Superfast Broadband - Mark 3. Des Morgan says recent history is repeating itself

So here we go with version three of the plan to ensure Swindon has almost 100% superfast broadband coverage and guess what - the council is planning to pay out £1.9million of council taxpayer's money to UK Broadband the company chosen to deliver the service to Swindon residents and buildings.

But haven't we been here before.?  Let's recap.

In 2009 the council entered into an agreement with Digital City promising to provide a free Wi-Fi system throughout the whole of the Borough from Inglesham to Barbury.   This 'truly groundbreaking partnership' was announced with a great fanfare including a visit to Swindon from Caroline Spellman MP to launch the first phase in Highworth.

The saga of Digital City and its demise cost the taxpayer over £400,000 and damaged the reputation of the town as it soon became apparent that the proposed system was not fit for purpose.

In 2011 the council through Capita entered into a working relationship with UK Broadband which according to, then leader, Cllr Rod Bluh would:  "enable every penny of the original loan, and outstanding interest to be repaid to the Borough." As a Chartered Accountant Cllr Bluh is well aware of the definition of the word 'repaid'.   The arrangement covering the so called repayment commenced with a pre-payment of £240,000 to UK Broadband.

Having attempted to 'shut down' any criticism of the Digital City farce and limit examination of the UK Broadband deal,  the council announced that as at 8 October 2012 UK Broadband's  4G LTE service will allow over 67,000 households and 2,600 businesses to access superfast broadband. This would be by way of a 4G box that could be plugged into any power socket, therefore reducing the need for a home telephone line.

How similar is that to the deal which is now being proposed to the Council's Cabinet next week (18 March)?  Let's consider what the proposal is from UKB Networks (a sister company to UK Broadband).

Well, first the plan will see 101,000 households and premises receiving superfast broadband, this completely ignores the fact that Swindon has frequently led the way in terms of broadband coverage. Second, the need to dig up roads would be reduced by using a wireless solution involving the installation of a box on the front of a house.*  Sounds remarkably familiar to the 2012 system doesn't it?

So let's see if we have got this right. Digital City falls by the wayside and UK Broadband rides to the rescue, enticed by a lucrative five year council contract and a £240,000 up-front payment and offering to carry on the work started by Digital City.

Hallelujah, in 2012, council deputy leader Cllr Gary Perkins confirms that 67,000 homes now have access to UK Broadband's superfast broadband service, by the way many of those homes also have access to superfast broadband from other national providers.

But the council still wants to pay UK Broadband's little sister UKB Networks £1.9 million to do what UK Broadband have allegedly already done.

Confusing, isn't it?

*Editor's Note: Some 15-20,000 households have had access to the Virgin Media cable service for many years, but installation requires roads and payments to be dug up, as per this photograph taken in 1984 when cable was laid in West Swindon. Neverthess the calbe broadband service can truly be called superfast.