London stands at a critical juncture, and digital connectivity is central to its ambitions going forward. The forthcoming New London Plan, of which Mobile UK has submitted its response, presents an unparalleled opportunity to firmly embed robust mobile infrastructure as a cornerstone of the city's continued economic prosperity and social well-being. This is an opportunity that, frankly, previous iterations of the London Plan have fallen short on, and the consequences are now starkly evident: London is lagging behind, not just globally, but even within the UK, in crucial aspects of digital connectivity.

London's economic contribution is immense, accounting for over 20% of the entire UK economy, with a total economic output of £531 billion in 2023. This powerhouse status is intrinsically linked to world-class digital connectivity. The Mayor's own London Growth Plan, published in February 2025, explicitly states that "Digital connectivity is not merely a convenience but a fundamental pillar supporting this ambition". Yet, despite this acknowledgment, London's 5G performance is concerning.

While 5G availability is good, its median download speeds (around 115 Mbps) are significantly slower than top-performing UK cities like Glasgow (184.99 Mbps). Compounding this, London ranked lowest for overall 5G mobile service among 14 major global cities (MedUX, 2024). London ranks 10th for 5G quality of experience in Europe, with a total reliability score of 75.73%, significantly lower than Stockholm (95.78%). This is not the performance expected of a leading global city, and it risks London's vital competitive edge.

The previous London Plan, unfortunately, lacked the necessary impact on mobile connectivity. We in the mobile industry had been led to believe that the New London Plan would be the vehicle to strengthen policies around planning and mobile infrastructure deployment in the Capital.

London's unique characteristics, while contributing to its vibrancy, also present significant and unparalleled barriers to mobile infrastructure deployment. Around 7% of London's crucial rooftop sites, essential for network provision, are out of action at any given time due to Notices to Quit (NTQs). The sheer volume of tall building developments, with 270 constructed over the last 10 years, constantly impacts coverage and generates NTQs.

Furthermore, the inconsistent planning landscape across London boroughs is a major impediment, with wildly varying pre-application fees (e.g., from £346 to £5,709, with some charging up to £2,500 for a follow-up meeting) creating an unpredictable and costly environment for infrastructure deployment.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out government planning policies, but the New London Plan cannot simply defer to it. Instead, it needs to build upon and enhance it, creating a strong and localised London policy that directly addresses the city's unique challenges, particularly concerning mobile infrastructure and digital connectivity.

The Mayor's own response to the revised NPPF confirms that the London Plan "is required to be consistent with the NPPF," which means actively translating its expectations into London-centric policies, not simply deferring to them. Without a strong, dedicated digital connectivity policy, London will lack the essential regional framework to deliver digital connectivity through its planning system. Existing documents like the London Growth Plan, the GLA’s Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Guidance, and the 2025 London Infrastructure Framework (LIF) already highlight the critical need for a robust London-centric mobile connectivity policy. The new London Plan should build on these expectations, not ignore them. Failing to establish a specific digital connectivity policy risks London's mobile digital networks continuing to lag, impacting its global competitiveness.

The Mayor and the GLA must clearly set out their role in supporting operators and boroughs in fixing gaps in broadband coverage (fixed and mobile) and developing a pan-London infrastructure framework. Without a strong, dedicated digital connectivity policy, London risks its mobile digital networks continuing to lag, impacting its global competitiveness.

The New London Plan represents an essential and much-needed opportunity to forge an ambitious and dynamic mobile future for the nation’s Capital. We are ready to invest and build, but we need a clear, supportive framework to deliver this critical infrastructure efficiently and effectively for the benefit of all Londoners and the UK economy. This is London's chance to secure its place as a truly connected and competitive global leader.