Mobile UK has submitted its proposals for the Spring Budget, outlining six key opportunities for government to boost investment in the mobile sector and drive wider economic growth.
The trade association for the UK’s MNOs said that its proposals will use private capital, speeding up investment and unlocking further deployment.
It highlight the mobile sector's multiplier effect, citing data showing that investment in European markets generated 5 per cent of annual GDP in 2024. For the UK, this translates to a potential £83 billion GDP growth over the period, driven by operator investment. However, Mobile UK added that a significant £25 billion investment gap exists, necessitating government action to fully realise the potential of 5G and 5G Standalone networks.
Mobile UK's six key policy recommendations are:
• Repeal net neutrality regulations: Mobile UK advocates for repealing prescriptive net neutrality regulations and replacing them with flexible guidance. It believes that this will foster innovation and investment, particularly in areas such as AI.
• Reduce annual licence fees (ALFs) for spectrum: Mobile UK proposes reducing ALFs, arguing that they are no longer necessary to promote efficient spectrum use.
• Reform and invest in the planning system: Mobile UK calls for increased resources for planning authorities to handle mobile infrastructure applications and accelerated reform of permitted development rights to speed up network capacity deployment.
• Centrally fund digital champions: Mobile UK urges that reformed local authorities be mandated to include digital matters within their remit and be centrally funded to appoint digital champions to promote digital adoption, transformation, inclusion and connectivity.
• Introduce business rates holidays for new mobile infrastructure: Mobile UK calls for the implementation of business rates holidays for new 5G and 5GSA infrastructure, similar to those used for fixed fibre, to incentivise rollout in less economically viable areas.
• Urgent and full implementation of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure Act (PSTI): Mobile UK calls for rapid implementation of the PSTI Act, particularly regarding measures that will streamline processes for leases governed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, which currently impacts approximately 6,200 agreements.