Vodafone-Three merger: How can local authorities reap the benefits for driving smart city digital initiatives?

The merger of mobile network giants, Vodafone and Three, has led to the creation of the UK’s largest mobile phone operator bringing network upgrade plans estimated to be costing £11bn. This is, of course, welcomed news for those in the deployment space but is the merger alone truly enough to reap the benefits to bridge the divide and drive the country’s digital initiatives forward?

Eight-year programme to bring significant digital infrastructure improvements

The Vodafone-Three merger can only be a positive move for connectivity across the UK. It brings an eight-year programme which will deliver an estimated £11bn investment plan to significantly upgrade and improve digital infrastructure for the newly created merged network.

This will produce lots of activity for the deployment scene, as no doubt it will include the acquisition of new sites or upgrading of existing sites for mast locations across the UK, alongside reviewing and renewing land lease renewals. So, there will be a lot of work for the industry around operational readiness.

This level of improvement works will lead to better service across the UK for customers, with the benefits of increased coverage for businesses, well-being and education widely documented. However, this alone won’t be enough to help drive the UK to where it needs to be in terms of private 5G networks and local authority engagement.

Embracing digital connectivity within local authorities

The early adoption of technologies can significantly enhance public and private services, as well as the monetisation of them in times of austerity challenges or unplanned events. As a result, there has been an increase in the number of 5G case studies and Gateley Hamer has been working closely with several local authorities, including West Midlands 5G, on connectivity enabling initiatives.

Additional UK cities, including Sunderland and Norwich, have also provided exceptional examples of how connectivity and smart city mindsets can drive net zero goals through enhanced intelligence gathering with data capture methods including smart grids, pollution monitoring and transport management.

Digital champions are essential for local authority engagement

So, while infrastructure changes and operational readiness are a step in the right direction, there are more benefits than enhanced service coverage that could be utilised. But how can the UK get there? The answer for truly reaping the benefits and driving initiatives is collaboration and the adoption and enabling of a ‘can do’ collective mindset. This can be supported internally within local authorities through the appointment of digital champions who can embrace this level of change and is key for those looking to achieve the same results as Sunderland, Norwich and West Midlands.

Digital champions can play an important role in managing stakeholder collaboration and breaking down walls between end users and enablers including landlords, local authorities, estates, and highways. By coming together as a collective unit, good things can happen.

It’s no secret that funding provides a challenge to appointing such digital champions within local authorities. However, there are other avenues to be explored and digital transformation companies are out there to have these important funding conversations.

Collaboration is key to developing the UK

So, while the Vodafone-Three merger is exciting news and will bring many benefits for connectivity across the UK, it is clear that there needs to be a bigger leap in managing key stakeholders, legislation and driving collaboration through digital champions with local authorities. Until we see more take up of such roles, local authorities will struggle to truly embrace the digital initiatives they desire for service improvements and supporting net zero initiatives. Without this passion, drive and commitment to connect key parties throughout the eight-year programme, the Vodafone-Three merger could fail to connect UK cities in ways which are truly needed.