High speed broadband coverage determines the digital transformation of territories and the targeted objectives are ambitious. On a scale of the Métropole du Grand Paris and in accompaniment to the Master Plan for Metropolitan Digital Development recently adopted, Apur wanted to contribute to the debates with an urban approach to fibre-optic deployment, that is available for use by everybody.
For a growing number of businesses and inhabitants, being eligible for fibre-optics has become an attractive element and a criteria for staying in an area, in the same way as the price of real estate, the quality of life and accessibility. On a regional and national scale, Métropole du Grand Paris appears privileged with its 4G mobile coverage and internet high-speed broadband access, but on a metropolitan scale one can observe great disparities in deployment, with certain territories threatened by a digital divide and other inequalities.
As a continuation of its study in 2017, Apur contributes to the debate by proposing an urban reading of fibre-optic deployment that has already been carried out or is planned.
The method proposed enables urban data to be cross referenced with data recently published by the Observatory of high speed and ultra-fast broadband, which describe the situation of fibre-optic broadband deployment in the homes of the general public. Apur has calculated simplified indicators of deployment in housing units and business premises with information on social housing, collective housing, individual housing areas as well as very small businesses and small and medium sized businesses. Covering the whole of the metropolitan area, public territorial and municipal establishments, as well as certain peripheral areas where major issues are concentrated, such as the economic activities of Local Urbanism Plans -PLU- and neighbourhoods of the City’s Urban Cohesion Policy.
These first results, to be completed and added to with the help of Apur’s partners, could prepare the way for establishing urban indicators that monitor deployment, which could be regularly updated, notably when bi-annual assessments and the issuing of guidelines are planned by the Master Plan for Digital Development.
Although these questions concerning digital use by individuals and businesses are of prime importance, one should not forget the already existing objectives for access to networks.
