Phase 3 - State Aid Public Consultation
The information collected through the Phase 3 Open Market Review, and Suffolk's own data sources, was used to define a proposed intervention area for the forthcoming procurement.
A public consultation set out the proposed intervention area, so as to enable all interested stakeholders (including the public, businesses, internet service providers and broadband infrastructure operators) to comment on the proposals. In particular, this consultation provided an opportunity for broadband infrastructure operators to review Suffolk’s mapping to ensure that it correctly represents the information provided by them in the course of the Phase 3 OMR.
The Suffolk Phase 3 State Aid public consultation closed on 28th June 2019, and we set-out below how we have handled the data provided by respondents to the consultation, and the outcome of the consultation.
We have handled the data provided by each of the respondents to the consultation in the same way, as follows:
Where we have been provided with firm evidence of existing broadband coverage of premises with greater than 30Mbps, we have categorised those premises as NGA Grey (if that coverage is supplied by one broadband infrastructure provider) or NGA Black (if that coverage is supplied by two or more broadband infrastructure providers).
Where there is remaining uncertainty about whether or not there is existing broadband coverage of premises with greater than 30Mbps, or where there is remaining uncertainty about future plans to provide coverage of premises with greater than 30Mbps, we have categorised those premises as ‘Under Review’ and mapped them as Blue.
Where there is no existing broadband coverage of premises with greater than 30Mbps, and no future plans to provide broadband coverage of premises with greater than 30Mbps, we have categorised those premises as NGA White.
Further consultation
We have started the procurement for Suffolk Phase 3 by issuing an Invitation to Tender (ITT). Suppliers interested in bidding for Suffolk Phase 3 can find the ITT by registering with the Suffolk Sourcing system at www.suffolksourcing.uk and expressing an interest in Suffolk Phase 3.
In preparing the ITT for Suffolk Phase 3, we have made a number of minor revisions to the Suffolk Phase 3 Intervention Area previously published on the website. A revised version of the summary table of post code and premises figures is shown below for ease of reference. Also attached is a revised version of the Suffolk Phase 3 Intervention Area map. We have also revised the funding envelope available for the Suffolk Phase 3 procurement, and the revised tables of funding figures is also shown below for ease of reference. These details are extracts from the Suffolk Phase 3 ITT:
| Number of postcodes | Number of black premises | Number of Grey premises | Number of White Premises | Number of 'Under Review' premises | |
| White | 2,973 | 23,953 | 17,629 | ||
| Grey | 15,813 | 235,060 | |||
| Black | 2,776 | 61,266 | |||
| 'Under review' | 1,899 | 5,503 | 11,008 | 13,227 | |
| Total | 23,461 | 66,769 | 270,021 | 17,629 | 13,227 |
| Total premises | 367,646 |
A map of Suffolk showing NGA Black, NGA Grey, NGA White and Under Review (Blue) areas is below:
Suffolk Phase 3 intervention area map (PDF - 3MB)
Also attached is the Suffolk Phase 3 Intervention Area data file, which list premises that have been categorised as NGA White or Under Review (Blue).
The Intervention Area for Suffolk Phase 3 will be the premises listed as NGA White in the data file below:
Suffolk Phase 3 intervention area - premises (Excel - 2MB)
The premises listed in this data file as Under Review (Blue) will be kept under review. If / when evidence emerges that any premises categorised as Under Review (Blue) will not obtain broadband coverage of greater than 30Mbps from existing coverage or future planned coverage, the affected Under Review premises may be re-categorised as NGA White and included within the Phase 3 Intervention Area.
While Suffolk intends to intervene to uplift broadband coverage of (NGA White) premises within the Phase 3 Intervention Area, we intend to prioritise any such premises with existing broadband speeds of less than 15Mbps.
Revised funding envelope available for the Suffolk Phase 3 procurement
Funding Sources
2.3.7 The following table sets out the specific breakdown of the public sector subsidy and relative requirements:
| Sourcing fund | Amount | Fund status | Requirements for funding |
| Local Body | £10m | Approved | Programme efficiencies / savings |
| DEFRA | £1.725m | Approved | December 2020 |
| TOTAL | £11.725m |
2.3.8 Not Used
Additional Potential Funding
2.3.9 It is possible that additional funding may become available during the life of this deployment. Should this occur any decision to add additional funding to this agreement shall be at the sole discretion of the Local Body. The table below sets out the amount of funding that may become available, the potential source of funding and the expected timeline. Any Additional Approved Funding that may become available and is to be incorporated into the Contract will be subject to the provisions of Schedule 5.4:
| Sourcing Fund | Amount | Fund Status | Available from | Requirements for funding |
| DCMS | £10m | pending | 2020 | Programme efficiencies / savings subject to DCMS approval |
| TOTAL | £10m |
As the above changes represent revisions to the outcome of our Suffolk Phase 3 State Aid public consultation, we are consulting on these revisions for a period of one month. We welcome any comments from stakeholders (including suppliers) on these revisions by 15th October 2019 - please send comments to broadband@suffolk.gov.uk
State Aid Public Consultation Documents
Phase 3 Public Consultation document (PDF - 330KB)
Suffolk Intervention area (PDF - 3MB)
PSMA Standard Contractor Licence (WORD, 2MB)