On Wednesday 24 March, as part of its Diversifying Telecoms campaign week, techUK will join forces with the UK Spectrum Policy Forum to explore the future provision of legacy networks (2G, 3G) in the UK, some of the spectrum-related barriers to the diversification of the telecoms supply chain and connectivity requirements of future mobility services.  

In its 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy, government prioritised attracting new suppliers to the UK telecoms market, through the removal of technical barriers that prevent operators from adopting multi-vendor strategies and from integrating new suppliers into their supply chain. The Strategy pointed to the performance requirements that lead operators to maintain legacy networks or addressing spectrum related barriers where they exist and raise the barrier to entry for new suppliers.  

techUK session 10:00-11:20

The first part of our event will address how DCMS can build a roadmap for the provision of these legacy networks, and what could happen to the UK’s 2G and 3G networks in the future. While mobile devices using 2G and 3G are declining, there are a number of non-handset SIM card services that will continue to rely on 2G including smart meters and vehicle telematics. New suppliers in the UK market, including 5G Open RAN vendors may not want to spend resource on engineering backwards-compatibility for the UK’s 2G network. 

We will explore: 

  • Could a national wholesale 2G roaming network be the answer? 
  • How might Ofcom’s work with operators on protecting 2G customers and minimising disruption inform the Government’s roadmap?  
  • What's the impact on Smart Metering? 
  • How can the utilities sector work with the telecoms industry as its supply chain is diversified and networks change?

UK SPF session 11:30-13:00

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In the second session of the event, the UK Spectrum Policy Forum’s (UK SPF) spectrum demand focused cluster will explore in detail the impact of sunsetting 2G/3G on the connectivity needs of vehicles, such as the eCall service system. UK SPF will also look at the underlying infrastructure for the increased usage of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) such as charging points.  

 

Agenda

10:00-10:05 

Welcome and introductions 

Sophie James, techUK 

Jo O’Riordan, UK Spectrum Policy Forum 

10:05-10:20 

The potential impact of switching off 2G in the UK 

John Okas, Real Wireless   

10:20-10:35 

The journey to 5G and network analytics 

Martin Hester, Director, WW SP Channels and Alliances, Gigamon   

10:35-10:50 

DCC’s Network Evolution programme 

Chris Barlow, Director of Innovation, DCC 

10:50-11:05 

Update from ENA Strategic Telecommunications Group 

Lauren Fisher, Resilience Lead, Energy Networks Association 

11:05-11:20 

Panel discussion and Q&A 

John Okas, Real Wireless 

Julian Stafford, JRC 

Adrian Belcher, Solutions Architect, Gigamon 

Chris Barlow, Director of Innovation, DCC 

Lauren Fisher, Resilience Lead, Energy Networks Association 

11:20-11:30 

Break 

- 

11:30-11:35 

Welcome and introductions 

Saul Friedner, UK SPF Cluster 1 and LS Telcom    

11:35 - 11:47

SMMT    

David Wong, SMMT 

11:47 - 12:00

Catapult

Khalid Nur, Connected Places Catapult

12:00 - 12:15 

Questions for SMMT and Catapult 

David Wong, SMMT and Khalid Nur, Connected Places Catapult 
12:15 - 12:20 Saul Intro: The aim of the panel  
12:20 - 12:40 4 panellists, 5 minutes each

Toral Patel, PA Consulting    

Dave Burstein, Fast Net News and Analysis Branch   

Raj Singh, Marvell Technology Group  

Reza Karimi, 5G AA  

Saul Friedner, UK SPF Cluster 1 and LS Telcom (Chair)  
12:40 - 12:57 Questions All

12:57 - 13:00 

Wrap up and close 

Sophie James, techUK 

Jo O’Riordan, UK Spectrum Policy Forum 

 

Sophie Greaves

Sophie Greaves

Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, techUK

Tales Gaspar

Tales Gaspar

Programme Manager, UK SPF and Satellite, techUK

Matthew Wild

Programme Assistant - Markets, techUK

 

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