- The UK has the second highest energy costs and planning environments in a study of 10 countries
- The UK also ranks ninth out of 10 for overall network quality
- VodafoneThree wants networks to be seen as critical national infrastructure
VodafoneThree has argued that the UK lags behind the rest of Europe in its mobile infrastructure due to regulations which make it difficult for companies like themselves to invest heavily in the right areas at the right time.
According to the report, the UK is being held back by pressures from all angles, including high energy costs to run mobile infrastructure, expensive property and construction costs, planning delays, restrictive policies and even competition from mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs).
More broadly on a global level, the UK is also lagging behind countries such as Singapore, South Korea, the USA, Norway, Australia, Germany and Hungary.
VodafoneThree sets out the UK regulatory landscape for mobile networks
Of the 10 specific countries examined in the company’s analysis, VodafoneThree revealed that the UK has the second highest energy costs and the second most burdensome planning environment. The UK is ranked ninth out of 10 countries for overall network quality.
“Bringing the UK’s investment environment up to the standard of our international peers can help support public services, eliminate digital divides and enable communities to thrive,” wrote network director Andrea Dona.
The report warns that the UK could fall behind peers in terms of digital public services, national resilience and economic growth if the landscape is not improved, which is why it is working with the UK government “to examine the barriers holding back our mobile networks.”
One of the biggest changes that could affect the landscape is a shift to recognize that mobile network operators are providers of critical national infrastructure, so they are protected from some cost fluctuations, such as energy costs.
“Fast, reliable and quality mobile networks are a fundamental driver of economic growth and prosperity,” concluded Dona.
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