INTERVIEW
FTTP: The ONLY answer to
Digital Britain?
BT Wholesale offers partners a vast range of fast and reliable connectivity options. Here Paul Beacham, Senior
Manager, Data Networking Portfolios at BT Wholesale spoke to Comms Business about why there isn’t one access
solution for all
Comms Business Magazine
(CBM): Will FTTP supersede
all the new fl avours of
connectivity we are seeing?
Paul Beacham (PB): “ e
current Covid-19 pandemic
has altered many aspects of our
lives, and ultimately completely
changed how many people work.
We’re no longer necessarily based
in o ces – we’re scattered all
over the country in cities, towns
and the countryside. In turn, this
has forced many businesses to
look at their xed connectivity
to ensure business productivity
and resilience. ey need
to understand whether the
infrastructure is available to
support new digital initiatives
intended to help businesses re-
nd their feet post-lockdown.
“FTTP provides superfast,
reliable connectivity and o ers
many other bene ts that can
enable businesses to ourish.
at being said, it’s only as
good as the core network being
accessed. Extensive national
coverage can ensure companies
have connectivity wherever
they are based and end-to-end
connectivity solutions – whether
FFTP or an alternative such as
Single Order Generic Ethernet
Access (SoGEA) – that provide
access into such networks should
be prioritised.
“Businesses need to have
choice, exibility and access
to a wide portfolio across
both ethernet and broadband,
and partners need to provide
guidance to customers that there
isn’t one access solution for all.”
CBM: Where else are we likely to
see investment when it comes
to superfast technology?
PB: “Moving forward, we’ll
begin to see more organisations
spreading connectivity
infrastructure across superfast
xed line and 5G networks,
in order to further increase
resilience and drive digital
operations.”
CBM: How can the Channel make
smart business/ IoT a reality?
PB: “Smart business is an
important opportunity for the
channel. By o ering converged
services across the spectrum of
connectivity, share of wallet and
customer retention will increase.
is evolution is only going to
gather pace, driven by the rising
signi cance of IoT.
“Partners that can provide
more services to businesses can
become the provider of the
‘smart business’, a one-stop-shop
that o ers everything from
xed line connectivity to IoT
ecosystems. We’re already seeing
similar movements in the home
utility sector, with energy brands
o ering services outside of their
traditional services and providing
phone and internet connectivity.
“Customers want ease and
are more likely to buy from a
single provider, so partners who
begin to take steps and package
multiple vendor services together
will be able to steal a march on
competitors who focus on single
smart solutions.”
CBM: The 5G hype machine
is in overdrive. What could
this technology do to the
connectivity landscape?
PB: “5G is a buzzword that
has oated around for a while
now. Ultimately, the industry
is still yet to fully understand
the plethora of capabilities and
opportunities that this network
will create, despite already being
switched on in the UK last year.
“ e more obvious use cases
that have been touted, especially
in the consumer world, have
been faster download speeds
and better streaming. But, 5G
will be transformative for the
B2B sector, amplifying many
emerging technologies such
as IoT, augmented and mixed
reality and robotics which will
see new digital opportunities
and next-gen businesses in
being born.
“Fixed line and 5G
connectivity can work
together to provide business
with the resilient and nonstop
connectivity needed to
ourish in the all-IP world.
As users slowly migrate to the
5G spectrum, it will make
more space on the 4G network
for IoT and other connected
devices – enabling that
ecosystem to grow even further.
It’s an exciting future, and a
technology that will change the
landscape forever.”
8 | Road to Full Fibre 2020 www.commsbusiness.co.uk
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