Virgin Media O2 supports the Government’s ambition to deliver nationwide, high‑quality 5G+ by 2030. This infrastructure will create an essential foundation for the UK’s global competitiveness and future technologies such as 6G. We are ready to turn vision into reality, but doing so will require the right policy and regulatory environment.
The current framework has been effective in fostering strong retail competition and delivering excellent outcomes for consumers, including declining real‑term prices and a wide choice of services. However, it was designed for earlier generations of mobile technology and the market has moved on.
Today, operators face growing macroeconomic pressures alongside rising energy and compliance costs, at a time when sustained investment in network coverage, quality and resilience is more critical than ever. With regulatory costs set to exceed £1 billion annually across the sector, the burden on UK connectivity is significant.
To help create the best investment environment for mobile deployment, the Government should consider:
- Reducing deployment and operational costs, including reform of Annual Licence Fees and reforming the planning regime.
- Enabling innovation and new revenue models, including modernisation of net neutrality rules to focus on consumer outcomes and provide greater regulatory clarity, alongside public procurement frameworks that support demand for advanced connectivity in the public sector.
- Improving regulatory clarity and alignment, including better forward visibility through spectrum roadmaps, formal assessment of cumulative investment impact of regulatory interventions, and investment-focused steers from Government to reduce uncertainty.
This is a pivotal moment for the mobile market. By modernising policy and regulation, the UK can unlock greater investment, accelerate next‑generation network deployment, and secure its position as a leader in the digital economy.