Government launches review into future telecoms infrastructure investment
The government has launched a review of the UK’s telecoms markets, to investigate how it can support investment in the world-class connectivity of the future.
The cross-government Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review - led by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport - will explore what makes investment in full fibre and 5G networks attractive. It will establish what, if anything, government can do to promote the right conditions to achieve widespread coverage.
The review will underpin the Government’s strategy to remain a world leader in connectivity in the coming decades - raising productivity and creating the balanced economy of the future. The aim is to create the conditions for connectivity that is ultrafast, reliable, long-lasting and widely available to UK homes and businesses.
Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital said:
Government has already committed more than £1 billion to supporting a business case for investment in full fibre and 5G networks through investment programmes and initiatives like our Barrier Busting Task Force.
We’d like to build on what has been achieved so far, by removing future barriers before they arise, and ensuring that market and policy conditions are as good as they can be to maximise investment in new technologies.
The Review will consider the types of competition that different parts of the telecoms market in different areas of the UK can support, with implications for the level and makeup of investment. For more information, please see
DCMS will be seeking a wide range of evidence, including from across industry and the investor community, and will shortly be issuing a Call for Evidence.
A report, to be published in Summer 2018, will identify options available to government to promote an attractive and stable environment for investment.