{"id":42532,"date":"2025-07-21T16:47:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=42532"},"modified":"2025-07-21T16:47:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T15:47:35","slug":"gov-prep-new-statement-of-strategic-priorities-for-uk-broadband-and-mobile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/07\/gov-prep-new-statement-of-strategic-priorities-for-uk-broadband-and-mobile.html","title":{"rendered":"Gov Prep New Statement of Strategic Priorities for UK Broadband and Mobile"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The UK government has today proposed a new Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for UK mobile and broadband services. This broadly requires <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/ofcom\" target=\"_blank\">Ofcom<\/a> to deliver on existing targets, ensure a smooth copper to fibre network migration, monitor take-up of gigabit-capable broadband, distribute radio spectrum fairly and facilitate infrastructure sharing etc.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The SSP reflects a legal mechanism that is underpinned by part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2017\/04\/censorship-10mbps-uso-uk-digital-economy-act-set-pass.html\"><strong>Digital Economy Act 2017<\/strong><\/a> and is designed to set out the strategic priorities to support growth, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/ofcom\" target=\"_blank\">Ofcom<\/a> must have regard to when exercising its regulatory functions. The previous Conservative government set one of these for telecoms in 2019, and now it&#8217;s the new Labour government&#8217;s turn.<\/p>\n<div class=\"bq2\"><strong>NOTE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/ofcom\" target=\"_blank\">Ofcom<\/a> must update on the action it has taken in response to the SSP every 12 months.<\/div>\n<p>Broadly speaking, the proposed SSP does not offer much in the way of surprises and largely summarises targets and programmes that the government, industry and Ofcom were already in the process of doing. But such summaries can still be useful by virtue of helping people to see what broad issues and challenges are currently occupying the industry, as well as how much progress is being made on them.<\/p>\n<p>The new consultation &#8211; due to run until <strong>18th September 2025<\/strong> &#8211; is thus seeking views on the government\u2019s strategic priorities and desired outcomes for fixed and mobile digital infrastructure, the management of radio spectrum, telecoms consumers, telecoms security and resilience, and also.. postal services. But we&#8217;re only going to focus on the first four priorities for the telecoms sector and will skip the postal service one.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/consultations\/proposed-statement-of-strategic-priorities-for-telecommunications-the-management-of-radio-spectrum-and-postal-services\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Proposed Statement of Strategic Priorities (2025)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"strategic-priority-1-driving-growth-through-world-class-fixed-and-wireless-digital-infrastructure\"><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Strategic Priority 1: Driving growth through world-class fixed and wireless digital infrastructure<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The government wants all users to be able to enjoy the benefits of safe online spaces. The expectation cannot fall on users to take precautionary steps to avoid severely harmful content and keep themselves safe online. We want to see services that are safe by design, where features are chosen and designed to limit the risk of harm to users. This should be a basic principle for operating in the UK market.<\/p>\n<p>The government ambition for telecoms is high. Over 87% of UK premises have access to a gigabit-capable connection<sup id=\"fnref:1\"><\/sup> and the government wants to see this extend to 99% by 2032. And while <abbr title=\"fourth generation mobile network\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/4g\">4G<\/a><\/abbr> connectivity across 95% of the UK\u2019s landmass will help ensure that communities and business everywhere can benefit from good connectivity, our ambition is to go further and to have high quality, standalone <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/5g\">5G<\/a><\/abbr> in all populated areas of the UK by 2030.<\/p>\n<p id=\"a-supporting-growth-through-access-to-gigabit-capable-fixed-telecoms-connections\"><strong>1a. supporting growth through access to gigabit-capable fixed telecoms connections<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s regulatory regime has facilitated significant investment and growth in the fixed telecoms market. Building on this success, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should over the course of this Parliament ensure that the encouragement of investment and economic growth are key factors taken into account in its regulatory decisions.<\/p>\n<p>There are a number of ways in which <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> can continue to support access to gigabit-capable fixed telecoms connections:<\/p>\n<p><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should exercise its regulatory powers to take prompt steps to remedy actions which present a risk to effective competition. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should closely monitor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/openreach\" target=\"_blank\">Openreach<\/a>\u2019s commercial terms and pricing, given that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/openreach\" target=\"_blank\">Openreach<\/a> benefits from economies of scale that new entrants cannot rely on yet. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should prevent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/openreach\" target=\"_blank\">Openreach<\/a> from offering commercial arrangements that would have a detrimental effect on the establishment of sustained competition, while sustained competition is still developing in the market.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Having several networks building in the same area is only the first step towards having established competition, and the government expects <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to take a cautious approach when considering whether it is appropriate to remove remedies, so that competition can be maintained over time.<\/li>\n<li>Regulation should continue to support operators\u2019 investment in the continued roll-out of fibre networks over the next 5 years and beyond. As such, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should ensure predictable and evidence-based regulatory decisions, focused on its core objectives of promoting competition and protecting consumers, and should monitor the impact of regulation on investment.<\/li>\n<li>Promoting investment and competition in the fixed telecoms market should continue to be prioritised over regulatory measures to further reduce retail prices in the near term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support broadband for businesses:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to ensure that businesses across the country, including those in rural areas, are able to access the fast, reliable, and resilient broadband services they need to thrive. The regulator should work to ensure a healthy business connectivity market is treated as a priority, and in light of its growth duty,<sup id=\"fnref:2\"><\/sup> <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should have regard to the impact on UK economic growth, as well as investment and competition in the telecoms sector, when assessing whether to introduce or remove regulatory remedies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support universal access:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should monitor pricing differences in gigabit-capable broadband between geographic areas and localities. For any areas of the UK with only one network operator <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should, alongside government, consider steps to ensure consumers do not have to pay excessive prices due to a lack of local competition.<\/li>\n<li>The regulator should work with government to review the Broadband Universal Service Obligation and make any appropriate changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"infrastructure-sharing\"><strong>Infrastructure sharing:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Introducing unrestricted access to Openreach\u2019s national network of underground ducts and poles via its Physical Infrastructure Access (<abbr title=\"Physical Infrastructure Access\">PIA<\/abbr>) product has transformed the competitive landscape of the UK fixed telecoms market. It is the government\u2019s view that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should ensure that Openreach continues to provide unrestricted access to its physical infrastructure to all communications providers on equivalent terms, unless it can demonstrate that a difference is justified.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To ensure sustainable long-term competition in the fixed telecoms market, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should ensure Openreach complies with the \u201cno undue discrimination\u201d condition set out in <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s Significant Market Power (<abbr title=\"Significant Market Power\">SMP<\/abbr>) conditions, thereby treating all communication providers in a fair and transparent way.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">&#8211; <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should closely and proactively monitor Openreach\u2019s compliance with the no undue discrimination principle, so that communications providers have confidence that <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> takes allegations of anti-competitive behaviour seriously.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">&#8211; <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> and the Openreach Monitoring Unit (<abbr title=\"Openreach Monitoring Unit\">OMU<\/abbr>) should take reasonable and practicable steps to demonstrate transparency in its monitoring and enforcement activities, including by publishing regular reports on its work. This extends to demonstrating greater transparency in how <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> calculates and sets <abbr title=\"Physical Infrastructure Access\">PIA<\/abbr> prices. It is important that communications providers have confidence that <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>, and in particular the <abbr title=\"Openreach Monitoring Unit\">OMU<\/abbr>, takes allegations of anti-competitive behaviour seriously. If <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> finds that Openreach is not complying with its regulatory obligations, it should consider all enforcement options to ensure compliance.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">&#8211; Any changes to the <abbr title=\"Physical Infrastructure Access\">PIA<\/abbr> framework in the Telecoms Access Review should be proportionate, evidence-based, and support competition and investment within the fixed telecoms market. The regulator should also use the evidence received from industry to ensure the pricing model is fair and reasonable and publish an explanation for how the pricing is calculated.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">&#8211; Beyond the <abbr title=\"Physical Infrastructure Access\">PIA<\/abbr> product, the regulator should work with network operators alongside the government to ensure that existing ducts and poles are shared wherever possible to minimise the duplication of broadband infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p>To support the modernisation of telecoms networks:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should collaborate with the telecoms industry, government, and other partners (like the telecare sector) to ensure that there is no significant adverse impact on Critical National Infrastructure throughout modernisation programmes, and that vulnerable consumers are adequately protected. This entails actively monitoring the industry transition programmes of all providers to ensure providers put in place appropriate safeguards, including reporting of consumer harm, and taking measures where possible and necessary to avoid harm to vulnerable customers.<\/li>\n<li>The regulator should also ensure that these transitions do not have an adverse impact on wholesale competition.<\/li>\n<li>Consumers being switched from copper to fibre would benefit from having the appropriate level of information provided to them by their supplier regarding services offered by other networks and alerted to options which might be available to them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support take-up:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Where appropriate, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should work with the government to support gigabit take-up and should report every 6 months on levels of take-up alongside reporting on coverage.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to monitor the use of One Touch Switch and its success. More widely, the regulator should take all efforts to support effective and straightforward switching between providers in order to enable competition and enable more people to benefit from gigabit broadband.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to support greater use of consistent terminology between providers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"b-supporting-growth-and-productivity-through-investment-in-high-quality-5g-networks\"><strong>1b. supporting growth and productivity through investment in high-quality <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/5g\">5G<\/a><\/abbr> networks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Widespread deployment and adoption of high-quality <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/5g\">5G<\/a><\/abbr> can help people become better connected and our businesses and public services to become more efficient and innovative. As <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> deployment is commercially driven, it is critical that government has the pro-investment policy and regulatory regime that will deliver the connectivity the UK\u2019s citizens, businesses, and public services need in all areas of the country.<\/p>\n<p>We are seeking <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s support in the following ways: ensuring effective competition; monitoring investment in <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> networks and the cost of regulation; and identifying any regulatory changes that may be needed.<\/p>\n<p>To ensure effective competition:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should ensure that competition in the mobile market is working effectively and should proactively identify where it may not be. To support this:<\/li>\n<li>At appropriate intervals <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should assess the technological developments and competitive dynamics shaping the mobile market and consider the impact this may have on operators\u2019 ability to invest in network infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>In considering competition issues in the market and how to address them, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to work closely with the Competition and Markets Authority, under concurrent competition powers, on issues that cut across sectoral and competition concerns.<\/li>\n<li>Annual Licence Fees (<abbr title=\"Annual Licence Fees\">ALFs<\/abbr>) for mobile spectrum are set by <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to reflect the market value of the spectrum based on its opportunity cost. This is intended to provide a long-term indication of the value of spectrum to incentivise its optimal use. As such, the ALF framework must support optimal market outcomes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To monitor investment in <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> networks and the cost of regulation:<\/p>\n<p>Commercial investment in high-quality <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> networks must be underpinned by a stable policy and regulatory framework. Investment in <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> should be closely monitored by <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> and appropriate options considered if it becomes clear that investment in networks is not being achieved at sustainable levels. In particular we would welcome regular reporting from <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> on the cost of regulation to industry, the impact of regulation on investment and whether the regulatory framework could be amended to better support long-term investment and growth in telecoms networks.<\/p>\n<p>Building on the launch of the updated mobile coverage checker \u2018Map Your Mobile\u2019, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to develop its coverage reporting of <abbr title=\"fourth generation mobile network\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/4g\">4G<\/a><\/abbr> and <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> networks and help track progress of the mobile network operators\u2019 delivery of <abbr title=\"fourth generation mobile network\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/4g\">4G<\/a><\/abbr> across the UK\u2019s landmass, including through the Shared Rural Network programme. Specifically, we have asked <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to continue improving the quality of its coverage reporting on mobile network availability and quality, including by:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>keeping under review, and consider explicitly for each of its reports, its definitions of what constitutes \u201cgood\u201d <abbr title=\"fourth generation mobile network\">4G<\/abbr> and <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> and the signal strength thresholds it uses to measure this, so that these definitions continue to reflect consumer and business expectations as user requirements and behaviours evolve;<\/li>\n<li>provide coverage and performance data sets on a per county and per constituency basis;<\/li>\n<li>report on the availability of standalone <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> in the same way that it reports on the availability of <abbr title=\"fourth generation mobile network\">4G<\/abbr> and combined standalone and non-standalone <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr>; and<\/li>\n<li>provide specific coverage and performance data for the UK\u2019s road and rail infrastructure in its reporting, based on drive and walk test measurements. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should consider working with local authorities, as well as third party organisations to gather this data.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>We welcome <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s efforts to support widescale adoption of advanced <abbr title=\"fifth generation mobile network\">5G<\/abbr> as this will drive significant economic benefits. Whilst any changes to the Open Internet Access regulations<sup id=\"fnref:4\"><\/sup> would be a decision for government, it is important <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> continue to support an approach to the open internet that fosters innovation by ISPs and the wider internet ecosystem, whilst protecting consumers.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to work closely with government on net neutrality, including informing government of the impact the updates to net neutrality guidelines<sup id=\"fnref:5\"><\/sup> have had on the market to date and whether they consider any further changes are required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"strategic-priority-2-driving-growth-through-maximising-access-to-spectrum\"><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Strategic Priority 2: Driving growth through maximising access to spectrum<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>We must continually strive to maximise access to and use of spectrum for the growing number of wireless applications across the economy. This will require a range of measures, including implementing new spectrum management techniques, adopting innovative technologies that enhance spectrum efficiency, and enhancing spectrum sharing, where appropriate.&nbsp;For example, dynamic and automated spectrum access could hold potential for more efficient spectrum access.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The introduction of the spectrum sharing framework in 2019, including the availability of the 3.8-4.2 GHz band for shared access licences, was a pioneering step. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to maintain and build on this innovative approach.<\/li>\n<li>Full automation of the licensing process for shared spectrum bands could unlock growth across different sectors. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should assess the potential of full automation of the shared access licences and explore how this might further reduce licensing approval times.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue work to ensure those who have an occasional need for shorter-term license durations, such as the Programme Making and Special Events (<abbr title=\"Programme Making and Special Events\">PMSE<\/abbr>) sector, are able to access these licences in a timely manner via the shared access bands.<\/li>\n<li>We encourage <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to continue to support the evolution of spectrum access mechanisms and improvements in spectrum sharing. We expect learnings from initiatives such as DSIT\u2019s spectrum sandboxes to inform future policy and regulatory decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support public sector spectrum access:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The public sector is a major user of spectrum, in particular for defence. The government\u2019s goal is to ensure that public sector users have access to the spectrum they need to support strategic government priorities and deliver critical services, while ensuring efficient use of spectrum and maximising opportunities to boost spectrum value and growth through sharing or release for commercial applications.<\/li>\n<li>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>Following the conclusion of the Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme, DSIT is working across departments and with <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to implement a new public sector spectrum framework. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> will continue to have a crucial role to play in this framework, including through proactive cooperation with relevant government departments and agencies to understand their strategic requirements, by providing regular reports to government on emerging civil demand, and by inputting to relevant boards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To ensure Emergency Services, transport, and utility sector telecommunications needs are met:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should ensure that Emergency Services Network requirements and the safety of life and other related implications are factored into decisions on spectrum allocation as appropriate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to engage with government and other relevant stakeholders to identify the telecommunications needs and any potential spectrum requirements across transport and different utility sectors. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> has an important role to play in ensuring the appropriate solution is identified.<\/p>\n<p>To support spectrum for audio and video Programme Making and Special Events (<abbr title=\"Programme Making and Special Events\">PMSE<\/abbr>):&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><abbr title=\"Programme Making and Special Events\">PMSE<\/abbr> refers to the use of wireless devices for creating content and managing events, this includes equipment such as wireless cameras and microphones. There has been a steady rise in the use of <abbr title=\"Programme Making and Special Events\">PMSE<\/abbr> audio and video services, which are crucial for the creative industries (e.g. film and TV production, theatre, and concerts) and sports events.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should undertake and publish a review of spectrum requirements and technological trends for audio and video <abbr title=\"Programme Making and Special Events\">PMSE<\/abbr>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support the Future of Digital Terrestrial TV (<abbr title=\"Digital Terrestrial TV\">DTT<\/abbr>):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> is proactively engaging with the government on the Future of TV Distribution Project. We encourage <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to continue this engagement, including to ensure that there is appropriate consideration given to both the potential value of the spectrum and the need to continue serving audiences.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should also advise government of the possible impact of any decisions taken on the future of TV distribution on the <abbr title=\"Programme Making and Special Events\">PMSE<\/abbr> sector, to ensure that these users that deliver significant value to the UK creative sectors continue to have suitable access to spectrum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support space sector ambitions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access to appropriate spectrum is essential for enabling a resilient, competitive, and innovative UK space sector that delivers real benefits to citizens and ensures secure capabilities. Shaping the international spectrum framework so that it supports the space services that we rely on, including space science services, and ensures that the UK space industry can thrive globally, should be a priority for <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s spectrum management should enable the development of UK capabilities in space domain awareness, in-orbit servicing, assembly and manufacture, space data applications, position, navigation and timing services, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/satellite\">satellite<\/a> communications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To maximise influence in international spectrum negotiations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Global coordination and management of spectrum use is essential to ensure efficient allocation and use of spectrum, protect users against harmful interference and enable economies of scale and interoperability across regions.<\/li>\n<li>We want to work collaboratively with our allies and global partners in international fora to establish common interests, advocate for UK interests, and push for an international framework on spectrum that works for the UK, Europe and globally.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should be cognisant of UK government objectives when representing the UK and advocating for the UK\u2019s interests and strategic objectives at international fora. This includes continuing to work closely with the government to ensure that strategic priorities, such as national security and resilience, are appropriately considered and reflected throughout international negotiations. Relevant fora include the International Telecommunication Union (<abbr title=\"International Telecommunication Union\">ITU<\/abbr>) and European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (<abbr title=\"Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations\">CEPT<\/abbr>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Fit for purpose regulatory regime:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>We expect <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to proactively update government on changes to the suitability of the current spectrum management framework and the scope for legislative updates to support advancements in regulatory tools.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to regularly review and report on its performance against its statutory duties and objectives in carrying out its spectrum management functions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"strategic-priority-3-supporting-growth-through-a-transparent-competitive-and-fair-retail-market\"><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Strategic priority 3: Supporting growth through a transparent, competitive, and fair retail market<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The government supports <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s shift in focus towards monitoring and evaluating consumer-focused interventions and would see merit in <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> evaluating the impact and costs of regulatory interventions collectively.<\/li>\n<li>It is important that overall satisfaction is sustained and improved where possible.<sup id=\"fnref:6\"><\/sup> <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>, where appropriate, should work with operators to address specific concerns about customer care.&nbsp;&nbsp;This includes ensuring complaint handling processes are fit for purpose and ensuring that the routes available for consumers to escalate their concerns, such as Alternative Dispute Resolution services, are clear and offer a consistent experience for customers.<\/li>\n<li>As part of its existing duty to monitor the affordability of telecoms services, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to undertake analysis on the state of the market and establish a regular and consistent reporting cycle, able to highlight trends and changes over time.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to explore other steps which may improve consumer confidence in new and emerging broadband and mobile retail providers. For example, among other things, by focusing on providers compliance with their regulatory obligations and \u2013 where appropriate \u2013 encouraging them to sign up to voluntary approaches such as the automatic compensation scheme.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to work with telecoms operators to identify and address the vulnerabilities in telecoms networks that are exploited by criminals, and we expect further close collaboration with government over the coming years.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> will be an important stakeholder in helping to assess the potential merits of establishing a Smart Data scheme in telecoms, including determining the costs and benefits of such a scheme for industry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support digital inclusion:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>This government believes in opportunity for all and recognises that robust connectivity for individuals and businesses, irrespective of their location, is a vital enabler of digital inclusion, which sits at the heart of our plans. However, digital inclusion encompasses more than merely affording and accessing broadband or mobile service. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> holds significant influence, and the government encourages it to leverage this position to promote safe digital participation. As outlined in the Digital Inclusion Action Plan, UK regulators have a vital role in protecting and informing the public. The government would encourage <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to consider how they can best contribute to addressing digital exclusion, including collaboration with other regulators where appropriate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support vulnerable consumers:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The government would like to see <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to continue to take all opportunities to improve the consumer experience in the telecoms sector, particularly for vulnerable consumers, including those with disabilities and those who are financially vulnerable.<\/li>\n<li>The government would like to see a more consistent approach across the sector to vulnerability, and <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> might consider lessons learnt during the COVID pandemic, the rise in the cost of living, and the Public Switched Telephone Network (<abbr title=\"Public Switched Telephone Network\">PSTN<\/abbr>) migration to Voice over Internet Protocol (<abbr title=\"Voice over Internet Protocol\">VoIP<\/abbr>), to encourage operators to adopt a more consistent approach and where possible share data to ensure that vulnerable consumers are accurately identified, and getting a consistent level of support.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to work with other sector regulators and government to establish the best way to achieve a cross-sector method to identify and support vulnerable consumers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To support the consumer voice:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It is essential that regulations are informed by the groups and individuals they are likely to impact.<\/li>\n<li><abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to make additional efforts to engage with those groups likely to be affected by regulatory changes, including individual businesses and residential customers. The Communications Consumer Panel maintains an important role ensuring the interests of consumers are represented. It needs to be suitably informed and engaged on issues likely to affect consumers of telecoms services and their views and opinions should be given due weight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p id=\"strategic-priority-4-maximising-opportunities-for-growth-through-secure-and-resilient-telecoms-infrastructure\"><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><strong>Strategic priority 4: Maximising opportunities for growth through secure and resilient telecoms infrastructure<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The government, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> and the telecoms industry must work together to ensure the UK\u2019s publicly available networks and services, including relevant land-based and subsea infrastructure, are appropriately and proportionately protected against threats and hazards. They must also be able to respond effectively to disruptive incidents affecting the UK\u2019s networks or services.<\/p>\n<p>To achieve these objectives, the government advocates a proactive regulatory approach to the security and resilience of telecoms networks and services. The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 and associated Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022, have placed new security obligations on public telecoms providers. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with these legal obligations, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Assessing the security practices of larger telecoms providers. This includes ensuring providers are complying with their relevant security duties and using <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s powers to request and review relevant information, interview technical and management staff and observe work on company premises.<\/li>\n<li>Taking action where security is, or is at risk of being, compromised. The Act requires telecoms providers to report security compromises to <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>. Where a compromise is reported, or where <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> considers there a risk of it occurring, <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> can require the provider to inform the affected people and businesses. Where <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> has reasonable grounds for believing that the compromise or risk of it occurring results from a breach of a security duty, it can require providers to take action to limit or mitigate the incident\u2019s impact.<\/li>\n<li>Making information available to the government, including through annual security reports. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> must provide specific annual security reports to the government, in addition to updates on general network security and resilience as part of its existing infrastructure reports.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It is crucial that the networks that provide electronic communication services are resilient to disruption. The government\u2019s resilience priorities in this area include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Power resilience: power resilience of telecoms networks and services is a cross-sectoral challenge. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s work on power resilience could include gathering and analysing data from mobile operators, the power sector and other relevant sources; examining what measures in the mobile access network may be appropriate and proportionate; and developing additional guidance as required. It will also be important for <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> to work closely with communications providers, the government and the power sector on collaborative efforts that reduce the likelihood of power cuts leading to a loss of services and reduce the impact of any loss of services to consumers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Incident reporting and publication of outage data: the procedures for communications providers to report security and resilience incidents is kept up-to-date, and that the data provided to the public on incidents, which is currently in the form of a summary text in the annual Connected Nations report, is more detailed, interactive, and transparent.&nbsp; This will help the public understand the picture in their local area and allow Government and stakeholders to better understand issues and trends, both of which may drive better performance and outcomes for the public.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/link\/satellite\">Satellite<\/a> emergency calls: <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should ensure that access to emergency services via 999\/112 through all spectrum adheres to the same regulations as mobile and fixed line communications.<\/li>\n<li>Net zero and climate adaptation: <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should continue to support <abbr title=\"His Majesty's Government\">HMG<\/abbr>\u2019s wider duty under the Climate Change Act 2008 to assess the risks of climate change and set out its policies for meeting those objectives, through <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr>\u2019s existing work under the Communications Act 2003. This includes continuing to provide resilience standards and guidance to communications providers to ensure they are adopting measures which factor climate change implications into their network planning and decision making to maintain network and service reliability.<\/li>\n<li>Secure, resilient, and innovative telecoms supply chains: a healthy and diverse supply chain for the technology that goes into the UK\u2019s telecoms networks is essential for security and resilience \u2013 ensuring that UK network operators can deliver good, reliable connectivity for all. Innovation in future telecoms technologies \u2013 one of the critical technologies identified by government \u2013 will also drive growth. <abbr title=\"Office of Communications\">Ofcom<\/abbr> should provide a regulatory environment that supports operators to adopt innovation in their supply chain so that the UK is seen as a leading place to develop these technologies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UK government has today proposed a new Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for UK mobile and broadband services. This broadly requires Ofcom to deliver on existing targets, ensure a smooth copper to fibre network migration, monitor take-up of gigabit-capable broadband, distribute radio spectrum fairly and facilitate infrastructure sharing etc.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":37973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,1645],"tags":[61,406,56,60,36],"class_list":["post-42532","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uk_isp_news","category-key_uk_isp_industry_developments","tag-4g","tag-5g","tag-fttp","tag-mobile-broadband","tag-ofcom-regulation"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@ispreview\/114892011095873920","error":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Gov Prep New Statement of Strategic Priorities for UK Broadband and Mobile - ISPreview UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The UK government has today proposed a new Statement of Strategic Priorities (SSP) for UK mobile and broadband services. 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