Yesterday evening, we hosted Mobile UK’s annual Parliamentary Summer Reception at the House of Commons. Minister Baroness Lloyd addressed the assembled group and thanked all present for their detailed and insightful contributions to the Mobile Market Review.

We were also joined by many former colleagues to celebrate Mobile UK’s 10th anniversary.

It was an evening of great discussion on the future of our industry, with some consensus that if the UK is to achieve the level of resilient mobile connectivity that it needs in the AI era, it is time to give mobile connectivity a much higher priority and place it at the forefront of Government policy thinking (and doing).

The next chapter for the current Government presents the perfect opportunity to reset.

The Reality of the Mobile Market

For forty years, progress in the nation’s mobile phone coverage and capacity has been driven almost exclusively through fierce competition in the market, within a regulatory framework set by Ofcom. Along the way, successive Governments have extracted around £40 billion in licence fees for the radio frequencies used, in addition to the usual taxes and business rates.

The mobile operators’ investment has been a catalyst for innovation and growth across the economy. For every £1 invested by operators, the economy benefits by £5. Mobile connectivity is now woven into the fabric of our daily lives, with nearly 120 million connections.

Over the last decade, though, competition has driven down industry revenues, while network traffic and costs have risen rapidly, squeezing investment capacity. The result? The UK ranks very highly in terms of affordability, but poorly in terms of quality—in fact, 36th according to the global trade body GSMA. This is not good news for the UK’s future growth prospects; our digital infrastructure is a key marker of international competitiveness.

Pivot to Critical Infrastructure

The Government has correctly recognised that mobile connectivity is central to its growth mission, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is conducting a Mobile Market Review.

This is the perfect moment for a pivot. We must support not only more commercial investment but also recognise formally that it is no longer viable to treat increased resilience and security expectations as solely commercial responsibilities.

Mobile networks are a core part of the AI ecosystem. Much of the £400 billion of gains identified in the Government’s AI Opportunities Action Plan will be realised through mobile. The UK’s stated AI advantages—healthcare, field services, logistics, public administration, SMEs—sit overwhelmingly in sectors where workers are mobile, and AI must be delivered across wireless networks. Mobile networks are not just pipes for consumer entertainment—they will be the connective tissue of a secure AI service delivery system.

Six Achievable Policy Actions

In our submission to the Review, Mobile UK has proposed a range of very achievable policy actions to improve the UK’s current standing:

• Stimulate the Market: Deploy the Government's purchasing power and influence to improve the investment outlook while enhancing public services.
• Deregulate Net Neutrality: Foster innovation and allow the sector to diversify commercial offerings, including ‘no frills’ data connectivity.
• Reduce Regulatory Costs: Lower the near £1 billion of annual costs imposed by regulators (including Ofgem) which act as a "tax on connectivity," releasing capital for network reinvestment.
• Modernise Planning: Refresh outdated planning regulations to eliminate delays in site upgrades and infrastructure renewal.
• Release Spectrum Ahead of Demand: Provide a lower-cost path to increased network capacity.
• Reform Licence Fees: Adjust the annual fees paid for spectrum licences so that they can be invested back into critical national infrastructure. This will extend coverage to deep rural areas, enhance power resilience, and improve rail connectivity.

Our One Chance

The 2026 Mobile Market Review is more than just a routine policy exercise. It is the one chance in this Parliament to reset the trajectory for mobile connectivity in the UK.

As we enter a new political chapter with a new Prime Minister, we must catch up with our international competitors. We must ensure that we have the essential foundations for enabling the UK to be a leading nation in the AI era, creating a virtuous circle of investment and innovation. Last night's reception confirmed that industry is ready; now, we need the policy framework to match.

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