Britain sets 5G goal, says no 'magic number' of operators

Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings

11/04/2023 08:00

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Britain set an ambition to
deliver next-generation 5G mobile coverage to populated areas by
2030 and said there was "no magic number" of network operators
required to ensure a competitive market.
    All four of Britain's mobile networks - BT's EE  BT.L , O2,
owned by Telefonica and Liberty Global's  LBTYA.O  TEF.MC 
Virgin Media O2, Vodafone  VOD.L  and Three  0215.HK  - are
rolling out 5G. Some 77% of the population can now access basic
5G coverage from at least one provider.
    Britain said it wanted the next iteration of 5G - called
standalone 5G or 5G Plus - to be widely available by the end of
the decade, helping to unlock new technologies like driverless
vehicles, robots and drones.
    Vodafone and Three are in merger talks, which if successful
would reduce the number of networks to three. Both companies
have said allowing them to combine would help underpin network
investment.
    The government said on Tuesday it had "reconfirmed that
there is no magic number of mobile operators, whilst noting all
decisions on consolidation are for the Competition and Markets
Authority".
    It said it would invest 40 million pounds ($50 million) in
an innovation fund to promote adoption of 5G by businesses and
public services.

($1 = 0.8057 pounds)

 (Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton)
 ((paul.sandle@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 6843; Reuters
Messaging: paul.sandle.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))