Highlights
The UK has established itself as one of the key global players in the tech sector.
The country’s tech businesses attracted a staggering £6.3bn in venture capital investment in 2018 alone, while over a third of Europe and Israel’s unicorn companies (those valued at more than $1bn) started in the UK. And when it comes to FinTech, the UK leads the global league table1. For a nation with only 1% of the world’s population, the country is punching above its weight when it comes to tech.
So, how do we make Digital Britain work? Our founder, Anthony Impey shares his thoughts.
The scale of the impact is becoming greater as the capability of technology accelerates.
A study by LawGeex2, the legal tech start-up, pitched a group of experienced lawyers against artificial intelligence in a race which involved checking 153 paragraphs and 3,213 clauses in 5 contracts. When it came to performance, artificial intelligence did as well as the highest performing lawyer (although was 9% more accurate than the average). But when it came to speed, the difference was remarkable. While the lawyers took an average of 92 minutes to review the contracts, the artificial intelligence took just 26 seconds: in excess of 200 times faster than the lawyers. It highlights the accelerating capability of technology and the potential it has to disrupt.
This is going to result in significant changes.
As technology gets better and better, every sector will be impacted. It will result in many new jobs being created. More than 8 out of 10 jobs in 2030 have not been invented yet, according to research by the Institute for the Future3. It will also mean many existing jobs will also be swept away. McKinsey, the global management consultancy, anticipates that 45% of work activities could be automated by existing technologies4.
The impact of the changes is nowhere more evident than on the country’s high streets. Technology has completely changed the retail experience where supply chains have become fully automated and innovative business models have made existing ones obsolete. The technology giants, like Amazon and Google, have simply changed the rules of the game. And the consequences can be seen in every town centre and in every shopping centre, where once big retails brands are having to close, simply because they failed to respond to the process of digitisation.
With these changes, some people are being left behind.
A study by Lloyds Bank5 found that 41% of sole traders have low digital capability and that with improved digital capability, they could each generate additional sales of £24,000 per annum. It is forecast that 4.5m adults will be digitally disengaged by 20306.
There are also concerns about the ethics of our digital world.
As digitisation incorporates higher levels of intelligence, there are growing concerns that it is failing to operate ethically, including fears that the system architects have hard-baked prejudices into the technology.
With all these challenges, it’s crucial that we take action. This includes building digital infrastructure so that no one suffers from not being connected. We also need to develop digital skills and capability, so that everyone can benefit from the benefits of digitisation. And we need to create an environment that supports digital opportunities to be capitalised responsibly.
It’s only by doing so that we will build a digital Britain that works for all its citizens.
1 https://www.lloydsbank.com/banking-with-us/whats-happening/consumer-digital-index/key-findings.asp#DB
2 https://www.lawgeex.com/resources/AIvsLawyer/
3 https://www.delltechnologies.com/content/dam/delltechnologies/assets/perspectives/2030/pdf/SR1940_IFTFforDellTechnologies_Human-Machine_070517_readerhigh-res.pdf
4 https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/digital-mckinsey/our-insights/four-fundamentals-of-workplace-automation
5 https://resources.lloydsbank.com/businessdigitalindex/keyfindings/
6 https://www.lloydsbank.com/banking-with-us/whats-happening/consumer-digital-index/key-findings.asp#DB
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For many landlords and building managers, the word “wayleave” feels like the responsible route whenever a fibre circuit is being installed on their property. It sounds formal and safe – a neat legal box to tick.
In many cases, however, a wayleave adds unnecessary complexity and delays, frustrates tenants, and can expose landlords to long-term legal risks.
At Vorboss, we’ve connected thousands of office spaces across London without a wayleave, keeping landlords in full control and getting tenants online faster.
What is a wayleave?
A wayleave is a written agreement between a landowner and a telecoms operator. It gives the operator permission to install and keep equipment on private property.
What many people don’t realise is that signing a wayleave also activates “Code rights” under the Electronic Communications Code. These rights go beyond simple permission, they give the operator legal powers to stay on the property indefinitely, access it when needed, and even refuse removal of their equipment in certain situations.
For a typical connection into a commercial building in London, a wayleave can make the fibre installation process slower, more expensive, and limit the landlord’s flexibility long term.
Why a wayleave isn’t required for standard in-building fibre connections
For a standard in-building fibre connection serving a tenant, a wayleave isn’t a legal requirement. Important protections, like building access, fire safety, repairing any damage, and removing equipment, are already covered by the tenant’s lease and usual building rules.
If no wayleave is signed, no Code rights are triggered, meaning the landlord retains full control and the installation exists under a simple, fully revocable licence.
In practice, this gives landlords far more protection and flexibility:
- No legal lock-in – the telecoms operator has no long-term rights to stay or refuse removal.
- Landlords keep full control – equipment can be moved or removed when the building changes.
- Faster fibre installation – no time lost in drafting contracts or solicitor reviews.
- Happier tenants – connections go live quicker; tenants get to move in faster.
By contrast, signing a wayleave and granting Code rights introduces a complex and expensive legal process for any fibre removal or relocation. This can take at least 18 months, plus potential court or tribunal proceedings, making it slower, and far less flexible for the landlord.
Public services across central London are evolving, and the City of London Corporation is leading the way.
Whether you work, live or study in the Square Mile, you’ll soon feel the difference that faster, more dependable connectivity brings.
What is the Future Network Programme?
The City of London Corporation is rolling out the Future Network Programme, a major project to modernise its entire digital infrastructure and bring everything under one unified network.
From offices and schools to iconic green spaces like Hampstead Heath, cultural destinations like the Barbican, and historic markets such as Leadenhall and Old Spitalfields, this upgrade will mean more reliable connectivity across the City’s buildings and public spaces.
It also extends to essential services, including critical sites run by the City of London Police. This enhanced connectivity will support everything from secure communication systems to faster, more resilient networks for emergency operations.
Leading this transformation is Roc Technologies, supported by Juniper Networks and Palo Alto Networks; all powered by the Vorboss fibre network. Together, we’re bringing the City onto a modern digital foundation that’s ready to support its future.
Who the Future Network Programme benefits and how?
The programme is designed for everyone who depends on public services in the Square Mile:
- Students in City-run schools will have fast, reliable connectivity to fully access digital learning tools.
- Public-sector teams will experience smoother hybrid working, better access to online platforms, and more efficient collaboration across locations.
- Residents and visitors will see improvements in public Wi-Fi, digital services, and online access in libraries, community hubs, and other shared spaces.
- The City of London Police will gain a more secure, faster and resilient network that enhances CCTV reliability and enables more effective frontline operations.
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