Case Study: Cambridgeshire County Council future-proofs county connectivity with PA Consulting

Navigating state aid laws to future-proof connectivity across the county

Cambridgeshire County Council worked with PA Consulting to support its Connecting Cambridgeshire programme as it sought government funding for full-fibre broadband expansion. The challenge was to prove the funding award would not constitute incompatible state aid under EU rules, while moving quickly enough to take advantage of a fast-moving infrastructure opportunity.

PA Consulting carried out a market economy operator principle (MEOP) assessment to test the funding against state aid law and show the investment would deliver returns comparable to a private investor. The analysis was completed in just six weeks, secured DCMS approval, and helped the council proceed immediately with installing ducting for fibre cables alongside a new cycleway in Cambridge, advancing its goal of 99% superfast broadband across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

Cambridgeshire County Council

Noelle Godfrey

Programme Director – Connecting Cambridgeshire & Smart Cambridge