Main article: UK
Internet regulation in Britain
2024: Britain bans export of quantum computers
In June 2024, Britain imposed restrictions on the export of quantum computers. The new rules prohibit the export of quantum computers with qubits over 34 and a low error rate. The authorities refused to explain the reasons for the introduction of these restrictions, citing national security.
The limitations concern both existing small quantum computers, which have no practical application yet, and more powerful systems that are still under development. The industry fears the ban will limit sales opportunities and create additional bureaucratic barriers to the emerging quantum technology sector.
Quantum technologies have been added to the list of "dual-use" items that can be used for military purposes. Exports of such technologies will be subject to scrutiny by the UK special forces. Semiconductor and quantum technologies are increasingly perceived as strategically important to the nation's national security, according to lawyer James Lindop. This will create additional difficulties for businesses operating in these areas.
NewScientist also noted that similar restrictions on the export of quantum computers were introduced by UK allies, including USA France other European countries. Previously, licenses were required for the export of such devices only in case of possible military use.
In 2023, Oxford Instruments, which makes cooling systems for quantum computers, said its sales in China had declined as export restrictions tightened. Britain's national quantum computing strategy describes the technology as "critical" to the country's defence and security amid a global race to develop quantum technology, according to the Telegraph.[1]
2023: A sysadmin in Britain forgot to change batteries in a watch and disabled an entire data center
In early December 2023, it became known that a minor system administrator gaffe led to the fact that the data center and all computers of a large bank in Britain were disabled overnight. As a result, the activities of the financial organization were actually paralyzed.
According to The Register, the incident occurred in the currency department of the bank, the name of which is not given. The glitch came early in the morning - just before the traditional increase in financial transactions. Support staff, despite their best efforts, could not determine the cause of the problem: reboots and diagnostics of server equipment did not reveal problems, and there were no signs of cybercriminals intruding.
Ultimately, the source of the large-scale failure was identified. It turned out that the problems arose due to a couple of radio hours dusty on the windowsill. They receive accurate time information through radio communication, which is then transmitted to server equipment and computers. Some of these watches were responsible for synchronizing time with Novell systems, while others were responsible for synchronizing time with Windows devices.
For some reason, the watch received power exclusively from AA elements and was not connected either to the electrical network or to a backup source. System administrators need to change batteries once a year, but in 2023 they forgot to do this. As a result, after the energy supply in batteries was depleted, the watch simultaneously stopped transferring time to equipment in the bank, and the date on the servers reset to January 1, 1970 (the calculation of the time from that moment begins in many systems). The subsequent installation of four new AA batteries made it possible to quickly solve all the problems.[2]
2021: Britain becomes first European country with a hundred IT startups worth from $1 billion
In early June 2021, it became known that 100 technology companies worth at least $1 billion (also known as "unicorns") are based in the UK. This is the first European country to reach this mark, according to the Dealroom and Tech Nation databases. Read more here.
2020
British authorities create a regulator of the online platform market
At the end of November 2020, it became known that the UK government is creating a Digital Markets Unit. It will focus on regulating online platforms with the right to impose fines for violations of the law. Read more here.
Britain allocated $1.6 billion to help technology companies
In mid-April 2020, the British government announced the allocation of 1.25 billion pounds (about $1.6 billion) from the state budget to high-tech startups as a measure that will help them stay afloat during the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The rescue plan, unveiled by British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, consists of two initiatives. The first is convertible loans totaling $500 million for startups showing high growth rates.
The issuance of loans will take place from May to September 2020, while the state will provide only half of the amount, the rest will have to be allocated by the private sector. One startup will be able to get a loan from 125 thousand to 5 million pounds from the state and how much from private business. An important condition for receiving money will be the attraction by a startup over the past 5 years of investments worth at least 250 thousand pounds.
Startups will have to return the funds transferred to them or provide creditors with part of their equity at the next round of investments. This scheme was insisted on by influential representatives of the British high-tech industry.
The remaining £750m of aid is for medium and small businesses and will support research and development in the form of loans and subsidies. The funds are expected to start flowing to companies from mid-May 2020.
The government announced the program after the Minister of Finance was asked for help by some British Unicorn (startups with a valuation of $1 billion).
In mid-March 2020, the British authorities announced the allocation of 330 billion pounds ($409 billion) to companies that were most affected by the coronavirus. Startups, however, were unable to take advantage of the help, as reports with high profit rates had to be provided to obtain it.[3]
The European tech companies that attracted the most investment in 5 years
2019: UK firms freeze £27bn of IT projects over Brexit
By the end of January 2019, British companies froze IT projects totaling more than £27 billion ($35.55 billion) due to the country's expected exit from the European Union. This was announced by the British Internet provider Beaming, specializing in serving corporate customers.
53% of the surveyed representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as 77% of employees of larger companies reported that they postponed the implementation of at least one project related to the implementation of digital technology. Among small entrepreneurs, there are 29% of them.
The Beaming survey involved 504 executives. If we extrapolate the data obtained on a representative sample, it turns out that almost a third of companies in Britain or about 1.7 million have suspended IT initiatives due to uncertainty due to Brexit, the study says.
Directly among technology companies, 81% of respondents stopped investing. In the financial sector, 68% of institutions took a pause in the development of projects, and 60% in the construction sector.
 | Regardless of the rights and wrongs Brexit carries, it has become clear that the political deadlock at Westminster is creating uncertainty and impacting investment. Whatever happens, companies need to communicate and ensure system resiliency. And we see the cost of improving important things like network communications and cybersecurity, "said Beaming Managing Director Sonia Blizzard. |  |
In 2018, Baker & McKenzie conducted a survey, the results of which showed that almost half of large European companies are reducing investment in Britain due to Brexit. At the same time, 46% of respondents noted that they directly reduce investments, and 47% - reduce trading and operating activities. Also, 46% of companies observe various suspensions and violations in the supply network of services and products between the EU and Britain due to Brexit.[4]
2018: Largest IT companies
See also
- IT in the UK public sector
- UK economy
- Major Oracle and SAP partners in Europe
- Europe's IT Market
- Western Europe IT Market
Notes
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