How might future extreme weather, such as flooding and storms, heatwaves, and wildfires, affect the reliability and durability of: (i) underground fibre ducting; (ii) overhead cabling; (iii) mobile masts; (iv) hybrid wireless solutions such as satellite connectivity; (v) system wide vulnerabilities?
Background
BDUK wishes to develop a stronger evidence base around the telecoms market and how it functions at a national level. In these markets, BDUK is interested in increasing understanding of infrastructure planning and decision making, as well as how infrastructure maintenance can be ensured in the long term.
BDUK would like more insight into the barriers to delivery of gigabit and mobile roll-out across the UK and what technological innovations may assist in this. International comparisons for gigabit and mobile connectivity roll out would also be beneficial.
Cutting across all programmes, BDUK wants to understand more about the impacts of fixed and mobile connectivity, specifically how greater connectivity benefits businesses, residents, and public sector organisations. In addition, BDUK also needs more evidence on the behavioural changes connectivity makes to residents and businesses which have been connected, and the wider impacts this may have.
Lastly, BDUK is interested in more evidence on the environmental impact of its work.
Next steps
If you are keen to register your interest in working and connecting with DSIT Digital Technology and Telecoms Group and/or submitting evidence, then please complete the DSIT-ARI Evidence survey - https://dsit.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cDfmK2OukVAnirs.
Please view full details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-science-innovation-and-technology-areas-of-research-interest/dsit-areas-of-research-interest-2024
Related UKRI funded projects
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Building systemic resilience of interdependent infrastructure networks at the national scale
Building resilience of national infrastructure networks to flood and storm events remains a significant challenge in the UK. In recent years extreme flood and storm events across the UK have affected large numbers of inf...
Funded by: STFC
Why might this be relevant?
This project specifically focuses on building resilience of national infrastructure networks to flood and storm events, which directly addresses the question about the impact of extreme weather on infrastructure.
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AI generative design and investment tool for Hybrid Terrestrial/Non-Terrestrial Telecommunication Network Eco-Systems
5/6G telecommunications networks provide the opportunity for ubiquitous network coverage, enhanced data speeds, reduced latency, increased flexibility and resiliency. As a result of these potential improvements and incre...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it focuses on AI generative design for hybrid networks, but does not directly address the impact of extreme weather on infrastructure.
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WeatherSense+
"WeatherSense+is a solution designed to allow the organisations responsible for key infrastructure to monitor, understand and predict the impacts of day-to-day and extreme weather on the ways in which real populatio...
Funded by: Innovate UK
Why might this be relevant?
Partially relevant as it provides a solution for monitoring and predicting impacts of weather on infrastructure, but does not specifically address the impact on telecom infrastructure.