What examples of environmental added value from other government funded infrastructure projects are there, either domestically or internationally? How could these help BDUK support government environmental goals, like those associated with tree planting and peatland restoration, alongside its primary target of fixed and mobile connectivity? How can we learn from these projects in terms of improving environmental reporting particularly regarding the supply chain for these projects?

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

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

DSIT Areas of Research Interest 2024 GOV UK

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Roadmap for the Evaluation of the environmental Impact of next Generation telecommunications Networks and Services (REIGNS)

    Cambium will develop a **R**oadmap for the **E**valuation of the environmental **I**mpact of next **G**eneration telecommunications **N**etworks and **S**ervices (REIGNS). Information and Communications Technologies (IC...

    Funded by: TMF

    Lead research organisation: CAMBIUM UK LLP

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project specifically focuses on evaluating the environmental impact of next generation telecommunications networks, which aligns with the question's interest in environmental added value from infrastructure projects.

  • NetworkPlus - A green, connected and prosperous Britain

    The impending rollout of 5G offers significant opportunity to reassess how to build, operate and manage networks in a smart, strategic way providing connectivity and mobility equity across the UK. For example, implementi...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: London South Bank University

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project discusses the environmental impact of mobile connectivity and offers solutions for reducing carbon emissions, aligning with the question's focus on environmental added value.

  • UK Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (ITRC): PROGRAMME GRANT: Long term dynamics of interdependent infrastructure systems

    National infrastructure (NI) systems (energy, transport, water, waste and ICT) in the UK and in advanced economies globally face serious challenges. The 2009 Council for Science and Technology (CST) report on NI in the U...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Oxford

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses the challenges and risks associated with infrastructure systems, including the need to reduce carbon emissions and build resilience to climate change, which aligns with the question's focus on environmental goals and infrastructure planning.

  • The degrowth transition of infrastructures in the urbanised periphery. Mapping processes and uncovering socio-economic impacts in Southern Europe

    According to the UN, 2.5 billion people will join the world's urban population by 2050, and, as per Europe's own demographic projection, 83.7% of its population will live in urban areas by then. However, most will not se...

    Funded by: ESRC

    Lead research organisation: King's College London

  • MISTRAL: Multi-scale Infrastructure Systems Analytics

    National infrastructure provides essential services to a modern economy: energy, transport, digital communications, water supply, flood protection, and waste water / solid waste collection, treatment and disposal. The OE...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Oxford

    Why might this be relevant?

    Partially relevant as it focuses on infrastructure systems analysis but does not directly address environmental added value from government projects.

  • The systemic city: Infrastructure interdependency and complex value business models

    There is huge potential for the infrastructures of UK cities to be better configured to reduce the impacts of climate change. The infrastructures of the energy, telecoms, transport and water sectors are all delivered in ...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

  • DAFNI-ROSE

    Infrastructure provides the backbone of modern societies. In our daily lives, we depend on supplies of water and energy, road, rail and other transport networks, communication networks, and waste disposal and recycling, ...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: Science and Technology Facilities Council

  • Bottom-Up Infrastructure

    Infrastructure systems such as water, transport and energy are vital to British society and the economy. It is very important that these systems are able to continue to function effectively in the future, but it is diffi...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University College London

  • CANDISE: Change-Oriented Assessments for Net-Zero Digital Services

    With discernible effects of climate change manifesting globally, immediate reduction of carbon emissions is crucial. The UK aims to reduce emissions by 78% by 2035, of which 2% to 4% come from the ICT sector. The UN sect...

    Funded by: EPSRC

    Lead research organisation: University of Bristol

  • Open KE Fellowship - MEDIATE: Overcoming barriers to MaximisE Data potential for better blue-green-grey InfrAsTructurE

    Data underpins our business and economy and can be collected by everything and everyone from lampposts to professors. By sharing these datasets between public and private sector organisations and businesses it is possibl...

    Funded by: NERC

    Lead research organisation: University of Birmingham