UK telecommunications infrastructure and the UK’s domestic capability

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Apr 2020 Closed: 25 Jun 2021 Parliament page
The next generation of mobile telecommunications (known as ‘5G’) promises faster download speeds, more reliable connections and technical abilities that enable new systems such as autonomous vehicles or connected health devices. In January 2020, the Government announced that it would allow Huawei and other “high risk vendors” to supply “non-sensitive” … Read more
20 Recommendations
10 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
7 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 18 events
16 Jun
2021
Correspondence
16 Jun
2021
Correspondence
11 Jun
2021
Correspondence
9 Jun
2021
Correspondence
29 Apr
2021
Report published
4 Feb
2021
Report published
9 Dec
2020
Correspondence
18 Nov
2020
Correspondence
28 Oct
2020
Formal meeting · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
16 Oct
2020
Correspondence
30 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
30 Sep
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
30 Sep 2020
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Oral Evidence
Diane Rinaldo · Open RAN Policy Coalition Dr Mike Short · Department for International Trade Kip Meek · Communications Chambers and the Wireless Infrastructure Group Marcus Weldon · Bell Labs Professor Ciaran Martin · Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
22 Jul 2020
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Oral evidence; Oral Evidence
Amy Karam · Canadian Global Affairs Institute Dr Dritan Kaleshi · Digital Catapult Rt Hon Oliver Dowden · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
9 Jul 2020
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Oral Evidence
Andrea Dona · Vodafone UK Dr Yao Wenbing · Huawei UK Howard Watson · BT Group Mr Jeremy Thompson · Huawei UK Victor Zhang · Huawei UK Woojune Kim · Samsung
24 Jun 2020
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Oral Evidence
Attilio Zani · Telecom Infra Project Matthew Evans · techUK Professor Dimitra Simeonidou · University of Bristol
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report: 5G market diversification and wider lessons for c… HC 450 4 Feb 2021 30 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
30 results
1 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government’s ‘5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy’ provides an overview of the Government’s intentions for...
The Government’s ‘5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy’ provides an overview of the Government’s intentions for addressing the current lack of vendors in the UK’s 5G infrastructure equipment market. The Government itself acknowledges that this will take time. Although the decision … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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2 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government is seeking to attract existing vendors to the UK market in order to...
The Government is seeking to attract existing vendors to the UK market in order to diversify the telecommunications vendor market in the short-term. One of the major barriers faced by such companies is the requirement of British network operators for … Read more
Government Response
The Committee rightly notes that the provision of older generations of network technology is a major barrier to diversification. The Government recognises the benefits of a transition away from these … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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3 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
In addition to considering the case for transitioning away from 2G and 3G technologies, the...
In addition to considering the case for transitioning away from 2G and 3G technologies, the Government should propose measures within the next six months that could facilitate market entry by existing vendors in the near-term. It should consider options for … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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4 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government is right to support the development and adoption of open standards and increased...
The Government is right to support the development and adoption of open standards and increased interoperability as a potential means of diversifying the telecommunications equipment vendor market. It is also right to identify Open RAN as a prominent approach to … Read more
Government Response
The Diversification Strategy set out that technologies based on openness and interoperability —such as Open RAN—have a key role to play in enabling diversification. Though Open RAN is an emerging … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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5 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government should support Open RAN and other efforts to drive the adoption of open...
The Government should support Open RAN and other efforts to drive the adoption of open standards and greater interoperability. While the success of Open RAN is not guaranteed, the Government should encourage the deployment of Open RAN to ensure that … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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6 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The first live networks using Open RAN are being deployed, with one having launched in...
The first live networks using Open RAN are being deployed, with one having launched in Japan last year. The Government should evaluate these initiatives and report regularly on what lessons can be learned from foreign experiences to inform the UK’s … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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7 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
We heard evidence during our inquiry supporting the Government’s assessment that network operators’ preference for...
We heard evidence during our inquiry supporting the Government’s assessment that network operators’ preference for vendors with proven track records acts as a barrier to potential market entrants. The Government’s proposals to establish testing and validation facilities, and to reduce … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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8 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
Measures to support research and development form a major part of the Government’s ‘5G Supply...
Measures to support research and development form a major part of the Government’s ‘5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy’. Nevertheless, the total funding of £250 million for initial implementation of the strategy is significantly smaller than the tens of billions of … Read more
Government Response
The Government announced an initial £250 million of investment in research and development to drive early work on the diversification agenda. As set out in the Diversification Strategy, the early … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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9 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The collaborative research and development networks that the Government seeks to develop to support diversification...
The collaborative research and development networks that the Government seeks to develop to support diversification of the telecommunications market should encompass relevant groups at universities and research institutes as well as small- and medium- sized enterprises and large companies. The … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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10 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
There is strong support for the establishment of common testing facilities for new 5G infrastructure...
There is strong support for the establishment of common testing facilities for new 5G infrastructure equipment, to provide a variety of services that could help to drive diversification. The National Telecoms Lab—which appears to be the main facility proposed by … Read more
Government Response
The Government announced an initial £250 million of investment in research and development to drive early work on the diversification agenda. As set out in the Diversification Strategy, the early … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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11 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
In addition to conducting security testing and validation, the Government should ensure that the research...
In addition to conducting security testing and validation, the Government should ensure that the research and testing facilities established through the diversification strategy also drive market diversification by stimulating collaboration and supporting the development and commercialisation of new technologies. (Paragraph … Read more
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12 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
Testing facilities do not need to be situated in one physical location.
Testing facilities do not need to be situated in one physical location. The Government should ensure that any new testing facilities complement existing facilities, and are designed with potential developments in 5G technology in mind to guard against future redundancy. Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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13 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
New vendors of 5G telecommunications equipment face challenges in scaling up their production rapidly enough...
New vendors of 5G telecommunications equipment face challenges in scaling up their production rapidly enough to meet network operator demand and compete with incumbent vendors. Although the Government’s diversification strategy identifies this barrier to market entry, it defers details of … Read more
Government Response
The Government’s previously stated ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. All four Mobile Network Operators have launched their 5G networks and … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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14 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government should align its strategy for diversifying the 5G vendor market with its support...
The Government should align its strategy for diversifying the 5G vendor market with its support for rolling out 5G network coverage. Wherever the Government provides funds for expanding 5G coverage, it should look for opportunities to simultaneously support vendor diversification, … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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15 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government identified the concentration of intellectual property rights in the hands of established vendors...
The Government identified the concentration of intellectual property rights in the hands of established vendors as a barrier to market entry. It commits in its diversification strategy to working with industry bodies to address this, although the proposed work is … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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16 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
Long-standing factors have driven consolidation in the telecommunications vendor market over many years, so it...
Long-standing factors have driven consolidation in the telecommunications vendor market over many years, so it is critical that the Government adopts measures to maintain market diversity as well as to drive the initial diversification. Network operators will be integral to … Read more
Government Response
The Government announced an initial £250 million of investment in research and development to drive early work on the diversification agenda. As set out in the Diversification Strategy, the early … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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17 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government cannot rely solely on removing barriers to market entry to diversify the telecommunications...
The Government cannot rely solely on removing barriers to market entry to diversify the telecommunications vendor market, but must also ensure that network operators actively pursue diversification and act to maintain the diversity achieved. This will require a combination of … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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18 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
Of Ofcom’s two principal duties, it has appeared to have given less prominence to “further[ing]...
Of Ofcom’s two principal duties, it has appeared to have given less prominence to “further[ing] the interests of citizens in relation to communications matters” than it has to “further[ing] the interests of consumers”. Ofcom must ensure that it pursues both … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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19 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The UK’s telecommunications market accounts for a small proportion of the global market.
The UK’s telecommunications market accounts for a small proportion of the global market. International co-ordination will therefore be critical to the success of the UK’s diversification strategy. The Government’s 5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy acknowledges this fact, and states the … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees that there is a need for international fora to coordinate and drive international collaboration on diversifying the telecommunications equipment market. The Diversification Strategy makes clear the Government’s … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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20 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government should seek to establish a dedicated, standing forum for international co-operation on diversifying...
The Government should seek to establish a dedicated, standing forum for international co-operation on diversifying the telecommunications market, encompassing as many like-minded countries as possible and covering aspects including: research and development; adoption and deployment; standards; and overall strategy. This … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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21 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
There is a strong risk that the urgent security challenges faced by the UK’s telecommunications...
There is a strong risk that the urgent security challenges faced by the UK’s telecommunications sector are indicative of a wider, and growing, geopolitical development. Throughout our inquiry, we have heard of the prospect of a growing technological and regulatory … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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22 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government must treat the current issues in the UK’s 5G vendor market as an...
The Government must treat the current issues in the UK’s 5G vendor market as an indication of a much wider geopolitical, technological challenge. The character of the UK’s response, and that of other like-minded nations, will have profound implications for … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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23 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
As part of its White Paper on global technological divergence, the Government should develop a...
As part of its White Paper on global technological divergence, the Government should develop a critical technologies strategy that identifies technologies that are likely to be of critical importance to the UK’s prosperity and security over the next ten to … Read more
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24 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The Government has only recently considered the consolidation of vendors in the UK’s telecommunications market...
The Government has only recently considered the consolidation of vendors in the UK’s telecommunications market as a potential risk to national security, although it is a process that has taken place over ten to twenty years. One problem appears to … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee’s analysis of the need to consider the long- term plan and implications of critical and emerging technologies. To this end, in line with the … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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25 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should consider potential...
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should consider potential risks that could develop across their full supply chains.
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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26 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
The setting of international standards is important for national economic competitivity and technical capability.
The setting of international standards is important for national economic competitivity and technical capability. The influence of British companies and officials in global standards-setting processes is diminishing. Although the ‘5G Supply Chain Diversification Strategy’ sets out the Government’s intention to … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees that ensuring that the UK is engaged in shaping international digital technical standards is crucial to supporting the UK’s economic prosperity, safeguarding our national security, and protecting … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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27 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should review the...
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should review the relevant global standards bodies, the objectivity of their processes and the relative influence of different countries. Similar to those measures outlined in its 5G supply … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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28 Conclusion
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
Domestic capability in the research, development and adoption of critical technologies is key not only...
Domestic capability in the research, development and adoption of critical technologies is key not only to economic growth and technological progress, but also to national security. It reduces dependency on foreign suppliers and governments, and allows the UK greater scrutiny … Read more
Government Response
The Government agrees with the Committee’s analysis of the need to consider the long- term plan and implications of critical and emerging technologies. To this end, in line with the … Read more
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
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29 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should assess the...
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should assess the UK’s domestic research and development capability for each technology area as well as the capability of its allies. As the Government looks 5G market diversification … Read more
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30 Recommendation
Second Report: 5G market diversifi…
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should consider the...
In producing a national strategy for critical and emerging technologies, the Government should consider the security of the universities, businesses and other institutions conducting research into these technologies. Although guidance for the sector has recently been developed, the Government should … Read more
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Correspondence 7 letters
16 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, to the Chair regarding critical emerging technologies
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16 Jun 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, relating to critical and emerging technologies
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11 Jun 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport, relating to 5G market diversification and wider lessons for critical and emerging technologies
Parliament page
9 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Media, Culture and Sport, relating to 5G market diversification and wider lessons for critical and emerging technologies
Parliament page
9 Dec 2020 Correspondence from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP to the Chair, relating to the 5G Diversification strategy
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18 Nov 2020 Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, relating to Telecoms Diversification
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16 Oct 2020 Correspondence from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, DCMS, relating to Telecoms Diversification
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