Mobile Broadband

(asked on 9th May 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to the findings of the report by Mobile UK on why there is little interoperability between vendors in 4G and 5G, what assessment he has made of whether Ofcom should promote the standarisation necessary for vendor interopability.


Answered by
Margot James Portrait
Margot James
This question was answered on 14th May 2019

The Government supports the global standardisation system and works with major standards bodies to understand and assist their work, as does Ofcom. The major elements for 4G and 5G are generated through well respected standards organisations with good industry and regulator involvement. Industry stakeholders use these bodies to agree relevant interoperability definitions between all major elements.

My Department is leading a cross-Government review into the supply chain arrangements for the UK’s telecoms infrastructure. The Review is considering both the technology and economic aspects of the supply chain & the development and adoption of technology standards are relevant factors. The decisions of the Review will be announced in due course.

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