Trends and insights
5G is the key trend in the UK mobile industry right now.
>>>All four major operators are now offering 5G services in parts of the UK, and the number of 5G subscribers is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.
The rise of mobile video streaming is another major trend.
>>>Video streaming now accounts for the majority of mobile data usage, and this trend is expected to continue.
Ofcom publishes new data on mobile data usage in the UK.
>>>The data shows that mobile data usage increased by 12% in the year to March 2023, with the average user now using 4.5GB of data per month. The data also shows that video streaming is the most popular use of mobile data, accounting for 58% of all traffic.
The UK government announces plans to invest £1 billion in 5G infrastructure.
>>The investment will be used to help operators to build out their 5G networks and to support the development of new 5G applications and services. The government has said that 5G is essential for the UK’s economic growth, and that the investment will help to ensure that the UK is a leader in 5G technology.
The GSMA publishes a new report on the impact of 5G on the global economy.
>>The report predicts that 5G will generate $3.5 trillion in global economic output by 2030. The report also says that 5G will create 22 million new jobs globally.
The UK government launches a new consultation on the future of mobile regulation.
>>The consultation is seeking views on how to ensure that the mobile industry remains competitive and innovative.
The UK government is committed to supporting the rollout of 5G and other mobile technologies.
>>The government has announced a number of initiatives to support the mobile industry, including the £1 billion investment in 5G infrastructure.
The growth of eSIMs.
>>eSIMs are embedded SIM cards that can be programmed remotely. This means that users will not need to physically swap SIM cards when switching networks. eSIMs are still in their early stages of adoption, but they are expected to become more popular in the coming years.
The rise of mobile edge computing (MEC).
>>MEC is a new type of computing architecture that brings computing resources closer to the end user. This can reduce latency and improve performance for applications such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and self-driving cars. MEC is still in its early stages of development, but it is expected to have a significant impact on the UK mobile industry in the coming years.
The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
>>AI and ML are being used by mobile operators to improve network performance, reduce costs, and develop new services. For example, AI and ML can be used to predict network traffic and optimize resource usage. AI and ML can also be used to develop new services such as personalized recommendations and predictive maintenance.
The growing importance of cybersecurity.
>>Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important for the UK mobile industry as more and more data is being transmitted over mobile networks. Mobile operators are investing heavily in cybersecurity measures to protect their customers from cyberattacks.
Insights
The UK mobile industry is becoming increasingly competitive.
>>>The four major operators are all competing to offer the best possible services to their customers. This competition is driving innovation and reducing prices.
The UK mobile industry is playing an increasingly important role in the economy.
>>>The mobile industry contributes billions of pounds to the UK economy each year and supports thousands of jobs.
The UK mobile industry is at the forefront of technological innovation.
>>>The UK is one of the leading countries in the world in terms of 5G adoption. UK mobile operators are also working on developing new technologies such as eSIMs and MEC.