techUK insight: DSIT publishes Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecoms and spectrum – what does it mean?

The SSP rightly places competitive, investment-led infrastructure at the heart of the UK’s growth ambitions. techUK welcomes the continued focus on providing regulatory certainty and predictability to support long-term investment in both fixed and mobile networks. This is particularly crucial at a time where the fixed market is facing a period of consolidation amongst the alt-net providers, and mobile operators deal with reduced profitability.  

The emphasis on sustained competition, including careful oversight of market power and infrastructure sharing, reflects the need to ensure that competition delivers durable benefits rather than short-term gains. Importantly, the Statement also recognises that business connectivity must be treated as a priority alongside household broadband, reflecting the central role that reliable, high-quality connectivity plays in productivity and regional growth. 

For mobile networks, the focus on investment in high-quality 5G and 5G SA and the need to monitor market dynamics over time is welcome. Ensuring that regulation continues to support sustainable investment will be essential if the UK is to realise the full economic and societal benefits of advanced mobile connectivity. 

Further, this sits alongside the government’s ongoing work to reform planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure. Together, these measures have the potential to address both regulatory and non-regulatory barriers to rollout. However, the benefits will only be realised if Ofcom’s approach, national planning policy and local decision-making are aligned behind a shared objective of enabling infrastructure deployment at pace. 

The SSP sets clearer expectations around how competition and regulation should translate into positive outcomes for consumers and businesses. techUK supports attempts to ensure consumer confidence, something that is essential to a well-functioning market. 

The direction for Ofcom to take a more holistic view of consumer-facing interventions and their cumulative impact is welcome, particularly as the market continues to evolve. Ensuring that regulation remains proportionate, evidence-based and focused on outcomes will be key to maintaining trust while avoiding unnecessary burdens on industry. 

The emphasis on digital inclusion and support for vulnerable consumers also reflects the growing importance of connectivity as an essential service, and the need for coordinated approaches across the sector. In this area, techUK is pleased to note that our Deputy CEO, Antony Walker, is part of the government’s Digital Inclusion Action Committee, showcasing our work help reduce digital exclusion.  

Spectrum policy remains a critical enabler of the UK’s digital economy. The SSP highlights the importance of maximising access to and efficient use of spectrum across an increasingly wide range of wireless applications. 

techUK welcomes the emphasis on spectrum sharing, automation and more flexible access models, which can help unlock innovation across sectors while supporting efficient spectrum use. The continued focus on collaboration between government and Ofcom, including on public sector and critical service requirements, will be vital to balancing commercial demand with strategic national needs. 

The strategy identified cooperation as critical in deploying cutting-edge capabilities, such as cellular-operated drones. Ofcom is also encouraged to focus in including innovations from audio and video services in spectrum management decisions. The document also calls for international coordination to unlock the potential of the space economy, as well as to guarantee security, economies of scale and interoperability. 

The forward-looking approach to spectrum, including consideration of the social and economic value of this resource to wider national ambitions, is an important signal that the UK intends to remain competitive in an evolving global connectivity landscape.  

The SSP appropriately recognises telecoms networks as critical national infrastructure and reinforces the importance of security and resilience. techUK welcomes the continued focus on implementing and enforcing the telecoms security framework, alongside greater attention to resilience challenges such as power outages, climate risks and network disruption. 

The integration of climate adaptation and resilience into Ofcom’s priorities reflects a more complete view of infrastructure planning and regulation. Ensuring that security and resilience requirements are clear, proportionate and aligned with wider infrastructure policy will be essential to supporting both public confidence and continued investment.