Morning, Thursday, 17th July 2025
Online
This conference will examine next steps for the fixed and mobile telecoms markets in the UK, focusing on regulatory priorities, investment strategies, promoting competition, and the development of future-proofed digital infrastructure.
It will bring key stakeholders and policymakers together to assess priorities in light of Ofcom’s ongoing Telecoms Access Review, which will set regulations for fixed telecoms markets from April 2026. The agenda will bring out latest thinking on strategic options for fostering competition and investment in fibre rollout, implications of emerging planning and regulatory changes, and the potential for deregulation.
Delegates will assess the way forward for the UK’s mobile markets, including the impact of the Vodafone-Three merger, next steps for investment in high-quality services, and industry needs for access to spectrum and infrastructure.
There will be discussion on key regulatory and policy considerations, including strategies for increasing digital adoption, ensuring resilience in telecoms infrastructure, and the role of public-private partnerships in delivering national connectivity goals.
It will also be an opportunity to assess the future of the fixed broadband market and what will be needed to support copper retirement and the transition away from legacy infrastructure, as well as addressing pricing concerns, and key considerations for altnet viability and potential consolidation.
Delegates will consider approaches for ensuring the sustainability of network expansion, and tackling outstanding connectivity challenges, including rural broadband coverage and the next phase of Project Gigabit, uptake gaps, and the long-term pathway to achieving 99% gigabit-capable access, with Ofcom having published their report on Planned Network Deployments in May 2025.
Further discussion will focus on the evolving landscape of mobile networks, including the Shared Rural Network’s progress, after Ofcom published updated mobile coverage data in May 2025. Sessions will also focus on regulatory considerations for 5G expansion, and the anticipated transition to 6G.
With the agenda currently in the drafting stage, overall areas for discussion include:
- regulation:
- Ofcom’s Telecoms Access Review 2026 - competition, investment incentives, and consumer protections
- implications for large-scale telecoms providers, altnets, and infrastructure sharing - regulatory certainty for long-term industry planning
- policy:
- coordination across broadband, mobile, and wider digital strategy - criteria for government intervention in telecoms infrastructure
- frameworks for cross-sector collaboration - fostering demand from key industries such as finance, manufacturing, and AI to drive further investment
- rollout:
- assessing progress and next steps for Project Gigabit as the 85% target approaches - strategic, policy and stakeholder considerations for funding the final 15% to reach 99% coverage
- achieving equitable rollout in rural and underserved areas - the mix of public and private investment models
- investment and market dynamics:
- financial sustainability of broadband and mobile deployment - spectrum fee structures and taxation incentives - implications and the future for consolidation
- perspectives on the national telecoms infrastructure providers’ pricing strategies and competitive impact
- infrastructure development:
- policy and regulatory priorities, including National Significant Infrastructure Project reform and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
- flexi-permitting and automatic upgrade rights - role of local authorities in supporting network rollout - managing environmental and visual concerns, particularly in rural areas
- mobile:
- progress of the Shared Rural Network, and strategic considerations for 95% 4G coverage - rollout of nationwide standalone 5G
- developments and next steps for addressing gaps in connectivity on public transport and urban buildings - spectrum allocation priorities and licensing costs
- digital uptake:
- latest thinking on improving full-fibre take-up in line with availability - strategies to improve affordability and consumer awareness - marketing innovation, including incentives
- supporting businesses in digital transition - translating increased adoption into tangible economic benefit
- network resilience and security priorities: climate change and extreme weather - copper switch-off and legacy technologies - cybersecurity - regulatory standards for service reliability
- innovation:
- considering the roadmap for 6G development and commercialisation - balancing long-term innovation with near-term industry and consumer needs
- achieving UK leadership in telecoms research and development - frameworks for cooperation between the supply chain and broadband, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks
- skills and workforce planning:
- addressing talent shortages in digital infrastructure provision - strategies for attracting and retaining skilled professionals
- next steps for promoting digital literacy and fostering consumer and business adoption of new technologies
