January 26, 2021, London – Speed Up Britain, the cross-industry, non-partisan organisation, supported by Mobile UK, and campaigning for better mobile connectivity in every part of the UK, welcomes today’s announcement that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will begin a consultation on potential changes to the 2017 Electronic Communications Code (“the Code”).

DCMS Consultation - click here.

The issue

Speed Up Britain believes the Code, introduced to regulate the relationship between network operators and site providers who host the equipment needed for mobile networks, is not working as intended. Disagreements and lengthy legal proceedings over rights designed to facilitate the installation and maintenance of electronic communications networks are slowing down the build out needed to deliver 4G and 5G technology across the country. In hampering the Government’s ambitious plans in this area, the Code in its current form is putting a huge economic prize at risk.  

The Impact

Delays to the rollout of 5G and the Shared Rural Network caused by issues with the Code could cost the country tens of billions of pounds in lost economic output. A recent report by the Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) [1], supported by Speed Up Britain, has warned that if delays continue at their current rate, by 2027 over 11 million households and businesses could be missing out on vital digital connectivity.

The CPS estimates that if 5G coverage reaches a quarter more of the population than the Government’s current target of 51%, it will produce gains of £41.7 billion by 2027. Moreover, the difference between the UK being a leader in 5G adoption or ceding leadership to others could be as much as £173 billion in incremental GDP over the coming decade.

These potential economic benefits should be considered in the context ofthe COVID-19 pandemic, which the Bank of Englandindicates is an “unprecedentedeconomic shock in modern times”. TheOffice for Budget Responsibility’s downside economic scenario published inNovember 2020 projects GDP only returns to pre-virus levels bythe fourth quarter of 2024. It also predicts the UK’s unemployment rate peaksat 11%, with lasting long-term damage to the economy of 6% of GDP.

The Solution

Speed Up Britain believes that targeted changes to the Code will accelerate the process of enabling connectivity improvements. As part of its response to the consultation, the Campaign will ask for amendments to specific provisions in the Code which will:

• remove the financial disincentives to site providers to conclude renewal agreements;
• remove inconsistencies between different legislative regimes;
• ensure operators can use the Code to upgrade existing sites;
• clarify the Code’s intention for the sharing and upgrading of sites;
• and give equal importance to the conclusion of new site and renewal agreements

[1] https://co.mmonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8866/

Responding to the government’s announcement on the consultation process, the Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, Speed Up Britain’s Campaign Chair, said:

“Speed Up Britain welcomes this consultation on the Code and the Government’s commitment to improving connectivity in the UK. The Code needs urgent legislative reform to deliver best-in-class connectivity across Britain for the benefit of everyone –industry, landowners, government, and wider society. Small changes to the Code could unlock billions of pounds in our economy, drive the UK’s COVID-19 recovery, and make a real difference to the public, businesses, and local authorities regionally.”

Commenting on the publication of the consultation to update the Code, Hamish MacLeod, Director at Mobile UK, said:

“The Government has set ambitious targets on extending coverage and capacity, and getting the regulatory framework right to enable operators to deploy their networks is essential. We welcome the consultation on the Electronic Communications Code as a vital part of this strategy and stress the importance that legislative change follows on rapidly.”

For media inquiries please contact: 

JamesMelville-Ross: +44 (0) 790 968 4467
Adam Davidson:+44 (0) 779 384 5080
contact@speedupbritain.com

AboutSpeed Up Britain

Speed Up Britain is across-industry, non-partisan organisation, campaigning for better mobileconnectivity in every part of the UK.

Speed Up Britain was founded by Cellnex, Cornerstone, MBNL and Mobile UK, organisations committed to delivering the infrastructure necessary to meet demand for future mobile connectivity but who are frustrated by blockages in the system of securing access agreements under the Electronic Communications Code 2017. The Campaign is also supported by Atlas Towers Group, Britannia Towers, DMSL and Ulstercom.

The campaign is chaired by Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt, the former Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (2001-2005) and Member of Parliament for Leicester West between 1997 and 2010.

Find out more at www.speedupbritain.com

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