13 May 2025 – Industry Update
Mobile UK, the trade body representing the UK’s four main mobile operators, has issued a fresh call for the government to overhaul key policies to boost mobile infrastructure investment. Backed by research from Assembly Research, the appeal outlines targeted fiscal and regulatory changes aimed at accelerating 5G rollouts, expanding rural coverage, and supporting long-term economic growth.
Key Recommendations:
- Redirect Annual Licence Fees: Repurpose the £320 million collected annually from operators to fund upgrades in areas with poor mobile coverage.
- Planning System Overhaul: Expand planning reforms—currently focused on housing and data centres—to directly support mobile infrastructure deployments, which are currently hindered by outdated regulations.
- Business Rates Holiday: Introduce tax relief on new infrastructure to lower deployment costs.
- Support for 2G Switch-Off: Facilitate the retirement of legacy networks to free up spectrum and cut maintenance burdens.
- Full Implementation of Security Law: Urge full adoption of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act to streamline equipment deployment.
- Appoint ‘Digital Champions’: Designate officials to work with local authorities and speed up 5G rollout decisions.
Mobile UK expressed disappointment that recent legislative and fiscal measures—including the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and the Autumn Budget—failed to address telecom-specific barriers.
Hamish MacLeod, CEO of Mobile UK, stated: “The government has rightly identified growth as its top priority and called on the UK’s telecoms industry to help strengthen the economy. Now, it’s crucial for the government to prioritise mobile infrastructure, enabling operators to accelerate investment in coverage and capacity.”
The report warns that without targeted intervention, progress on mobile connectivity could stall, limiting economic productivity and the UK’s digital ambitions. Full details and recommendations can be found in the Mobile UK and Assembly Research report via Mobile UK’s website.
