Title page
Contents
1. Executive summary 5
Evaluation aims and objectives 5
2. Introduction 11
2.1. Evaluation aims and objectives 11
2.1.1. Evaluation modules 13
2.2. Methodology 14
2.3. Structure of this report 14
3/2. SuperConnected Cities Programme 16
3.1/2.1. Programme overview 16
3.2/2.2. Project summaries 17
3.2.1/2.2.1. Capital projects 17
3.2.2/2.2.2. Connection voucher scheme 18
3.3/2.3. Intervention logic model 19
3.3.1/2.3.1. Inputs 19
3.3.2/2.3.2. Outputs 19
3.3.3/2.3.3. Connectivity outcomes 19
3.3.4/2.3.4. Economic impacts 20
3.3.5/2.3.5. Intervention logic model 20
3.4/2.1. Lessons from past research 22
4/3. Context 24
4.1/3.1. State aid challenges 24
4.2/3.2. Overview of digital infrastructure landscape 24
4.3/3.3. Overview of digital policy landscape 24
5/4. Programme delivery 26
5.1/4.1. Summary of programme delivery 26
5.2/4.1. Key themes and issues 29
5.2.1/4.1.1. Project planning and market testing 29
5.2.2/4.1.2. Role of the public sector 29
5.2.3/4.1.3. Aggregation points and carrier neutrality 30
5.2.4/4.1.4. New build developments 30
5.2.5/4.1.5. Re-use of existing assets 31
5.2.6/4.1.6. Ongoing maintenance of contracts and infrastructure 31
5.2.7/4.1.7. Supplier capacity 32
5.2.8/4.1.8. Market engagement activities 32
5.2.9/4.1.9. Administration of voucher schemes 33
5.3/4.2. Learning and recommendations for LFFN 34
6/5. Impact on connectivity outcomes 35
6.1/5.1. Direct connectivity outcomes 35
6.1.1/5.1.1. Supply side effects on superfast, ultrafast and full fibre availability 35
6.1.2/5.1.2. Take-up 36
6.2/5.2. Spill-over build 39
6.2.1/5.2.1. Supply side effects on superfast, ultrafast and full fibre availability 39
6.2.2/5.2.2. Demand side effects on take-up of superfast, ultrafast and full fibre services 42
6.3/5.3. Learning and recommendations for LFFN 43
7/6. Economic impacts 45
7.1/6.1. Business performance impacts 45
7.2/6.1. Wider economic impacts 49
7.3/6.2. Learning and recommendations for LFFN 50
8/7. Conclusions and recommendations 51
8.1/7.1. Conclusions 51
8.2/7.2. Recommendations for LFFN 51
8.3/7.3. Recommendations for future monitoring and evaluation activity 52
Table 2.1/Table 1.1. BDUK Benefits Realisation Plan 12
Table 2.2/Table 1.2. Module evaluation research questions 13
Table 5.1/Table 4.1. Summary of project delivery 27
Table 6.1/Table 5.1. Summary of supply side direct outcomes 35
Table 6.2/Table 5.2. Summary of take-up outcomes 37
Table 6.3/Table 5.3. Summary of spill-over build 40
Table 6.4/Table 5.4. Estimated additional number of premises superfast enabled per voucher 41
Table 6.5/Table 5.5. Summary of indirect take-up outcomes 42
Table 6.6/Table 5.6. Estimated additional number of 30Mbps+ connections per voucher 43
Table 7.1/Table 6.1. Summary of business expansion, profitability and productivity outcomes 46
Table 7.2/Table 6.2. Estimated impact of vouchers on business performance 47
Figure 3.1/Figure 2.1. Combined intervention logic model 21