Oxera to evaluate UK broadband state aid measure

Consulting firm Oxera has been hired by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) to evaluate its broadband state aid measure, set up to deliver superfast broadband and better mobile connectivity to the UK by 2017. The evaluation is in line with the state aid evaluation methodology of the European Commission, and will be used to support the re-notification of the scheme in 2015.

Broadband delivery scheme UK
Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has been set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to deliver superfast broadband and better mobile connectivity to the nation, as “improved connectivity is revolutionising the quality of life, from how we work and how our children learn, to how we spend our leisure time, how we do our weekly shop, and how we engage with public services.” To achieve this improved connectivity, the UK Government is investing over £1 billion in the BDUK to improve broadband and mobile infrastructure, to be achieved by 2017.

Oxera
Economics consulting firm Oxera has been appointed by the BDUK to conduct an independent evaluation of the broadband state aid measure, an evaluation that is in line with the European Commission’s state aid evaluation methodology that was published earlier this year. The evaluation has three aims: to verify the compliance of the scheme as implemented to date with the decision to approve the aid and with the European Commission’s Broadband Guidelines, to understand whether the National Broadband Scheme has delivered its primary objectives and to assess the impact of the scheme on markets and competition. Oxera’s report will be used to support the re-notification of the current scheme when it expires in 2015.