Government call for information on use of private telecoms

Public call for information on the uses and security of private telecoms networks in the UK will help develop understanding the market and the tech behind it.  

Private telecoms networks provide bespoke services to closed user groups. They’re different to public telecoms networks which supply a standard service to individuals or businesses, based on common infrastructure. Private networks are already in use in many sectors across the UK, based on 3G, 4G and legacy technologies. It’s thought that the deployment of 5G will lead to further growth in the market.

Photo by Franck

One benefit of a private network is that it can be procured to fulfil specific business needs and can offer customised connectivity. Depending on need, it can be supplied by smaller, specialist vendors as well as large tech companies. That means opportunities for new providers and different models of provision, involving a wider range of companies such as system integrators. 

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) is keen to develop its understanding of this market, including the technologies being deployed, the sectors using such networks and the security measures taken to protect them. This information will then be used to determine if any government intervention is required to promote the security and resilience of private telecoms networks. 

• DSIT call for information on the uses and security of private telecommunications networks within the UK 

While anyone can respond to it, the government is particularly keen to receive responses from telecoms providers, businesses that currently procure or plan to procure and use private telecoms networks, as well as academics, consultants, contractors involved in the industry. 

The call for information will be open for 10 weeks and closes at 23:45 on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. In due course after this closing date, DSIT will publish a summary of in-scope responses and the government’s response.

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