Senior leaders in the UK’s telecommunications industry have raised concerns that the country’s mobile networks are insufficient to support the anticipated surge in artificial intelligence-related traffic, potentially hampering the nation’s competitiveness in the global AI market.
While the UK has made progress upgrading its broadband infrastructure through full-fibre rollouts by providers such as Openreach, mobile network capabilities have not kept pace with similar advancements. According to recent analysis by consumer group Which? based on Opensignal data, the UK’s mobile coverage ranks below all 27 EU member states and other G7 nations. The country ranks 57th globally for network performance, 70th for download speeds, and 55th for network reliability required for activities including video calls and streaming.
Andrea Donà, networks director at VodafoneThree, the UK’s largest mobile operator, emphasized the challenge will intensify as AI technology becomes more prevalent. He compared the potential impact to mobile congestion currently experienced at large public gatherings, such as major sporting events, suggesting such capacity constraints could become constant as consumers require additional network resources for AI applications. Another senior telecoms executive characterized the issue as currently in early stages but warned it will eventually become a critical national competitiveness concern similar to earlier broadband rollout delays.
Mobile operators are making substantial investments to upgrade 5G infrastructure, with VodafoveThree committing £11 billion to network improvements. However, industry representatives argue progress is constrained by planning regulations. The companies note that approximately 96% of necessary upgrades occur at existing sites, yet more than half require some form of planning permission, creating lengthy bureaucratic delays. Industry leaders have called for planning reform as a cost-effective growth strategy that requires no government expenditure.
Telecommunications operators also contend that despite being classified as critical national infrastructure alongside datacentres and energy systems, mobile networks do not receive equivalent government support such as business rate relief or energy subsidies offered to other critical sectors.
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