DCMS announces Telecoms Diversification Task Force
A new task force has been appointed to drive forward ongoing work to diversify the UK’s telecoms supply chain and reduce reliance on high-risk vendors.
The Telecoms Diversification Task Force will provide independent expert advice to the government as it works towards diversification so that telecoms companies do not have to use high-risk vendors or rely on individual vendors to supply equipment in their networks. The announcement comes ahead of the government's Telecoms Diversification Strategy, which will be published later this year, to address a market failure where mobile companies are limited to using just three major suppliers in their telecoms networks. This restricts choice and poses a risk for the security and resilience of the UK’s future digital networks.
The forthcoming strategy will set out the key areas for boosting competition and innovation in the UK market by building an open, sustainable and diverse telecoms supply chain.
Both the strategy and task force follows government's decision, in informed by advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, to ban the use of new Huawei 5G equipment from the end of 2020, and remove all existing Huawei kit from 5G networks by 2027. The forthcoming Telecoms Security Bill will turn these commitments into law after being introduced this autumn.
The task force will support the development and implementation of the strategy. The full membership includes:
- Lord Ian Livingston of Parkhead (chair)
- Rosalind Singleton, Chair of UK5G Advisory Board
- Clive Selley, CEO, Openreach
- Scott Petty, CTO, Vodafone UK
- David Rogers, CEO, Copper Horse
- Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Head of Institute of Communication Systems, University of Surrey
- Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, Professor of High Performance Networks, University of Bristol
- Dr Scott Steedman, Director of Standards, British Standards Institute
Dr Ian Levy, Technical Director of NCSC and Simon Saunders, Director of Emerging Technology at Ofcom will also be available to the task force to provide technical advice.
Targeted measures for diversification
The task force will look at creating targeted measures to attract new vendors alongside the current pool of incumbent, non-high risk suppliers. The government is consulting a range of vendors - large and small - about how it can support them to enter the market and accelerate diversification.
The task force will also look at ways to develop the capability of the UK's vibrant and innovative telecoms sector. It will explore how to incentivise research and development in the sector, including accelerating the development of open and interoperable equipment which can be used by multiple vendors, such as OpenRAN.
Alongside the Diversification Strategy, the Telecoms Security Bill will give new powers to the government to control the presence of high risk equipment vendors, and to Ofcom to drive up security standards. The Bill will enshrine in law one of the strongest regimes for telecoms security in the world.
techUK's Diversifying Telecoms event series
Our Communications Infrastructure Programme is hosting a series of events that examines the challenges and opportunities in diversifying the UK's telecoms supply chain. The opening session, as part of London Tech Week, examined the potential of Open RAN, with insight from Scott Petty, CTO, Vodafone UK, and a panel moderated by Professor Dimitra Simeonidou that included Simon Saunders, Director of Emerging Technology at Ofcom.
Our next event takes place on Tuesday 20 October, and will consider the options for the UK - focusing on:
- What are the UK Government plans for increasing the diversity of our telecoms supply base?
- What are the potential policy drivers that can be used to do so?
- The UK's ambitions to invest in and deploy Open RAN technology
Catch up with our Diversifying Telecoms campaign here.
Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel is Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, leading the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK and overseeing the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Jaynesh has extensive experience in the sector, having worked for CityFibre (a full fibre broadband company) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) on digital infrastructure policy. Most recently Jaynesh led on policy and public affairs in the UK and Ireland for ChargePoint (an EV charging network).
Prior to this Jaynesh worked in the Cabinet Office for more than five years, including over two years at the Government Digital Service (GDS) supporting the digital transformation of UK Government.
Jaynesh has a BSc (Hons) in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE).
- Email:
- [email protected]
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayneshpatel/
Josh Turpin
Josh Turpin
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2038
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/
Matthew Wild
Matthew Wild
Matthew joined techUK in August 2023 as a Programme Assistant.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2000
Tales Gaspar
Tales Gaspar
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.
In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).
Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- +44 (0) 0207 331 2000
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar