WarwickNet – Ofgem Code to Speed-up UK Superfast Broadband Rollout

Business ISP WarwickNet has joined forces with electrical connection specialists at Power Jointing & Distribution Services (PJDS) in order to push the energy regulator, Ofgem, into setting a new Code of Practice that could cut the time it takes to get a superfast broadband connection by up to 30 days.

At present installing brand new infrastructure into a business park, such as the one at Heathcote Industrial Estate in Leamington where PJDS is based, can be subject to additional delays due to complicated paperwork (e.g. point of connection applications or network design and approval). All of that and more can add up to 30 days of wait to the process.

Apparently PJDS was so impressed by WarwickNet’s work that they started a collaboration to speed up the process and have been pushing Ofgem to introduce a new Code of Practice that would help to cut down on some of the complicated paper work.

Steve Harvey, PJDS Connections Manager, told ISPreview.co.uk:

“[WarwickNet] installed a brilliant service which has delivered everything we were told we could not have under our previous provider. We saw an immediate difference and realised how important it was to get organisations at business parks across the UK connected as quickly as possible.

Currently, the time between when a company signs up to receive faster broadband and when the service is delivered varies across the UK. We have therefore been lobbying power companies to ‘level the playing field’ and requested that a best practice model be created.”

Mark Hitchcock, WarwickNet’s Business Development Manager, said:

“[PJDS] has led the way on this initiative, which will be a game changer for businesses like ours and more importantly the businesses we want to reach who are suffering with poor broadband speeds. It means that wherever we are in the UK, we will be able to offer a rapid connection without the complicated paper chase. It will dramatically save time and money, and is a more linear and streamlined process.”

Unfortunately the statement from WarwickNet included no link to the highlighted code and we couldn’t be sure of precisely which document was relevant on Ofgem’s website. We hope to update again shortly with the missing details.

UPDATE 10th July 2015

As promised, here’s some detail on the code..

Energy Networks Association (ENA) page for documents relating to the Code of Practice
http://www.energynetworks.org/news/publications/consultations-and-responses/

OFGEMS response to the new code of practice submission
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/../decision_competition_in_connections_code_of_practice_0.pdf

And the proposed new Code of Practice document in full
http://www.energynetworks.org/../..FINAL%20SUBMISSION.PDF

ENA are acting as the administrators of the new CoP on behalf of all parties involved.