6G will not simply be faster radio. It is emerging as a software-defined, programmable network fabric with AI embedded across the RAN, edge and core — a network that senses its environment as well as carrying traffic. Integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) turns the network itself into critical national infrastructure, and that makes openness and security inseparable. This opening session of techUK's Building Trust in 6G series examines the technical and policy architecture of a secure, sensing-capable 6G network, and what the UK must do in the next 24 months to lead rather than follow. 

What this webinar covers 

  • ISAC as critical national infrastructure: what changes when the network becomes a sensor — UAV and airspace monitoring, transport safety, perimeter protection of CNI — and why this raises the stakes on 'secure by design'. 
  • The legacy security debt 6G inherits from 4G and 5G, and what secure-by-design and Zero Trust actually require in a network that is simultaneously communicating and sensing. 
  • Governance of sensing data: authorisation and access-policy enforcement, resolution limits as a privacy safeguard, and a use-case-led approach to responsible deployment. 
  • Supply chain and vendor accountability in a disaggregated, multi-vendor ecosystem — and who is responsible when an autonomous, sensing-enabled system causes harm. 
  • The next 24 months: spectrum decisions, standards input (3GPP Release 20/21 ISAC work) and UK positioning. 

Agenda 

  • Welcome and framing from the techUK ACT programme (5 minutes) 
  • Opening presentations: the ISAC and secure-by-design landscape for 6G (20 minutes) 
  • Chaired panel discussion with industry, research and policy speakers (25 minutes) 
  • Audience Q&A and closing remarks (10 minutes) 

Why it matters 

Resilience and commercial success are complementary, not competing, objectives. Decisions taken now on spectrum, standards and security architecture will determine whether the UK can build a 6G network that supports critical services, supply-chain resilience and wider innovation — or one that embeds new, opaque dependencies. This session gives members an early read on where the governance and accountability lines are being drawn, and how to feed into them. 

Who should attend 

Network security, architecture and radio research leads at operators and vendors; CNI and public-safety organisations exploring sensing use cases; policy and regulatory affairs teams working on the Telecommunications Security Act and Open Networks framework; standards and spectrum specialists; and members tracking the UK's 6G positioning. 

 

 

Telecoms Programme activities

techUK brings together government, the regulator, telecom companies and stakeholders to help the UK maximise the benefits of adopting advanced communications services. We ensure our members have a clear understanding of market developments, customer requirements, and government priorities. Visit the programme page here.

 

 

Upcoming events

7 September 2026

Satellite Telecommunications Committee Meeting Q3 2026

London and Online Meeting
9 – 10 September 2026

Connected Britain 2026

London
22 September 2026

Positioning, Navigation and Timing Committee 2026 Q3 Meeting

London and Online Meeting

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 Meet the team

Tales Gaspar

Tales Gaspar

Programme Manager, UK SPF and Satellite, techUK

Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.

In the UK and Europe, he offered consultancy on intellectual property rights of cellular and IoT technologies and on the regulatory procedures at the ITU as a Global Fellow at the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI).

Tales has an LL.M in Law and Business by the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) and an MSc in Regulation at the London School of Economics, with a specialization in Government and Law.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
+44 (0) 0207 331 2000
Website:
www.techUK.org
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/talesngaspar

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Sophie Greaves

Sophie Greaves

Associate Director, Digital Infrastructure, techUK

Sophie Greaves is Associate Director for Digital Infrastructure at techUK, overseeing the Telecoms Programme, the Data Centres Programme, and the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.

Sophie leads our work across telecoms networks, security and resilience, supply chain diversification, advanced communications technologies, spectrum policy, and data centres - bringing these areas together into a dedicated Digital Infrastructure unit. She was previously Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy. 

Prior to joining techUK, Sophie completed a masters in Film Studies at University College London; her dissertation examined US telecoms policy relating to net neutrality and content distribution.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
0207 331 2038
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/,https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophiegreaves/

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Josh Turpin

Josh Turpin

Senior Programme Manager, Telecoms and Net Zero, techUK

Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.

In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.  

Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.

Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
020 7331 2038
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-turpin/

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