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26 Feb 2025

Conference Round-Up: techUK Future Telecoms Conference 2025

On 6 February, techUK hosted over 170 industry, regulatory and policy stakeholders for our latest telecoms flagship conference. Attendees listened to a diverse range of speakers assessing the challenges and opportunities for connectivity across the UK, considering the progress made to date and what more is to be done to accelerate digital infrastructure deployment.

With keynote speeches from Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, and Natalie Black CBE, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications, the event provided a diverse perspective on the future of telecoms policy, investment, and innovation.

Sponsored by Qualcomm and SA Catapult, topics ranged from 5G investment, the future of regulation, network convergence, the policy landscape and private networks.

A summary of the day’s agenda can be found below. If you are interested in learning more about the work being done by our Communications Infrastructure and Services programme, or wish to get involved in next year’s conference, please email [email protected] or [email protected].

Oversight and ambition: Parliament's leadership in digital connectivity

In the morning’s keynote speech, Chi Onwurah MP highlighted the fundamental role of telecoms in shaping the UK’s future, emphasising that connectivity must remain a key priority for both government and industry. Drawing on her background as an engineer and her experience working at Ofcom, she reflected on the significant impact of telecoms on people’s lives and the economy. As Chair of the Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee, she outlined her commitment to hold the Government accountable through inquiries and evidence sessions, ensuring that science, technology, and digital infrastructure policy supports innovation and economic growth. She noted that while MPs sometimes hesitate to engage deeply with science and technology, telecoms plays a critical role in both industrial strategy and public-private partnerships, making it essential to bridge that gap.

She also stressed the importance of improving the adoption of digital technologies across the public sector, with a new inquiry launched to explore procurement and digital transformation. Looking ahead, she highlighted the transition to 6G as a major opportunity for British technology, urging the development of a secure and competitive approach. On regulation, she acknowledged Ofcom’s expanding remit and the challenge of balancing consumer protection, competition, and innovation.

Further, she noted that the Government’s AI Action Plan and efforts to rewire regulation for growth through the introduction of the Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) reflect a shift towards more forward-looking policies. Ultimately, she underscored that the success of future telecoms depends on strong collaboration between the public and private sectors, as well as international partnerships.

Qualcomm headline slot and panel

Dr. Vikas Dhingra presented Qualcomm’s objectives for integrating AI with 5G, highlighting the various sectors AI will transform within existing networks. His presentation explored how innovative algorithms enhance both edge and cloud computing, advancing broadband generations and RAN automation.

From on-device AI, which expands user interface capabilities, to edge cloud computing that powers indoor technologies, AI’s deployment across industries holds immense potential for driving economic growth.

Edge AI will be a key driver of performance, safety, and personalisation. The right combination of hardware, software, and ecosystem collaboration will enable AI applications and services to benefit everyone.

Following the presentation, a panel discussion addressed sustainable investment in 5G and innovation in telecoms. Panellists examined key market shifts affecting telecommunications, from regulatory changes in the UK and Europe to economic pressures and evolving consumer demands.

By analysing case studies and real-world examples, the panel offered a comprehensive view of how companies are adapting to these challenges. The session provided actionable insights into balancing investment needs with market demands, ensuring long-term resilience and competitiveness in the telecommunications sector.

Seamless connectivity across the UK

Richard Lowe (Chief Technology Officer - SA Catapult) made some introductory remarks which outlined the growing adoption of satellite communications, the opportunities it provided as well as the existing barriers to take up. The panel session then delved further into the increasing trend of network convergence between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

When it came to connectivity challenges, there was agreement that it wasn’t simply an issue for remote areas. It was a more complex problem that would require a combination of fixed, wireless and satellite networks to interact effectively and be creative to meet the growing expectations of both businesses and consumers, both in urban and rural environments.

Satellite networks, which had been limited to specific sectors, now provided a more compelling option to support hard to reach areas as well as provide greater network resilience. Overcoming interoperability issues, digital security and spectrum allocation were key factors to address.

It was pointed out that certain national programmes (such as Project Gigabit) were approaching their completion phase. It was important to understand the positives and negatives from these programmes to help plan and develop future regulatory support for the ongoing hard to reach areas. The Shared Rural Network collaboration was highlighted as hugely successful collaboration between the mobile operators that the fixed market could learn from.

Overall takeaways included;

The UK needs to move away from just being a great innovator and pioneer. Government support for businesses to find the necessary investment vehicles to scale up and flourish was important.

Providers should collaborate as well as compete. Sharing infrastructure was vital across all technologies. The Space sector particularly needed to be coordinated sustainably.

Connectivity needed to be integrated into all housing and infrastructure proposals at the development phase. It should not be an afterthought.

To truly transform the current planning barriers, effective resource on the ground within Government and local authorities was needed to deliver on its policy pledges. Delivering real progress here would dramatically encourage investment

Making a return on digital investments through effective network rollouts should not be seen in a negative light. It should be encouraged.

Ofcom: regulating for network growth

Introducing the afternoon of the conference, Natalie Black CBE, Ofcom’s Group Director for Networks and Communications reflected on her experience as the UK’s first HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific from 2018 to 2023, where she was based in Singapore. This period shaped her expectations of what can be achieved in the UK, and the need for greater connectivity. She emphasised Ofcom’s dual focus on protection and growth, ensuring that regulation both protects consumers and drives industry innovation. She listed three key areas for her role.

Firstly, on broadband, she described the UK’s rollout as a success story, noting it as the fastest in Europe. Market reviews continue to refine competition, enabling networks to innovate while reforms such as One Touch Switch would reinvigorated consumer choice. However, she stressed that the job was not yet finished, with millions of households still lacking full-fibre access.

Turning to mobile, she highlighted the growing demand for data on the move and the fierce competition among Mobile Network Operators (MNOs). She also pointed to future collaboration with rail companies to improve connectivity. With resilience and security more critical than ever, she underscored the importance of the Telecoms Security Act (TSA) in maintaining a world-leading regulatory framework.

On spectrum, she outlined Ofcom’s ongoing work in allocating and awarding spectrum, opening up access for private networks, and supporting the continued rollout of 5G and satellite services. Ultimately, she reinforced Ofcom’s commitment to regulating for growth while ensuring consumer protection remains at the heart of its approach.

Policy in action: simplifying the political and regulatory landscape

With ongoing discussions in 2025 around government policy, regulatory changes, and the broader strategic direction for infrastructure, there was now a heightened focus on the sector’s role in driving economic growth and digital transformation. This panel offered valuable insights into the future of the industry, in the intersection of public policy and technology.

Firstly, audience members were provided an overview by DSIT of the sector and work being undertaken, emphasising the sector’s overall growth despite the external economic environment. The potential economic benefits of a full rollout of 5G and advanced connectivity were noted, but discussions amongst the panel made clear there were concerns about the practical challenges, including the gap between ambitions and reality.

Discussions pointed out that the scale and investment choices required for mobile connectivity, particularly 5G, are significant, and the current pace of rollout does not match the sector's ambitions. To overcome these hurdles, there was a need for more infrastructure, clearer use cases, and a focused effort on commercialising the technology.

There was also a call for better collaboration between the government and industry, highlighting the importance of open forums such as this conference and other events for fostering trust and gaining diverse perspectives. For the public sector, developing balanced policies that reflect the interests of all stakeholders, not just individual firms, was crucial. The importance of strategic collaborations, especially in public service transformation, was stressed, where the inclusion of all players—government and industry alike—would be key to achieving broader goals. It was also suggested that data-sharing initiatives would support local authorities in mapping and planning for connectivity infrastructure, particularly around key transitions like the PSTN switchover.

On competition, the conversation turned to the role of large-scale players in both fixed and mobile markets. It was noted that while fixed markets were more competitive, mobile markets required scale to drive efficiency, with some international examples of markets noted. The National Wealth Fund was identified as a key vehicle for investment in telecoms infrastructure, offering an opportunity for strategic financial backing to support growth.

Planning and regulatory processes were also a significant point of discussion. There were calls for faster action from government to support the infrastructure rollout, particularly the need for power and security at fibre exchanges. It was finally noted that the release of the latest Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecoms in late February would set out clearly the ambitions of the sector by government.

Overall, the session emphasised the importance of continued collaboration, strategic investments, and regulatory alignment to overcome the challenges facing the telecoms sector and realise its full potential in supporting the country’s economic growth.

Telecoms the enabler: cross-sector collaboration and private networks

The discussion centred on cross-sector collaboration, particularly around private localised networks, use case requirements, and the need for resilience, control, and reliability.

The Clean Power 2030 Plan outlined a robust and resilient transition to digital control systems, with the primary barrier to transition being the ability to enable a flexible energy system. The digitalisation of assets in the network was critical to allowing real-time signals for renewable generation sources and innovation, such as electric vehicles (EVs).

To achieve full digitalisation in the energy sector, improved communication networks and data-sharing capabilities were essential. Ofcom had identified candidate spectrum bands and has made spectrum available and reviewed the 3.8-4.2 GHz band to support these needs, but different business models may require some level of spectrum sharing and infrastructure coordination.

There was a strong case for leveraging existing public networks rather than building sector-specific infrastructure. Collaboration on existing networks could meet the power requirements of key sites, building resilience through dedicated solutions such as 5G network slicing.

A major issue remains the lack of available infrastructure. The Shared Access License (SAL) was intended to support the digitalisation of spectrum across industries. However, business cases often focus on energy savings rather than carbon reductions, which could impact investment incentives.

A "system of systems" approach was needed to drive progress. To support innovation and growth, DSIT had funded regulatory sandboxes to test new ideas, encouraging less conservative investment strategies. The aim was to bring industry together to rethink traditional approaches. It was also essential to clarify network requirements and develop a holistic view of how many networks need to evolve.

Exploring the Potential of Future Telecoms

Visit our Future Telecoms Hub to learn more or to register for regular updates.

Future Telecoms is techUK’s exploration of what the connectivity of tomorrow will look like. We will highlight the criticality of communications to our future prosperity and economic growth, and how the future telecoms ecosystem acts as the engine of innovation. Visit our Future Telecoms Hub to learn more or to register for regular updates.