Understanding the role that a local authority could - and should - play in a connectivity deployment project is key to success, for the initial roll-out and beyond.
Ultimately, for strategic visions to be realised, the right teams need to be in place, with clear responsibility for delivery and ongoing management formally incorporated into job roles. Cross-departmental collaboration is a must and changes to organisational structures may be required to facilitate a shift to a "digital first" local authority. So too is developing the skills required to understand the capabilities of 5G, identify the potential partners required, appreciate the commercial drivers and data needs of those partners, and the ability to negotiate and successfully work with industry.
“Deploying digital is a science; enabling it is an art”
John Houston, Essex & Herts Digital Innovation Zone Strategic Lead