Select Committee · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

UK telecommunications infrastructure and the UK’s domestic capability

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Apr 2020 Closed: 25 Jun 2021 20 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

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” elements of the UK’s 5G … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report: 5G market diversification and wider lessons … HC 450 4 Feb 2021 30 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
3 Recommendation Second Report: 5G market diversificatio… Accepted in Part

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 addressing the barrier of operators’ preference for vendors to offer … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government is working with mobile operators, suppliers, and users to set a clear roadmap for transitioning away from 2G and 3G technologies. It commits to supporting R&D for innovative deployment methods like standalone 5G and Open X2 but declines to mandate specific technical solutions, …
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
17 Recommendation Second Report: 5G market diversificatio… Accepted in Part

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 incentives, measures to reduce operator costs, and regulatory requirements. For … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the need for measures to incentivise diversification, citing an initial £250 million R&D investment and ongoing work with network operators. While they will set out further steps before summer recess, they do not commit to publishing specific measures with an indicative timetable …
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
20 Recommendation Second Report: 5G market diversificatio… Accepted in Part

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 should not be based on existing intelligence-sharing coalitions. The Government … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the need for international cooperation on telecommunications market diversification and intends to build a global coalition. It has made telecoms diversification a G7 priority and is engaging bilaterally with international partners, though it does not provide a specific timetable for establishing …
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
22 Recommendation Second Report: 5G market diversificatio… Accepted in Part

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 future decades and beyond. We urge the Government to address … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the profound implications of technological divergence and commits to promoting innovation and working with international partners. However, it does not commit to publishing a White Paper within twelve months, instead stating that various forthcoming strategies (Digital, Data, Innovation, Defence S&T, AI) will …
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
23 Recommendation Second Report: 5G market diversificatio… Accepted in Part

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 twenty years. This strategy should assess the potential opportunities and … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on the need for a long-term plan for critical technologies and aims to grow the UK's Science and Technology Power by 2030. While not committing to a single White Paper, it states that multiple forthcoming strategies (Digital, Data, Innovation, Defence S&T, AI) …
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Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
30 Sep 2020 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 View ↗
22 Jul 2020 Amy Karam · Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Dr Dritan Kaleshi · Digital Catapult, Rt Hon Oliver Dowden · Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport View ↗
9 Jul 2020 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 View ↗
24 Jun 2020 Attilio Zani · Telecom Infra Project, Matthew Evans · techUK, Professor Dimitra Simeonidou · University of Bristol View ↗

Who gave evidence

17 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Amy Karam · Fellow Canadian Global Affairs Institute 1
Andrea Dona · Head of Networks Vodafone UK 1
Attilio Zani · Executive Director Telecom Infra Project 1
Diane Rinaldo · Executive Director Open RAN Policy Coalition 1
Dr Dritan Kaleshi · Head of Technology (5G) Digital Catapult 1
Dr Mike Short · Chief Scientific Adviser Department for International Trade 1
Dr Yao Wenbing · Vice President Business Development and Partnersh… Huawei UK 1
Howard Watson · Chief Technology and Information Officer BT Group 1
Kip Meek · Director Communications Chambers and the Wireless Infrastructure Group 1
Marcus Weldon · President Bell Labs 1
Matthew Evans · Chief Operating Officer & Director of Markets techUK 1
Mr Jeremy Thompson · Vice President Huawei UK 1
Professor Ciaran Martin · Professor of Practice in the Management of Public… Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford 1
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou · Professor of High Performance Networks University of Bristol 1
Rt Hon Oliver Dowden · Secretary of State Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport 1
Victor Zhang · Vice President and Chief Representative Huawei UK 1
Woojune Kim · Executive Vice President Samsung 1

Correspondence

7 letters
DateDirectionTitle
16 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, …
16 Jun 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scienti…
11 Jun 2021 Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State fo…
9 Jun 2021 Correspondence from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State for Digital, Me…
9 Dec 2020 Correspondence from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP to the Chair, relating to the 5G Di…
18 Nov 2020 Correspondence from the Chair to Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, Secretary of State fo…
16 Oct 2020 Correspondence from Rt Hon Oliver Dowden MP, DCMS, relating to Telecoms Diversi…

Meetings & visits

1 item
DateTypeDetail
28 Oct 2020 Formal meeting Formal Meeting · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House