July 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This timely conference is bringing together key stakeholders and policymakers to examine key issues for the retail mobile and broadband market.
It takes place with Ofcom’s work programme for 2020/21 including plans to protect consumers, enhance services and adapt regulation - and with the planned Consumer Protection White Paper expected to be published later this year.
Of course we expect much of the discussion on the day to focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the industry looks ahead to consider which changes in customer habits and priorities that emerged during the crisis are likely to remain embedded - and what they mean for services, the nature of demand, and the shape of the market going forward.
Key areas for discussion:
- Policy and regulatory priorities for the retail mobile and broadband sector
- The retail telecoms market of the future: what does a competitive and innovative sector - that delivers for consumers and remains attractive to investors - look like, and how to get there
- Designing infrastructure and service delivery to meet customer need, and to react to changing behaviour and business requirements
- Removing barriers to switching, better informing consumers, encouraging price transparency and reducing loyalty penalties - including case study from the retail energy sector
- Learning from how the services provided to consumers and businesses adapted in the response to COVID-19 - and what support will be needed into the future for the industry and its customers.
The agenda:
- Consumer protection, regulation and telecoms services - with Rich Sullivan-Jones, Audit Manager, Regulation, Consumers and Competition, National Audit Office
- Pricing, switching, and broadband and mobile consumers - with Jane Rumble, Director, Consumer Policy, Ofcom
- Case study: strategies for protecting the interests of consumers in the retail energy market - with Mary Starks, Executive Director, Consumers and Markets, Ofgem
- Consumer protection in mobile and broadband - key steps for policy - with Melissa Giordano, Deputy Director, Telecoms Policy and Legislation, DCMS
- A market that serves consumers: design and delivery of new infrastructure and services, increasing choice and reducing switching barriers, and responsive support for customers - including in light of the COVID-19 crisis - a panel with Uswitch, Sky, BT, Mobile UK, and Citizens advice
- Supporting a vibrant retail sector into the future - innovation in service delivery, driving competition, attracting investment, and preparing for the Copper Switch Off - a panel with Pinsent Masons, the Communications Consumer Panel, CityFibre, Virgin Media, and Ombudsman Services
Developments that are relevant to the discussion:
- Growing focus on policy and regulation in the area of consumer protection and empowerment;
- Plans to develop 5G and fibre infrastructure further outlined in Ofcom’s annual report;
- The Wholesale Telecoms Market Review prioritising the provision of choice, value and quality - and encouraging network competition - in meeting growing demand for future broadband services;
- The Smart Data Review - which focuses on how data portability can be used to improve consumer experiences;
- Prospects for setting up a new independent consumer advocacy body;
- Ofcom’s response to stakeholder comments on its fairness framework for UK telecoms providers which sets out the regulator’s approach to assessing whether consumers are getting a good deal;
- Changes to the European regulatory framework - which underpins the regulation of the UK’s telecoms sector, aimed at securing a high level of consumer protection; and
- A package of measures that have been agreed between the DCMS and major fixed and mobile providers which seek to support consumers working for the NHS and using its services.
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
This one looks no different. Places have been reserved by officials from DCMS; Ofcom; the Competition and Markets Authority; HMRC; the National Audit Office; the Department for International Trade; and The Scottish Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
