DCMS publishes update to the 5G Strategy for the UK

The 5G Strategy identified the actions that the government will take to realise our aim for the UK to be a world leader in 5G. This document reports on our progress in delivering against its recommendations and provides further detail on the areas that the government is focused on to support the development of 5G, which include:

• Developing a future-focused spectrum policy to help ensure that spectrum is allocated in a way that supports the government’s mobile ambitions
• Considering whether existing regulatory frameworks adequately support commercial investment in 5G infrastructure and services
• Our Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review, which will assess whether any further policy interventions may be needed to create the conditions for long term investment in world-class digital connectivity
• Setting up a cross-government barrier busting task force to address specific challenges related to the deployment of telecoms infrastructure
• Working with local government to make sites available for deployment of infrastructure and to deliver the levels of connectivity which reflect the needs of local areas

In parallel, this document outlines how the government will continue to work with Ofcom and industry to address mobile connectivity challenges where people live, work and travel, both for current technologies and next generation 5G technologies. The government is developing plans to:

• Ensure 95% geographic mobile coverage and the availability of essential services where people live, work and travel, including development of meaningful performance metrics for the quality of service people actually receive
• Developing a model to secure fast, reliable mobile connectivity on main rail routes and major roads

Next Generation Mobile Technologies An Update to the 5G Strategy for the UK