Research & reports

In the past year, having good connectivity has become more important than ever as we’ve all had to work, learn, and spend more leisure time online. Continued investment in our networks helps keep the UK connected and provides a vital boost to the economy.

Our latest Economic Impact Report, prepared by consultancy firm Hatch, calculates that our business added £24 billion to the UK economy and supported 300,000 jobs during the last financial year. Our operations support £1 in every £75 and 1 in every 95 jobs in the UK.

This report, produced by Regeneris Consulting for Openreach, highlights the huge business, residential and social benefits provided by the Community Fibre Partnerships (CFP) programme, which are calculated to be worth, on average, £800,000 to each community.

The report examines the economic impact of CFP on businesses and households over 15 years and the social benefits over seven and a half years. Over a 15 year period the total business impacts are calculated to be worth £158million and the economic benefits for residents are estimated to be £118m; social benefits over 7.5 years are calculated to total £81million. The report demonstrates the breadth and scale of benefits generated when you bring high speed connectivity into those communities for the first time 

This report examines how British cities have been affected by recent economic history and looks at the challenges that lie ahead. It considers the potential role of high speed fibre broadband in the further regeneration of city economies. It is informed by in-depth economic analyses of the potential impact of fibre broadband rollout on the whole economy (Gross Value Added or GVA) of the UK’s cities by Regeneris, a leading economic consultancy.

The main purpose of the report is to consider how cities can use modest, targeted investments in growth enabled by broadband technology as an element in their wider economic development plans.

It is co-authored by Professor Tony Travers and Don Levett. Tony is a British academic and journalist, specialising in issues affecting local government. He is the director of the Greater London Group at the London School of Economics & Political Science. He has also published a number of books on cities and government. Don is an Interdisciplinary Analyst with experience in urban regeneration start-ups, market research, strategy consulting and private equity. 

BT is investing £2.5bn to rollout superfast broadband to two-thirds of UK consumer and business premises by the end of 2014. We believe that superfast broadband has the potential to transform local economies, businesses, households and public services, and to bring new opportunities to all parts of the community. To highlight the impacts for local businesses in particular, we commissioned independent economic consultants Regeneris Consulting to prepare a report ‘Superfast Broadband – Boosting Business and the UK Economy’.

This is the first report to look in detail at superfast broadband at a local level. Based on an analysis of Openreach rollout plans published to date and local conditions, the report projects and quantifies the likely impacts of superfast broadband on growth over the next 15 years.

Investment in superfast broadband is not only about making an economic impact. This report challenges us all to think about what superfast broadband could do to bring change for the better to all of our communities.

This report looks at the use of digital infrastructure and the opportunities it creates, particularly in the agriculture and tourism sectors. The full potential impact of investment in digital infrastructure will only be realised if businesses and organisations in rural Wales can take advantage of these new opportunities. This independent study reviews the rural landscape and identifies the success stories - the trailblazers who are embracing the latest digital technologies - so that we can learn from their experiences. Technology in the 2020s isn’t just about smart cities, but it’s about how we get to smart rural too.

Adroddiad sy’n edrych ar ddefnydd o seilwaith digidol a’r cyfleoedd mae’n creu, yn benodol yn y sectorau twristiaeth ac amaeth. Byddwn ond yn gwireddu potensial ein buddsoddiad mewn seilwaith digidol os bydd busnesau a chyrff gwledig yn gallu bachu ar y cyfleoedd newydd hyn. Mae’r astudiaeth annibynnol hon yn adolygu’r dirwedd wledig ac yn nodi enghreifftiau llwyddiannus - yr arloeswyr sy’n anwesu’r technolegau digidol diweddaraf - er mwyn dysgu o’u profiadau. Nid yw technoleg y 2020au yn gyfyng i ddinasoedd craff, ond yn edrych ar sut i greu gwledig craff hefyd.

BT is one of four partners who have produced this report ‘Innovation Critical: Scotland’s Net Zero Mission and Climate Tech Opportunity’ focusing on how Scotland can develop and harness technologies to help deliver its net-zero carbon emissions target. The report explores the critical role digital technologies like 5G, AI, data analytics and the Internet of Things can play in supporting climate action by governments, businesses and citizens. Achieving global net zero will be humankind’s greatest innovation challenge and we will need to collaborate and innovate better and faster than ever before to transform and decarbonise our economy and our society. The report sets out how we can maximise the opportunity of COP26 and realise the huge growth potential of Scotland’s Climate Tech sector to create green jobs and boost exports, innovation and productivity.

BT Scotland is one of four partners who have produced this report which follows the influential report Automatic...For the People? published early in 2018. This latest report champions the opportunities Scotland’s people and businesses have to harness the potential provided by Artificial Intelligence technologies and data. It recommends twenty actions across four themes of National Strategy; Innovative and Ethical Data; Business Growth; and Employment, Skills and Education. The report highlights that Scotland has a great opportunity to build an inclusive strategy with all elements of Scottish society and industry.  

BT Scotland is one of the partners who have produced this report which sets out recommendations on economic development, education and employment to ensure that Scotland reaps the rewards of the digital and automation revolutions. It calls on governments, industry and civic organisations to provide strategic leadership and involve all parts of society in creating a nation vision and action plan to guide Scotland through the challenges and opportunities of automation and digital disruption. The report identifies new business and employment opportunities as well as the areas of economic activity that are most likely to be exposed to digital changes in Scotland. It includes twelve key recommendation on how Scotland can boost productivity and generate higher inclusive economic growth against a background of a reducing working population.

BT Scotland is one of four partners who have produced this report focusing on the digital transformation of public services in Scotland. It highlights the need to accelerate the pace of change and makes recommendations on how to support Scotland and its citizens on the digital journey. Whilst access to high-speed internet has greatly increased in recent years, thanks to commercial and publicly-funded investment in fibre broadband, exploiting digital technologies is vital if Scotland is to achieve its economic growth aims. The recommendations in the report focus on three key areas: leadership; the pace of change; and digital skills within the public sector and education. The report acknowledges that change driven by technology will be a constant process and it warns of the need to get up to speed now to maintain a steady position in the future. 

BT Scotland is one of four partners who have produced this report, along with input from a cross-section of industry leaders. The report shows how making the most of digital technologies will boost Scotland’s economy. It’s been estimated GDP would increase by an extra £9bn by 2030 if the country became a digital world leader. The report recommends appointing a first chief digital officer for Scotland and similar senior appointments across the public and private sectors to provide stronger leadership on digital matters. Plus action to recruit, train and continually develop more specialist computer science teachers. There are also recommendations on business transformation, data, skills and infrastructure. And joint work to drive up digital adoption, usage, benefits and skills.

Access to high-speed internet has greatly increased in recent years, thanks to commercial and publicly-funded investment in fibre broadband. Next generation broadband availability in Scotland rose from 41 per cent in 2011 to 85 per cent in 2015. By the end of March 2018, that will rise to around 95 per cent of premises.  

This analysis focuses on the BT Get IT Together projects that provide training and skills to digitally excluded groups in low income areas. The projects, primarily delivered by Citizens Online, operate in 15 locations around the UK focused on the most disadvantaged areas. Social Return on Investment is a methodology which enables the monetisation of outcomes that have traditionally not been financially valued. The research revealed the social benefits of getting online are worth more than £1,000 a year to someone using the internet for the first time. For someone using the internet for the first time, this was calculated at £1,064 and comes from a combination of benefits ranging from financial savings and improved employment opportunities to reduced feelings of isolation and improved confidence.

This BT commissioned report aims to answer the question of whether the UK is falling behind its international peers in superfast broadband services. Written by Analysys Mason, an independent telecoms consultancy and research company, it presents factual data up to 2012 alongside Analysys Mason’s forecasts to 2018. The report reveals that the UK is ahead of its European peers on measures such as coverage, take-up, average speeds and prices – boasting the most competitive broadband market out of all countries featured in the report.

This white paper has been written by Analysys Mason, an independent telecoms consultancy and research company. It helps communities understand what is involved in connecting the final 10% of premises in the most rural parts of the UK with superfast broadband.