Telecommunications: Competition
(asked on 14th May 2026) - View Source
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the impact of increased competition in fixed telecommunications infrastructure on (a) household broadband bills, (b) service choice and (c) broadband speeds in the UK over the last five years.
Answered by
Kanishka Narayan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The UK telecoms market is highly competitive. The Statement of Strategic Priorities designated on 27 April 2026 sets out the government’s view on the benefits of competition in the fixed telecoms market for investment in high quality networks, innovation and consumer choice. As a result, the UK benefits from relatively low consumer pricing, and prices have declined in recent years when adjusted for inflation.
Ofcom, as the independent regulator, plays a key role in supporting competition in the fixed telecoms market, including by imposing proportionate remedies on Openreach where necessary. The UK’s pro-competition regulatory approach has been a crucial driver of fibre roll-out, with more than a hundred alternative networks entering the market in recent years.
According to Ofcom as of January 2026, 77% of residential premises in the UK have access to more than one network, and 61% have access to more than one gigabit-capable network.
In addition, Ofcom reported in February 2026 that out of six comparable countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the US), the UK had the second-lowest standalone mobile prices and the third-lowest overall standalone fixed broadband prices in 2025.
The Government and Ofcom also ensure that strong consumer protections are in place so that the benefits of competition are delivered fairly. Earlier this year, the Government published the Telecoms Consumer Charter, a set of voluntary commitments agreed with major operators to strengthen transparency, empower consumers and improve support for those struggling to pay, building on Ofcom’s existing requirements to ensure people receive clear, fair and easily understandable information.