The switch from traditional landlines to digital phone services is a major shift - one that could leave vulnerable individuals without vital connections. Elizabeth Andersen, CEO of Digital Poverty Alliance, explores the risks, the gaps in awareness, and what local authorities and communities can do now to ensure no one is left behind ahead of the 2027 switchover.

Norfolk County Council is leading the way in digital innovation, tackling connectivity challenges in rural areas with creative solutions. By using bin lorries to map real mobile signal coverage, the council is ensuring better data-driven decision-making for residents, businesses, and service providers. Kurt Frary, head of IT & chief technology officer, shares how this pioneering approach is setting a national benchmark for smarter public services

Once the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester's rich legacy of innovation has been preserved by a thriving digital ecosystem, that similarly embraces the extraordinary pace of technological change. Today, Manchester is recognised as the UK's number one regional tech city outside of London and the South East, and the fastest-growing tech hub in the North of England

Heather Cover-Kus, head of central government at techUK, introduces the Central Government Council (CGC) - the voice of the tech industry to government. As 2025 kicks off with major public sector digital strategies, the CGC is set to drive collaboration, advocate for SMEs, and shape the future of government technology

techUK's latest Local Digital Index highlights the urgent need for targeted action to bridge the digital divide and drive economic growth across the entire country

Last year, the UK Government's Cyber Essentials (CE) scheme celebrated its tenth anniversary, marking a decade of growth. The scheme is centered around five technical controls and is proven to protect organisations of all sizes from the most common cyber attacks

Mass-scale, immature innovations spread rapidly due to their accessibility and integration into personal devices within organisations. While presenting opportunities, it introduces risks like bias, inequality, the digital divide, and potential outages. The rapid innovation adoption exceeds institutions' capacity to evaluate and control these societal and organisational impacts. How can public IT stay resilient against the mass adoption of unregulated technologies, asks Antonio Hidalgo Landa, chair of the BCS Consultancy Specialist Group

John Kimmance, chief customer officer at Ordnance Survey (OS) looks ahead at the technology trends of 2025

'Connected places' play a crucial role in addressing energy and environmental sustainability challenges, writes Yogita Popat, vice-president of Socitm and programme director of culture and sustainability for the London Borough of Barnet

Increased communication with residents has helped Sutton Housing Partnership become more proactive at meeting their needs. Managing director Steve Tucker explains how this was achieved.