Country Page – United Kingdom
ICT Sector Information
Sector Culture, Media and Sport
Minister Ed Vaizey, MP Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries
Principal Institutions Department for Culture, Media and Sport - responsible for regulating and enabling growth in the UK’s telecoms market
Regulator OFCOM Independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industry
Related Department Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Mobile Operators
Operator Technology 1800 MHz GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Everything Everywhere 2100 MHz UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+, WiFi (brands: Orange and T- UMA (Orange UMA enabled handsets mobile) only) 1800 MHz LTE (Planned) 900/ 1800 MHz GSM, GPRS, EDGE, 900[117]/ 2100 MHz UMTS, HSDPA, O 2 HSPA+ LTE (Planned) 900/ 1800 MHz GSM, GPRS, EDGE, Vodafone 2100 MHz UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ 28.8Mbps DC-HSPA LTE (Planned) 2G roaming on Orange in specific rural areas 2100 MHz UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+, trials 3 DC-HSDPA Full rollout will begin in Summer 2012. LTE (Planned) Virgin Mobile GSM, GPRS (uses Orange & T- UMTS, HSDPA Mobile) Tesco Mobile GSM, GPRS EDGE (uses O2) UMTS HSDPA, HSPA+ giffgaff GSM, GPRS, EDGE (uses O2) UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ GSM, GPRS, EDGE Asda Mobile UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ Talkmobile GSM, GPRS, EDGE (uses Vodafone) UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ TalkTalk Mobile GSM, GPRS, EDGE (uses Vodafone - must UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ be a TalkTalk customer) LycaMobile GSM (uses O2 & Orange UK) Lebara Mobile GSM (uses Vodafone) Vectone Mobile GSM, GPRS, (uses Orange & T- UMTS, HSDPA Mobile) BT Mobile GSM, GPRS (uses Vodafone) Abica GSM, GPRS, EDGE (uses 3 and Everything UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ Everywhere) C Mobile GSM, GPRS, EDGE (uses Orange & T- UMTS, HSDPA Mobile) Tru GSM, GPRS, EDGE, (uses Vodafone) UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ Kcom Mobile GSM (uses O2) Telecom Plus GSM, GPRS (uses Orange & T- UMTS, HSDPA Mobile) Family Mobile (uses Orange & T- GSM, GPRS UMTS Mobile) GSM Spectrum Interactive kiosks UK01 (London Only) Sim4Travel[123] GSM Truphone Local Anywhere GSM (uses Vodafone) GT Mobile GPRS Smarter Mobile (uses 3 & Private GSM UMTS, HSDPA Technologies) Phone Co-op (uses Orange & T- UMTS Mobile) iCard mobile GPRS (uses Vodafone) Anvil mobile UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses 3) Desi Mobi GSM (uses Vodafone) Vizz Mobile GSM (uses Vodafone) RMmobile GSM UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (Everything Everywhere UK & 3) Now mobile (uses Orange & T- GSM GPRS EDGE UMTS, HSDPA HSPA+ Mobile) Kontakt mobile GSM (uses Vodafone) Delight Mobile (uses Orange & T- GSM GPRS EDGE UMTS, HSDPA HSPA Mobile) Dalya Mobile GSM (uses Vodafone) Kite Mobile UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses 3) Priyo Mobile (uses Orange & T- GSM GPRS EDGE UMTS, HSDPA HSPA+ Mobile) Vizz Africa GSM (uses Vodafone) Boy Better Know mobile UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses 3) Wolves Mobile GSM, GPRS, EDGE, (uses Orange & T- UMTS, HSDPA, HSPA+ Mobile) SimpleCall Mobile GSM, GPRS (uses Orange & T- UMTS, HSDPA Mobile) DiDa Mobile UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses 3) Vizz Roshan GSM (uses Vodafone) Tismi Mobile BV UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses 3) Banana Mobile (uses Orange & T- GSM, GPRS, EDGE,UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ Mobile) Ovivo Mobile GSM, GPRS, EDGE,UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses Vodafone) RSPCA Mobile (uses Orange & T- GSM, GPRS, EDGE,UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ Mobile) Bemilo GSM, GPRS, EDGE,UMTS HSDPA HSPA+ (uses Vodafone)
CTO Niche Areas
Broadband
National Policy The April 2010 Digital Economy Act - UK’s current broadband policy which will Documents guide the sector’s development through to 2015 is mostly based on the April 2010 Digital Economy Act1.
Agency Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) - a unit within DCMS, is responsible for managing the Government’s broadband funding
Projects Rollout of Superfast Broadband - £150 million in ‘super-connected cities’ across the UK
Britain's Superfast Broadband Future Publications
Other Resources Local Broadband Plans
Broadband provision mapped
Broadband Indicators2
Indicators 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Mobile broadband 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.35 4.28 7.65 12.91 20.55 33.86 37.96 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Fixed Broadband 0.09 0.56 2.29 5.22 10.22 16.44 21.50 25.63 28.19 29.56 30.84 32.74 Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Cybersecurity & Cybercrime
Policy Cyber Security Strategy of the United Kingdom
Agency Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance (OCSIA)
1 http://www.budde.com.au/Research/United-Kingdom-National-Broadband-Policy-to-2015.html 2 ITU statistics Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC)
Projects Get Safe Online
Cyber Security Challenge
Related Publications Cyber Security and the UK's Critical National Infrastructure – Chatham House Report
E-Education Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
Policy Documents Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning
emPowering Schools Strategy - set out a broad vision for enhancing teaching, learning and leadership in schools through the use of educational technology -
Agency Department of Education (DE)
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta)
Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
Indicators - Internet 6.1 access in schools, Out of a 1–7 (best) scale
Publications A guide to ICT in the UK education system
ICT in schools 2008-11 – Ofsted Report
ICT For Disabilities
Policy Documents Provisions in the Communications Act (2003) and The Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (amending The Disability Discrimination Act 1995)3
The E-Accessibility Access Plan
Agency Office for Disability Issues (ODI)
3 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/13/contents; http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/contents Projects ODI Digital Inclusion Project
Other Resources eAcess Forum
Regulatory Environments including convergence and digital broadcasting switchover
Policy Documents The UK Communications Act 2003
Digital Television Action Plan
Agency OFCOM
Projects Digital Switchover (completed)
4G spectrum licence plans
Youth and ICTs
Policy Harnessing Technology: Next Generation Learning Documents
Agency Department of Education (DE)
British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta)
Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
Projects Community Careers: Community Careers Centre - provides access to free ICT facilities with Internet access working in partnership with UK Online services
European Commission: E.Future - improves the ICT skills of youth learners and guide them in how to use innovative tools in everyday activities, such as searching for information, creating a CV, searching for courses, etc
Publications Girls, Boys and ICT in the UK: An Empirical Review and Competing Policy Agendas
ICT Sector Indicators
Indicators on ICT infrastructure and access - 4
Indicators 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
35,22 34,57 34,73 34,55 34,57 34,06 33,84 33,462, 34,19 33,54 33,40 33,23 Fixed telephone 8,000 9,000 7,600 0,320 6,487 8,428 8,510 200 1,893 0,000 9,000 0,000 subscriptions
Fixed telephone 59.84 58.51 58.54 57.97 57.73 56.59 55.91 54.95 55.80 54.40 53.85 53.24 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Mobile cellular 43,45 46,28 49,22 54,25 59,68 65,47 70,07 73,836, 76,73 80,25 81,11 81,61 telephone 2,000 3,000 8,000 6,221 7,915 1,665 7,926 210 5,443 5,445 5,492 2,000 subscriptions
Mobile cellular 108.7 115.7 125.2 130.1 130.7 130.7 telephone 73.80 78.32 82.96 91.03 99.66 121.25 5 6 4 7 6 5 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
Estimated Internet 26.82 33.48 56.48 64.82 65.61 70.00 68.82 75.09 78.39 78.00 78.00 82.00 Users per 100 inhabitants
World Economic Forum ICT Readiness Indicators5
Laws relating to 5.4 ICT, out of a 1–7 (best) scale
Mobile Network 99.8 Coverage, % pop. covered
4 ITU statistics 5 Out of a 1–7 (best) scale. This indicator is derived from the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/Global_IT_Report_2012.pdf Households with 82.6 personal computers, %
Use of virtual social 6.5 networks, out of a 1–7 (best) scale
Impact of ICT on 5.9 new services and products
Impact of ICT on 5.6 new organisational models
Gov’t Prioritisation 5.6 of ICT, out of a 1–7 (best) scale
Importance of ICT 4.6 to gov’t vision, out of a 1–7 (best) scale
ICT use & gov’t 4.9 efficiency
Gov’t Online Service 0.77 Index, out of a 0-1 (best) scale
E-Participation 0.77 Index, out of a 0-1 (best) scale
Core indicators on the ICT (producing) sector6
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
ICT1 Proportion (%) of total ------business sector workforce involved in the ICT sector
ICT2 ICT sector share of gross - - - 10.7 - - 9.6 -
6 Obtained from UNCTADSTAT Website http://unctadstat.unctad.org/TableViewer/tableView.aspx?ReportId=1634 value added (%)
Related ICT Publications from International Organisations
Source Title of Publication Organisation
World Economic The Global Information Technology Report 2012 Forum
Other ICT related UNCTADSTAT Website Resources