do that, they need to understand them – and there are several telecoms angles to consider. Firstly, the new world of energy provision requires a fast, reliable and secure connectivity infrastructure that can facilitate significant volumes of data exchange for accurate forecasting. Existing DNOs must therefore make sure their telecoms infrastructure is able to support growing and sometimes unpredictable requirements.

Another key consideration is feeding energy back into the network. As one energy leader commented in our research, a lack of ‘bi-directional data’ is a huge challenge. For the DNOs of old, the direction of travel for electricity systems was very much a one-way flow. But as businesses and prosumers take an active role in energy generation and sharing, the grid needs an underlying network that can facilitate this flow back and forth.

Many sites where renewable energy is generated in large quantities are in rural, remote or hard-to-reach locations. Even after organisations have understood what sort of connectivity infrastructure they require, implementation can still be logistically challenging.

So, it’s clear what the roadblocks are, but how should DNOs tackle them?

Finding the technology for the task

With such a varied array of connectivity challenges to tackle, the road to DSO transformation looks like a long and bumpy one. Fortunately, there are a number of networking solutions available that can give the smart grid the reliability, scalability, low-latency and security it requires to function effectively.

Dark Fibre

The DSO model requires connectivity that is highly scalable and secure, with route diversity to protect mission critical infrastructure. One way of achieving this is by using Dark Fibre, providing DSOs with scalable bandwidth, enhanced security and total control over the network.

While high construction costs for a full, private Dark Fibre network would make it prohibitively expensive or time-consuming, DNOs could instead deploy Dark Fibre at their core network, working with partners who already have Dark Fibre available for leasing. In doing so, DNOs will still enjoy the aforementioned benefits, in good time and without breaking the bank.

SD-WAN

Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN) can then be used to connect this core network to regional and rural locations, including branch offices, headquarters, cloud platforms and data centres. This allows the central controller to prioritise traffic in peak times and to roll out new protocols, even over large distances, which will be crucial for a nationwide smart grid.

SD-WAN provides more visibility, flexibility and security over the network, positioning future DSOs to make more intelligent decisions and respond to business or user needs at pace. It can also create efficiencies and generally facilitate easier control of the network, in turn generating cost and time savings for network managers.

Making the most of the DSO future

Britain’s energy industry is changing fast. With almost a third of prosumers (32%) and six in ten (59%) businesses intending to increase the amount of renewable energy they generate, it won’t be long before we all take a more active role in energy – whether that’s producing it, trying to use it more efficiently or embracing smart grid applications.

But there’s plenty of work to do first, and the DNOs of today must shoulder this mantle. The benefits of the smart energy future can only be realised if DNOs can transition to DSOs successfully and, for that to happen, the smart network needs the right connectivity infrastructure to underpin it. That’s a hugely complex task that will require expert insight, collaboration and modern applications for network management. Fortunately, all of those things are already available in the wider market; DNOs simply need to reach out and find them.

From new regulatory frameworks to better incentives and the right partners, Britain’s energy leaders know the shift from DSO to DNO will be filled with complications.

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The Industrial Evolution: What should DNOs expect during the DSO transition?

As demand rises and climate change awareness reaches an all-time peak, both businesses and consumers are wising up to the way they use energy. People want to move away from traditional energy consumption, while simultaneously improving affordability and reliability – and some exciting industry changes are emerging to accommodate this, with smart meters rising in popularity.

Unfortunately, broader change isn’t as simple as installing meters. Energy providers more widely need to shift from their role as Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) to become Distribution System Operators (DSOs), taking a more hands-on role in the way they manage local electricity supply and generation, while giving customers greater control and choice over their energy usage. So, how should operators go about facilitating this process successfully?

We surveyed over 300 businesses and prosumers who generate their own electricity from renewable sources in the UK to build a more detailed picture of what the next move should be for DNOs.

The new landscape

This transition will have a significant impact on the energy market. To gain the best results as a new landscape is carved out, DNOs need to adapt to accommodate these changes. Here are some tips to kickstart the process:

  • Collaboration is key. Working with other companies – and even competitors – can ease the strain of the transition. An area where you fall short may just be the same field in which they can provide support, and vice versa.
  • Invest in the right IT. As with any major change, planned fluctuations in production are to be expected. Implementing a solid procurement platform and developing relationships with qualified suppliers in advance could mitigate any unwanted ramifications, and prepare you for the need to embrace energy balancing.
  • Don’t neglect your prosumers – they might just hold the key to the next generation of smart energy production or monitoring. For example, did you know that over a third of prosumers cite the creation of additional income as a driver for investing in renewables? DNOs should work alongside them to shape strategy and create systems that support their needs and address concerns.

The new eco-system

The entire network eco-system is going to change and DNOs must maintain the ability to provide the same standard of service despite the disruption. The system must be flexible across the board, not just in the areas where issues commonly arise. DNOs also need to adopt a model of holistic thinking. This is not the time to compartmentalise, and businesses should focus on a strategy that encompasses distribution, generation and usage.

It’s important to remember that there won’t be a clear winner with smart energy. All parties involved will be fully engaged with squeezing the best from this transition, so be sure to focus on your unique strengths to succeed. Ultimately, cross-industry collaborations are the best bet to deliver the maximum value. Different companies can offer different benefits, filling in weaknesses and boosting strengths to complete the jigsaw puzzle.

The new legal framework

With such a rapidly changing landscape, there will be a need for new legal and regulatory frameworks. Existing frameworks don’t support enhanced deployment and utilisation of energy storage options, so something has to change if the transition is to be a success. And, while nobody knows exactly quite what to expect from this arena, DNOs should be mindful that the lack of clarity around rules regarding storage, unbundling and pricing could lead to fewer investments in DSO strategy.

In the meantime, it’s crucial that DNOs have their involvement in storage ownership and operation covered before beginning the transition, as legal, functional and accounting are likely to be unbundled. The upside: operational independence of the distribution side of the business. The downside: blocked involvement in storage ownership and operation.

The future of energy

As with all major industry changes, it’s hard to know exactly what to expect. What is clear is that DNOs will make it through the transition successfully by remaining adaptable, maintaining a positive attitude and recognising the rich opportunities for progress and development at the end of the tunnel. With a little help from outside sources, what DNOs do today will determine how successful the transition to DSO will be – and what the coming decades of energy usage and production will look like for the UK.

Making the transition to a DSO operating model is a complex prospect. Discover more about the energy sector’s sentiments towards this challenge in our DNO to DSO research report.

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Smarter together: the value of cross-industry collaboration in the DNO to DSO transition

From consumers to businesses and broader communities, the shift from Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to Distribution System Operator (DSO) offers much to anticipate – including faster grid connections, reduced energy bills, greener energy usage and greater flexibility. But as with all changes to major national systems, turning the future vision of energy into a reality poses many challenges. Some necessary steps have already faced delays, as energy businesses get to grips with the technical complexities of creating a smart network.

The government deadline for smart meter roll-out for example, has been extended from the end of 2020 to 2024 with an estimated bill of over £13bn, as energy firms warned that the technology simply wasn’t ready. This presents a serious barrier to change: robust data analytics play a key role in the success of a DSO model, and businesses and prosumers alike cite monitoring as one of the biggest contributors to accelerating smart networks. But these are understandably complicated to set up, especially on a large scale. It’s clear that the industry will require help to achieve this.

But where should that help come from? Energy companies could seek support from a number of sources, but with their expertise in data and network management, connectivity providers are a natural starting point. For DNOs grappling with the prospect of DSO transition, effective collaboration with the connectivity industry will provide value on several fronts.

Many hands make light work

Whether in terms of financial cost or the expertise and hours required, successfully moving to a DSO model is a huge investment. Rather than persevering in isolation, it makes sense for the energy and telecoms industries to work in partnership, each using their unique strengths, experience and existing assets to plug gaps together.

After all, those working in energy may not have significant experience in network infrastructure or data management and analytics, all of which needs to be carefully considered to make smart networks function effectively. But that’s not to say energy companies need to invest in lengthy recruiting processes to get these skillsets on side.

This is an area where connectivity providers have significant expertise, meaning they can both advise and support on any changes required. With this aspect of the DSO transition covered, energy companies can focus their resources on other crucial tasks – like working with prosumers and businesses to encourage smart meter uptake, or getting to grips with industry regulation.

Connectivity providers can also ensure that the DNOs are well informed about (and have access to) the most advanced and future-facing network technologies, along with the underlying network infrastructure required. Given that many relevant network technologies have only emerged in recent years – with some very much developing on an ongoing basis – a partner with their finger on the pulse is invaluable. For example, modern advances in networking like SD-WAN and 5G are key cogs in the mechanism of the move to DSO, and DNOs who can embrace these developments in the appropriate way will surely find themselves at an advantage.

Tackling challenges together

Smarter, greener energy usage is a goal we can all get behind, and by transitioning from a DNO to DSO model, energy businesses will play a leading role in making this happen. But while they’ll certainly be pivotal to the process, DNOs should remember that they needn’t tackle every aspect of this significant change alone. With the right cross-industry collaboration, the future of energy can be achieved at a much faster pace – and though more challenges will undoubtedly crop up along the way, none will be insurmountable.

From prosumers and businesses to energy industry leaders, interested parties understandably have many thoughts about the DNO to DSO shift – learn more in our research report, including key insight into how the shift can take place successfully. Or, check out some key findings in our infographic, The changing energy ecosystem: Tariffs, incentives and collaboration.

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The emergence of Esports: The next global enterprise opportunity

Video-gaming

Video games are big business. With a predicted industry value of approximately £241bn by 2025, it’s a lucrative market – and a competitive one too. With Esports alone set to be worth £1.4bn within just three years,  it’s no wonder that many of the world’s largest companies are splashing the cash on investments and sponsoring virtual players and events. From Nike to PepsiCo, business giants are all clamouring for a piece of the Esports pie.

It’s safe to say that this once niche industry is now solidly mainstream. And the COVID-19 lockdown leading to a boom in competitive gaming, viewing and participation, including high profile instances of traditional sports giving way to their virtual equivalents to keep fans sated while cars were off the tracks and players away from the field.

The question is, what’s next for Esports and what does our industry need to do to support their growth?

Ready player one?

From Formula One to the NBA and FIFA’s Stay and Play Cup, professional sportspeople are using Esports to engage with fans after ‘real’ matches grounded to a halt. Meanwhile, viewership on popular game streaming website Twitch rose by 23 percent in March alone – with 1.2 billion hours of gameplay watched on the platform over the month.

But all this high bandwidth activity puts a major strain on the networks that support it, making it difficult for the media and digital entertainment industries to run Esporting events smoothly on a large scale. Leveraging existing infrastructure capabilities can only take businesses so far. As capacity pressures soar, something as conceptually simple as live gaming can become challenging to manage, or prohibitively expensive.

It undeniably takes a lot to make Esports happen – and it’s likely to become even trickier as its popularity continues to rocket.

Level up low latency

More than any other form of entertainment before it, the growing Esports empire is reliant on superior connectivity and ultra-low latency. Just one minor delay could hinder an Esports players’ performance or cause disruptions to the game. Inadequate connectivity puts hundreds of millions of pounds of prize money and sponsorship deals at risk, so a few second’s lag is no longer merely a mild vexation.

With this in mind, it’s down to media organisations and retailers to power their virtual Esports events and venues with the right connectivity technology. In practice, this means having an appropriate level of network capacity necessary to support Esports and ensuring they can scale to meet demand.

This isn’t always easy. Many network providers still aren’t used to the requirements of Esports compared to traditional events like concerts. So dedicated venues and hosts may need to go as far as installing their own networks to develop a dependable infrastructure to meet the needs of the event.

As you can imagine, being an Esports host requires upfront investment that some businesses may be hesitant about – particularly if they hadn’t planned to dedicate much budget to it. There’s also software and IT support to consider, as well as security measures that will ensure that hackers can be prevented from interfering with the event. But with Esports clearly in the ascendency, this should be seen as more than just cost. Investing now means benefits in the future as Esports grows, as well as being one of the first businesses to move, rather than playing catch up in five years’ time.

Take it online

From Overwatch League to Play! Pokemon, Esporting events that fans in their thousands would have attended venues to watch have moved online in the wake of COVID-19, inadvertently helping to accelerate adoption of mobile and cloud-based gaming platforms. But these platforms, while perfectly useable now, have a lot of exciting improvements to look forward to in the 5G and edge computing powered future ahead – which is why we provide connectivity services to key players in the gaming sector. These next generation alternatives will be able to provide lower latency and speeds up to 10 times faster than 4G networks, minimising lag while providing viewers and players with a better-quality experience than ever before.

The new developments don’t end there. New capacity brings new capabilities, with 5G adoption expected to boost the use of innovative virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technology in Esporting events. In the future, these will be deployed to enhance the viewing experience, from giving fans an immersive virtual ‘front row seat’ at matches to putting them in the centre of the action for a first person look at gameplay. Live commentary, streaming multiple feeds, on-demand statistics and AR content for visitors could also become a possibility, making tuning in even more exhilarating than playing the game yourself.

The future looks bright

While it could be tempting to jump on the bandwagon, businesses contemplating capitalising on the rise of Esports need to consider the high capacities required to successfully deliver this service.

Despite the challenges, the future is undoubtedly bright for this burgeoning industry. And with 5G set to become ubiquitous, we could see in-depth Esporting events and exciting new mobile gaming platforms following suit. Look out, traditional sports! There’s a new game in town.

Find out more about how to meet heavy bandwidth requirements in the new world of media in our eBook here.

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Why high capacity Ethernet should be considered a worthy competitor of Optical

Ethernet vs Optical

When it comes to high capacity connectivity, there are a number of options that tend to lead the way. The most popular being Dark Fibre and Optical Wavelength networks.

Dark Fibre supports large businesses with higher security, higher bandwidth requirements, due to its nature it is expensive but offers near limitless capacity. Optical is often seen as the go-to solution for companies looking for a reliable high capacity service without the price tag.

Yet, more recently we’ve seen interest in a more cost-effective alternative, high capacity Ethernet. Currently delivered in capacities ranging from 10Mbps to 1Gbps, Ethernet is already known for its robust, flexible and affordable service. It therefore makes sense that introducing a higher capacity version of this well-loved solution would make for a good alternative to the more traditional high capacity choices.

It was this thinking led us to the recent introduction of our 10Gbps Ethernet connectivity.

But with a new choice, comes the understandable concerns around service, delivery and performance. Here’s the five most common questions that have been raised by our partners:

1) Will this new high capacity Ethernet be available in my area?

Our high capacity Ethernet services span the UK. To date we have 10Gbps Ethernet connectivity available in 159 of our on-net exchanges, with plans in the coming months to add 10Gbps capability to 18 more. If our high capacity network doesn’t reach your site, we work with a number of third-party providers to help get you to your end destination. In addition to this, we’ve been working on expanding our network even further over the next 12 months and are hoping to announce the unbundling of a number of new exchanges shortly. Watch this space.

2) Will the network suffer from congestion?

Our Ethernet platform is built on a multiple 100Gbps core, meaning congestion isn’t a concern. We’ve ensured that we have a large backhaul capability so that we can deliver high capacity data usage.

Should we get to a stage where our network is starting to fill up, we have the ability to quickly deploy an additional 100Gbps. And another, and another.

3) Is the bandwidth and throughput guaranteed?

We can say with certainty that yes both the bandwidth and throughput are guaranteed.

As already touched on, we can deliver the agreed bandwidth thanks to our 100Gbps core network and ability to scale. When our network nears capacity, we’ll extend the network capability so that your bandwidth doesn’t suffer.

When it comes to throughput, we promise that the capacity you order is the capacity that will be delivered. Whereas some providers may supply you with reduced capacity owing to network overheads, we make sure that any overheads don’t impact your contracted allowance.

4) What happens if there is an obstruction on the line?

We have built our network out in loops, with each string housing, on average, four to five exchanges. By creating our network topology in this way, we ensure maximum security on the connection.

Should there be an issue, the service will automatically re-route in the opposite direction. This east and west routing was key when we looked at designing our network. The diagram gives a prime example of how the service would re-route should an obstruction appear on the line.

5) Will the service delivery be slower than Optical?

We’ve taken every step to ensure that our 10Gbps Ethernet service is sold, provisioned and delivered in the same way as a 1Gbps Ethernet solution would be. By offering the solution ‘as standard’ not only can you place the order directly through our online pricing and ordering tool, LIVEQUOTE, once the order is in motion the majority will meet our standard delivery timescales of 20 working days (for an on-net solution).

With Optical, delivery is dependent on survey completion and the purchasing of additional ports and equipment meaning that standard on-net delivery timescales can range from 20 working days to anywhere upwards of 60. While this works for many businesses, where you have a more immediate requirement it makes sense that high capacity Ethernet is a good fit.

Your high capacity options have just opened up

It’s fair to say that there is still very much a place for Optical and Dark Fibre providers. But equally, there is now also place for high capacity Ethernet. Which service is right, very much depends on your business requirements and, of course, your budget.

If you have a high capacity requirement and are unsure which route to take, get in contact with us today and we’ll be happy to help guide you through what we believe is right for your business.

Want to learn more about our 10Gbp capable Ethernet network? Find out about Edge 3, the initiative that enabled our high-capacity services, here.

"With an important new contract to deliver connectivity to the Yacht Havens Group, we knew that Neos Networks would enable us to deliver uncontended bandwidth via Ethernet across all nine sites. Not only was their solution the most cost-competitive of all the service providers we considered, we also had peace of mind knowing that the company has such an excellent record in service delivery. With multiple challenging sites to connect, we needed a trusted network partner to help us manage the project; we’ve been delighted with the quality of the account team and the support we’ve received throughout."

– Matthew Skipsey, Chief Technical Officer, M12 Solutions

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Preparing for the digital future of energy

With an overwhelming emphasis towards smarter and more eco-friendly methods of power generation and distribution, the future of the energy sector appears rife with opportunity.

The transition is not without its challenges, however.

While all sectors are having to adapt, few are evolving to the same extent as energy. With the demands of customers, environmental obligations and political pressure all driving industry-level transformation, IT leaders are sure to be bearing the brunt.

The conversation is dominated by three major developments within the industry:

1. The move to RIIO-2

With new pricing controls due from 2021, the consumer can soon look forward to a more competitively priced market, while decision-makers within the sector will need to demonstrate how their directives are working to improve safety, adopt a low-carbon economy and lower costs.

2. The transition from DNO to DSO

As the generation, transmission and trade of energy becomes a more open market with the proliferation of the prosumer, energy companies are having to navigate the tricky path of migrating from Distributed Network Operators (DNOs) to Distributed System Operators (DSOs). To achieve this successfully, the DSO model must be highly digitised with the capacity to move and manage grid data in real time.

3. Smart grid adoption

Looking ahead, it won’t just be energy companies that require instant access to network data and performance statistics. The increase in smart devices installed in UK cities, homes and places of work over the next five years is predicted to be exponential, and energy usage information will be required for all striving to be environmentally efficient.

With each of these challenges the digital agenda of energy companies can play a pivotal role. IT networks should be front of mind for leadership teams. Equally, forming the right technology partnerships will be critical.

Priorities in digitalisation

The way the landscape is changing will make for a more flexible network, designed to facilitate modification of energy production or consumption, based upon the demands of consumers and businesses.

But this will only work to its full potential if scalable infrastructure is in place that can respond to demand variability in real time, with a comprehensive understanding of capacity needs and the level of supply. But achieving this level of insight will require energy firms to install sensors across the grid to an unprecedented degree.

Failing to implement clear visibility of network performance means IT leaders will run the risk of limiting efficiency or failing to spot faults, in turn compromising the smart, customer-focused nature of the grid.

Getting the right technology partnerships in place now, will mean energy companies are best prepared to take advantage of the opportunities arising from this evolutionary change.

How telecoms can help?

To date, legacy infrastructure has proven to be the thorn in the side of many businesses, not just within the energy sector. And the story is much the same here; for the proliferation of connected devices and need for real-time grid performance data, technology will need upgrading.

Partnering with organisations that appreciate the challenges affecting network infrastructure, particularly within the energy market, is the first step in the modernisation journey to help keep the nation connected.

Visibility is also vitally important. Next-generation technologies such as SD-WAN can provide IT leaders with the holistic view of their organisation’s network performance, providing real-time data to facilitate informed and reliable decision-making. And unlike many other solutions, SD-WAN is simple to install and can provide an outlook over the entire IT estate, from HQ to regional energy storage sites or substations.

While the future of the energy market may seem unclear at present, smart grid investment is undoubtedly rising and opportunity is there to be grasped. Now is the time for industry leaders to take action.

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