• As the political parties focus on the party conference season, the UK mobile sector is warning that the Government needs world-class mobile networks to deliver growth in every postcode
• Mobile operators are investing billions in the UK's digital future, but outdated planning rules, high spectrum costs and obsolete regulations are holding back deployment and innovation.
• Mobile UK is launching its Mobilise Britain campaign as a call to action for the new Government to be different from its predecessors and deliver the reforms needed to unlock investment and accelerate the network rollout that will help restore the UK's leadership in digital connectivity
‍

22^nd September - As the political parties focus on party conference season, the UK’s mobile network providers are urging the new Government to recognise that the ambition to deliver growth in every postcode will depend on world-class mobile connectivity. Immediate action must be taken to remove the well understood and over discussed barriers holding back investment and network deployment  

As ministers and MPs travel to their conferences thinking about how to deliver noticeable improvements to people's lives, Mobile UK launches its Mobilise Britain campaign with proposals that can create the conditions to unlock investment that will accelerate the deployment of the latest mobile digital infrastructure to every postcode. Mobile connectivity that can support businesses grow and the public sector deliver vital services, while keeping up   with local people’s demand for data.  

The call comes at a pivotal moment. While the UK's mobile operators are investing billions of pounds in network infrastructure, outdated planning rules, high spectrum costs and obsolete regulatory barriers continue to slow the rollout and upgrade of mobile networks. Without action, the UK risks falling further behind international competitors in the race to deliver advanced digital connectivity, rather than reclaiming the leadership position it once held.

Mobile connectivity can drive the productivity and innovation that creates economic growth. Mobile network infrastructure generates £5 of economic value for every £1 invested, while advanced 5G technology could unlock up to £230 billion for the UK economy.

At the heart of Mobilise Britain are three key priorities:

1. Mobilise deployment: Accelerate planning reform and streamline infrastructure rollout to ensure mobile networks can be deployed and upgraded more quickly across the UK.

2. Mobilise investment: Create a regulatory environment that supports long-term network investment, including reform of spectrum costs, Annual Licence Fees and other barriers that constrain investment.

3. Mobilise innovation: Ensure the UK has the policy, spectrum and regulatory framework needed to unlock advanced 5G services, future technologies and economic growth.

Commenting on the launch, Hamish MacLeod, Chief Executive of Mobile UK said:  

“As politicians gather for their conferences, there is a clear opportunity to show how achieving growth in every postcode will be delivered in practice. Modern mobile networks are not a nice-to-have. They are the infrastructure that powers businesses, public services and communities right across the UK.

“We are trying to build a 5G future with policies designed for a different era. The UK is still largely operating with a 3G policy framework in a 5G world. If the Government and politicians want to unlock growth, boost productivity and spread opportunity across every nation and region, it must remove the barriers holding back deployment, investment and innovation.

“Mobilise Britain is our call for the policy reforms needed to unlock the UK's digital future. The industry is ready. Now we need action."

As part of the Mobilise Britain campaign, Mobile UK will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, regulators and stakeholders to champion reforms that unlock deployment, investment and innovation, while demonstrating the role that mobile connectivity plays in supporting growth, productivity and opportunity across the UK.

For more information visit: www.mobileuk.org/mobilise-britain  

For further information:

jonathan.adams@purplefish.agency  

0117 925 1356

‍