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2022: Government allocates $136 million to develop 6G technology
On December 13, 2022, the British authorities announced a new large-scale initiative aimed at developing and introducing fifth (5G) and sixth (6G) generations of mobile communications technologies in the country. A total of £110 million (approximately $136 million) will be spent on relevant research and development.
As part of the project, three leading British universities, including the University of York, the University of Bristol and the University of Surrey, will receive £28 million (almost $35 million). They will join forces with major telecommunications and technology companies such as Nokia, Ericsson and Samsung to design and build cellular networks of the future. The work, in particular, will be aimed at ensuring the compatibility of equipment of various suppliers, which should contribute to the introduction of innovations in the field of communications, including in the field of 6G.
Another £80 million (approximately $99 million) will be used to create the ultra-modern telecommunications laboratory UK Telecoms Lab, which is being built in Solihull in the West Midlands. According to an agreement signed by the British government with the National Physical Laboratory, the new research site will act as a center for mobile operators, suppliers and scientists to develop and test network security and resiliency tools, as well as technology to improve the performance of 5G and 6G infrastructures. The UK Telecoms Lab is set to form dozens of specialist telecoms and cyber security jobs.
In addition, a new partnership with the Republic of Korea has been announced, the purpose of which is to accelerate the implementation of the Open RAN concept and related technologies. The joint project, for which more than £3 million will be allocated (including £1.2 million, or about $1.5 million, from the British government), will focus on ensuring the energy efficiency of new generation equipment.[1]
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2021
British authorities launched a service to change the Internet provider in "one click"
At the end of September 2021, the British state agency Ofcom, which regulates the work of television and radio companies, as well as the postal service, launched a new service that makes it easier for customers to change the Internet provider in order to get a better offer for the cost or tariff. Read more here.
Auction to sell 5G frequencies for $1.8 billion in the UK
In mid-March 2021, an auction for the sale of 5G frequencies ended in the UK, a total of £1.356 billion (about $1.8 billion) was raised.
Detained for almost a year due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the auction took only a few days. The auction sold frequencies in the 700 MHz and 3.6-3.8 GHz bands to expand 5G networks. EE took over the most frequencies, costing it £452m.
EE took 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz band for £280m, 20 MHz of additional downlink spectrum in the 700 MHz band for £4m and 40 MHz in the 3.6-3.8GHz band for £168m.
Telecoms provider Three UK also acquired 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz band for £280m, while Vodafone acquired 40 MHz in the 3.6-3.8GHz band for £176.4m.
Telefonica (O2 UK) took 2x10 MHz in the 700 MHz band for £280m and 40 MHz in the 3.6-3.8GHz band for £168m.
A second round of bidding will be held in the UK for operators to bid for specific seats in the 3.6-3.8 GHz band.
Three UK CEO Robert Finnegan pointed out that the 5G frequencies purchased would change the quality of customer service in indoor and rural areas. Telefonica UK (O2) said its £448m investment demonstrated the company's commitment to the UK market and providing customers with the best possible connectivity. O2 said it was pleased with the auction result, in particular the "fair price."
In a statement, EE said the low-frequency spectrum would allow the operator to provide indoor 5G coverage and the mid-range would support future initiatives.[1]
2020
British operators ordered to remove Huawei equipment from 5G networks until September 2021
In early December 2020, it became known that the UK adopted a law according to which local operators are obliged to exclude Huawei equipment from 5G networks until September 2021. Within a few years, Huawei's technology should be completely removed from Britain's telecommunications infrastructure.
The UK government is set to present a roadmap to fully remove high-risk supplier equipment from UK 5G networks, as well as a strategy to diversify the country's telecoms supply chain and ensure it is sustainable in the future.
The £250m strategy to diversify the 5G telecoms market involves the creation of a National Telecoms Laboratory to test the Japanese supplier's equipment. NEC
British telecommunications companies in case of non-compliance with new security standards can be fined up to 10% of turnover. UK Digital Minister Oliver Dowden noted that the government has prepared a consistent path to the complete elimination of high-risk suppliers from UK 5G networks.
 | This will be done by providing new and unprecedented powers to identify and ban telecommunications equipment that poses a threat to our national security, Dowden added. |  |
| | We are also introducing a new strategy to make sure that we will never again depend on a handful of telecom providers for the smooth and secure operation of our networks, "Dowden said. Our plans will create a wave of innovation in shaping our future mobile networks.[2] | |
Penalties imposed on carriers for installing Huawei equipment
At the end of November 2020, the UK passed a new security bill that threatens telecommunications companies with huge fines if they cannot tighten security measures and continue to install Huawei equipment when conducting a 5G mobile network. In some cases, fines can exceed $133 thousand per day.
As part of the new bill, the British government will receive additional powers to ensure national security. In particular, the government will be able to dictate its terms to big telecom companies like BT regarding the high-risk suppliers Huawei belongs to. Ofcom, which regulates communications relations, will also receive additional powers - after the bill is passed, it will monitor compliance with the new rules.
Initially, the UK decided that Huawei equipment should not be used only in sensitive elements of the core network, and also limited its use in other systems. However, under pressure from the outside USA , the bill has been revised and telcos must now remove all Huawei elements from the 5G network by 2027.
| | We are ready to invest billions in the deployment of 5G network and broadband access throughout the country, but we will be able to achieve our goals only when we ensure the security and sustainability of our networks, "said Oliver Dowden, Minister of Digital Development. | |
The Department of Digital Technology, Culture, Media and Sports noted that as part of ensuring security, the government will be able to regulate access to confidential parts of the "main" network, inspections and protection of client data.[3]
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