UK risks losing £230B without mobile network upgrades

A report from BT and Assembly Research claims the UK is at a digital crossroads when it comes to mobile network infrastructure upgrades.

If we get our act together and seriously upgrade our mobile networks over the next ten years, we could unlock a wave of growth and innovation worth £230 billion. But if we don’t, we risk falling further behind our global competitors and missing a huge economic opportunity.

Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group, said: “The way we use mobile connectivity is evolving, and as the demands on network capacity increase and retail pricing remains comparatively low, greater support is needed to unlock more private sector investment.

“To deliver the networks the nation needs for the future, we need greater collaboration with the government and regulator, as well as support from local communities and councils – so that everyone in the UK can reap the life-changing benefits connectivity brings.”

Where did this £230 billion figure come from?

This isn’t just one big number; it’s a combination of real-world benefits that better mobile tech could bring by 2035. The report breaks it down as:

• £124 billion from smarter cities and industries. Think factories run by AI, drone deliveries becoming commonplace, and a major boost for our world-class creative sector.

• £57 billion from better travel. This would come from finally having reliable connectivity on our trains, making commutes more productive (£12bn) , and paving the way for self-driving cars on our roads (£45bn).

• £45 billion from a more resilient UK. Better connectivity could help modernise our energy grid to prevent blackouts (£37bn) and give businesses backup options to stop them losing money during internet outages (£7.9bn).

• £3.1 billion for our rural communities. Improving mobile coverage in the countryside would be a game-changer for farming and tourism.

Matthew Howett, Founder & CEO of Assembly Research, commented: “Our modelling suggests the UK stands to gain as much as £230bn in economic benefit from more advanced, resilient, and widely available mobile coverage.

“Improved mobile connectivity supports increased productivity on rail journeys, reduced downtime from outages, and the adoption of a range of emerging technologies. As the Government continues to work on executing its agenda for economic growth, our modelling shows that investment in mobile connectivity delivers significant benefits across the whole of the UK.”

Mobile network upgrades for a better-connected UK

According to BT, the UK is being held back by some serious roadblocks.

The report points a finger at an “outdated planning system” that makes building new mobile masts a slow and painful process. The result? The UK simply has fewer mobile base stations for its population compared to other countries, which leads to slower speeds than you’d find in the EU or other developed nations.

“The UK is mid-way through a profound digital revolution… but only with the right policy and regulatory interventions,” explains Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT.

The report doesn’t just highlight the problems; it offers a clear action plan for the UK Government to support mobile network infrastructure upgrades. It’s calling for a new “Mobile Markets Review” to kickstart investment, much like the one that saw full-fibre broadband coverage leap from just 4% to over 75%.

In the short term, the recommendations aren’t too surprising:

• Release more spectrum: The report argues for doubling the radio frequencies available for mobile services, calling it a cost-effective way to quickly boost capacity and coverage across the country.

• Cut the red tape: Simple changes to planning rules could slash the time it takes to get a new mobile site up and running by a whole year.

“The time is right for decisive action,” Watson says. “With the right support, the next 10 years could see the development and mass adoption of transformational improvements for the UK.”

See also: UK and France unite against increasing cyber threats

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Tags: 5G, bt, connectivity, europe, mobile, networks, report, research, study, telecoms, uk