We are going back to Mr Rumbles’s point, because I think that the timescale is three years from the start of 2019, if you see what I mean, so it will be over 2019, 2020 and 2021. As the completion date is the end of 2021, there will be three years in which to complete the task.
To answer your question, we should certainly be in a much clearer position about what has been proposed once the contracts are awarded. The coverage footprint to be delivered by the successful R100 bidders can, by definition, be confirmed only at the end of the procurement process, which we expect to be around the end of this year.
I stress that the aim is to extend new fibre backhaul to all corners of the country. However, the convener’s point is an extremely fair one that is raised by people every day. We will wish to communicate the precise detail as early as possible to the public so that they can understand what infrastructure will be deployed in their area.
I want to go back to a point that I think should be emphasised. We are talking about an infrastructure project, so it is not like buying something from a shop. The infrastructure project involves five stages: survey, design, build, connect and activate. They are stages in an infrastructure project that is like that of constructing a new road or railway, so it takes time. I say that not to make an apology or a mitigation but to point out the reality. We must explain and be honest about the fact that that process takes a bit of time.
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However, by early next year, we should be in a position to provide a lot of information about who will be connected. That will be a step forward. I imagine that, at that point, those people who are not covered by the plans will make known their views. That is why we have the objective of connecting everybody by the end of 2021, which is ambitious but, we believe, deliverable.