Unlocking the Future: Explore the Impact of Connected Britain on Digital Innovation

This morning, we are fortunate to hear from two ministers in succession. It is a pleasure to be present as I assume the Telecoms portfolio in the newly established Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

This marks my inaugural address as the Minister responsible for Telecoms, and I would like to extend my gratitude to the team for arranging this event, particularly to my esteemed colleagues, Minister Lloyd and Minister Pollard, who unveiled our new Space Strategy just yesterday. As they have articulated, satellite communications are integral to our national security, growth ambitions, and future connectivity.

I have committed to keeping my comments concise, yet I would like to outline how this new government—and I, in my ministerial capacity—are approaching this brief.

A Holistic View on Connectivity

Connectivity is not merely about mobile masts or broadband cabinets. Success hinges on an entire ecosystem that includes subsea cables, satellites, local fibre networks, planning decisions, cyber resilience, and, importantly, the skilled workforce, engineers, and supply chains that maintain the system daily. This encompasses the efforts of tens of thousands—if not hundreds of thousands—of individuals across the industry.

Our vision is predicated on a comprehensive, system-wide approach to digital infrastructure, founded on four key principles:

• Providing individuals and businesses with the connectivity they require, whenever and wherever they need it.
• Supporting robust UK companies within a competitive sector that offers affordable connections for all.
• Developing secure, modern, and resilient networks capable of withstanding attacks and outages.
• Establishing a globally competitive UK ecosystem in advanced connectivity technologies to safeguard our technical sovereignty.

Together, we are laying the digital foundations for modern Britain.

It is essential to recognise that without reliable, high-quality connectivity, we cannot deliver digitised public services or fully realise the significant benefits of AI adoption.

Our leading operators are crucial strategic partners, facilitating everything from remote healthcare to smart energy grids and efficient transportation systems, underpinning employment opportunities and household affordability.

Capitalising on Government Changes for Holistic Progress

With the recent Machinery of Government changes at DCMS, which amalgamate telecoms, digital services, broadcasting, and online platforms, we are presented with a unique opportunity to foster a unified approach across government.

This can be observed in initiatives such as our Future of TV Distribution project. As outlined in our Green Paper, there is a compelling case for a long-term transition to Internet Protocol Television (IPTV). Our guiding principle is unequivocal: no one should be left behind. Any future transition will be contingent upon the implementation of appropriate safeguards, infrastructure, and support. This is an exhilarating time, potentially serving as a catalyst for modernising our digital infrastructure, ensuring everyone is digitally connected, and positioning the UK as the most advanced connected nation globally.

Now, let me discuss our efforts in addressing our key priority areas.

Enhancing Connectivity Where It Matters Most

We are actively engaging with operators to understand the practical barriers they face in rollout. We have listened, and through Building Digital UK (BDUK), we are making significant progress.

Currently, gigabit broadband reaches 88% of premises, with Project Gigabit contracts signed across the entirety of the UK. Over 1.4 million premises have gained gigabit-capable coverage thanks to BDUK subsidies, with approximately 310,000 of these connections made since July 2024. We are committed to achieving 99% coverage by 2032.

Additionally, we launched a new online checker earlier this year, enabling every household and business to easily ascertain when they will receive an upgrade and gain connectivity.

However, statistics only illustrate part of the picture. The real-world impact is what truly matters. Consider St Keverne Parish Hall in Cornwall, where a new full-fibre connection, established in collaboration with Wildanet, has transformed a rural village venue into a vibrant digital hub. This facility now supports community events, virtual sessions, local businesses, and online payment systems at local fairs, while providing gigabit speeds to hundreds of nearby homes.

Similarly, on the island of Islay in western Scotland, a new mast is delivering dependable 4G service to residents, local businesses, and tourists for the very first time, all while carefully preserving the local landscape and adapting to unpredictable weather conditions.

We have constructed or upgraded over 150 masts, extending 4G coverage to thousands of square kilometres that previously lacked any signal.

Maintaining a Competitive and Sustainable Market

In our endeavour to keep the UK market competitive, sustainable, and affordable, we launched our Mobile Markets Review Call for Evidence to gather your perspectives on the market’s long-term health. We understand your concerns regarding the investment climate and will outline our next steps by the end of this year. I would like to express my gratitude to all who participated in this consultation.

Meanwhile, our Statement of Strategic Priorities, laid before Parliament, details how we collaborate with Ofcom to stimulate growth. Initiatives such as the Telecoms Consumer Charter and the Digital Inclusion Action Plan demonstrate what can be accomplished when government and industry unite to bridge the digital divide, benefiting not only the industry and sector but also the economy at large and, crucially, citizens.

Building Secure and Resilient Networks

Your operational insights are invaluable as we refine security requirements to counter evolving threats.

In July of this year, we updated the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice. We will soon initiate a public consultation on the protection of the UK’s subsea cables, alongside our commitment to explore the development of a sovereign UK subsea cable repair capability.

Looking ahead to 6G, we introduced the 6G Security and Resilience Principles in March this year, in collaboration with our international allies in the Global Coalition on Telecommunications, which includes the US, Japan, and Australia. We are committed to ensuring that next-generation networks are secure by design from the outset.

Investing in Advanced Connectivity Technologies

Advanced connectivity is one of six frontier technologies prioritised by our ten-year Industrial Strategy.

We have already allocated £370 million in research and development funding towards early-stage research, spinouts, and scale-ups in this field.

I am pleased to confirm that since April, we have awarded over £140 million to UK telecoms innovators, including:

• Further investments in the Future Connectivity Hubs led by Bristol, Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial, with 6G and cloud projects running across all four nations of the UK.
• Over £62 million to British innovators focused on developing energy-efficient, resilient networks, such as the GREEN 6G initiative, in partnership with Nokia, Toshiba, BT, and Ericsson, aimed at reducing network energy consumption by 40%.
• The TEMPEST project, collaborating with OneWeb and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) to provide secure, resilient timing for infrastructure without relying on non-UK satellite signals.

Finally, and most importantly, we must continue our collaborative efforts. This is a commitment I make to you as Telecoms Minister.

Whether it involves connecting remote rural communities, securing critical infrastructure, improving 4G signal coverage, or advancing green 6G, this government is dedicated to providing the stability and partnership you require to thrive and excel on the global stage.

This is undoubtedly an exhilarating period for the sector, and I hope you share in that enthusiasm.

The potential for a fully digitised and connected UK lies within our reach, promising jobs, growth, new technologies, and an enhanced quality of life for every community.

We can realise our shared ambitions, and I am immensely excited to collaborate with all of you. Thank you for all that you do today and in the future.