{"id":43912,"date":"2025-11-20T00:01:48","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T00:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=43912"},"modified":"2025-11-19T13:46:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T13:46:17","slug":"2025-local-digital-index-calls-for-biz-rates-relief-to-boost-uk-full-fibre-and-5g","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/11\/2025-local-digital-index-calls-for-biz-rates-relief-to-boost-uk-full-fibre-and-5g.html","title":{"rendered":"2025 Local Digital Index Calls for Biz Rates Relief to Boost UK Full Fibre and 5G"},"content":{"rendered":"

TechUK<\/a>, which represents many of the UK\u2019s key technology firms, has today drawn on 23 indicators from across the economy, connectivity, and skills to paint a regional and national picture of the tech ecosystem via their 2025 Local Digital Index<\/a>. But the report also calls on the government to “fast-track<\/em>” completion of its broadband and mobile projects to tackle slow spots, ideally alongside relief from business rates.<\/p>\n

The new index shows that while the UK tech sector continues to outperform most of the economy – now contributing \u00a3101bn<\/strong> in Gross Value Added (GVA) and employing 1.7 million people<\/strong> – growth remains uneven. The index highlights some dramatic progress since 2020, such as in terms of the gigabit broadband roll-out, but it also identifies that growth and investment remain “too heavily concentrated<\/em>” in London, Oxford, and Cambridge.<\/p>\n

NOTE:<\/strong> The Index’s data for broadband and mobile connectivity comes from Ofcom<\/a>’s older Connected Nations data, which was most recently updated yesterday (here<\/a>).<\/div>\n

Overall growth for the digital sector has a forecast of 8.9%, which is above the general UK average. However, the projected rate has decreased slightly since last year\u2019s index (10%). The report also warns that, despite the improvements in digital infrastructure, “too many communities and business parks still face slow or unreliable connectivity<\/em>“.<\/p>\n

In response, techUK has “urged<\/em>” the UK Government to treat business connectivity as Critical National Infrastructure<\/strong> (CNI) and to start “fast-tracking<\/em>” the completion of their \u00a35bn Project Gigabit<\/strong> broadband roll-out and the industry-led Shared Rural Network<\/strong> (SRN) for boosting 4G<\/a> mobile coverage, while expanding coverage measurements to include commercial sites, not just homes (Ofcom<\/a>’s reports often focus on residential properties).<\/p>\n

Matthew Evans, Director of Markets and COO at techUK, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOur Index shows that there is incredible innovation happening across the whole of the UK. However, only some of the regions are reaping the benefits. We must ensure the benefits of innovation reach every region and community. If we invest now in infrastructure, capital, and skills, we can build a digital economy that delivers growth and prosperity everywhere.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In fairness, both Project Gigabit and the SRN have so far met their initial targets, although Project Gigabit did recently delay its coverage target (99% of UK premises) from 2030 to 2032 (here<\/a>). Suffice to say, the notion of “fast-tracking<\/em>” may not be very realistic; much of this is down to the network operators and their ability to deliver in some very challenging areas, although there’s still some scope for the government to remove red tape (planning \/ road permissions and MDU access etc.).<\/p>\n

Overall, the new report makes three key recommendations for action, and the ones for digital infrastructure are particularly interesting.<\/p>\n

The Three Priority Areas for Action<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n