South London Connectivity Gap Impact Assessment

Background Project

The South London Partnership (SLP), a collaboration of five London boroughs, continues to face challenges in achieving full digital connectivity across the sub-regions. Despite market deployments and public interventions, gaps remain in both fixed broadband and mobile coverage. These connectivity shortfalls risk constraining economic growth and limiting opportunities in high streets, town centres, and employment hubs.

Recognising the importance of digital infrastructure in supporting business productivity, citizen wellbeing and local regeneration, SLP sought to quantify the potential benefits that could be achieved by improving ‘Gigabit-capable’ connectivity within the region.

The Challenge

SLP commissioned FarrPoint to assess and quantify the economic impact of poor digital connectivity across the five boroughs, and to provide evidence-based insights to support future market engagement and potential public-sector interventions.

Specifically, the Partnerhsip required:

• A comprehensive overview of existing fixed and mobile connectivity coverage;
• Identification of coverage gaps, considering priority areas of economic growth;
• An assessment of the economic implications of improving 'Gigabit-capable' connectivity; and
• Practical recommendations to encourage industry engagement and inform future investment decisions;

The report that Farrpoint have produced sets out the key connectivity challenges and opportunities for our sub region with an effective use of data and a clear explanation underpinning the analysis, which will support the role of digital connectivity in generating growth in our sub region.

Mathew Hamilton, Director, South London Partnership

What FarrPoint Delivered

FarrPoint provided a focused and evidence-led Connectivity Gap Impact Assessment, which included:

• Comprehensive map of fixed and mobile connectivity across the five boroughs to identify remaining gaps, considering priority areas of economic growth.
• High-level economic analysis to estimate the potential benefits of improved connectivity, considering both direct and indirect economic impacts and using modelling techniques to capture potential changes across different sectors and geographic areas.
• A set of clear, actionable recommendations to inform engagement with the telecoms market and other stakeholders and to support any future publicly funded interventions.

The final report equipped the South London Partnership with a robust evidence base to support strategic planning and strengthen the case for improving digital infrastructure.

Understand Your Connectivity Gaps

FarrPoint can help your organisation understand the true impact of digital connectivity and develop the evidence you need to drive change. Get in touch with our team to discuss how we can support your next connectivity or digital infrastructure project.