Emran Mian has been appointed Permanent Secretary at DSIT, succeeding Sarah Munby. His prior role as Director General for Digital Technologies and Telecoms ensures continuity in AI, telecoms, fibre, and compute. This signals strong government commitment to digital infrastructure and presents opportunities for local councils to align with central strategy.

As the public sector embraces digital services, automation, and AI, fibre and 5G infrastructure have become vital indicators of a region’s readiness. Our State of the UK’s Connectivity Landscape (2025) report highlights a growing digital divide—but also clear opportunities. Connectivity is just the starting point. True transformation requires vision, strategy, and leadership. The most successful regions aren’t waiting. It’s your move.