Telecommunications in the United Kingdom

History

National Telephone Company (NTC) was a British telephone company from 1881 until 1911, which brought together smaller local companies in the early years of the telephone. Under the Telephone Transfer Act 1911 it was taken over by the General Post Office (GPO) in 1912.

The telephone service in the United Kingdom was originally provided by private companies and local city councils, but by 1912–13 all except the telephone service of Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire and Guernsey had been bought out by the General Post Office. Post Office Telephones also operated telephone services in Jersey and the Isle of Man until 1969 when the islands took over responsibility for their own postal and telephone services. Post Office Telephones was reorganised in 1980–81 as British Telecommunications (British Telecom, or BT), and was the first nationalised industry to be privatised by the Conservative government. The civil telecoms monopoly ended when Mercury Communications arrived in 1983.

Broadcasting of radio and television was a duopoly of the BBC and Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA): these two organisations controlled all broadcast services, and directly owned and operated the broadcast transmitter sites. Mobile phone and Internet services did not then exist. Broadcast transmitters, which belonged to the BBC and IBA, were privatised during the 1990s and now belong to Babcock International and Arqiva.

British Rail Telecommunications was created in 1992 by British Rail (BR). It was the largest private telecoms network in Britain, consisting of 17,000 route kilometres of fibre optic and copper cable which connected every major city and town in the country and provided links to continental Europe through the Channel Tunnel. BR also operated its own national trunked radio network providing dedicated train-to-shore mobile communications, and in the early 1980s BR helped establish Mercury Communications', now C&WC, core infrastructure by laying a resilient 'figure-of-eight' fibre optic network alongside Britain's railway lines, spanning London, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester.

Regulation of communications has changed many times during the same period, and most of the bodies have been merged into Ofcom, the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries.

Infrastructure

--[[File:Existing and Planned Submarine Cables Connected to Europe October 2022.png|thumb|258x258px|The different submarine internet cables are represented in colors over a map of Europe.]]

Domestic trunk infrastructure

All communications trunks are now digital. Most are carried via national optical fibre networks. There are several companies with national fibre networks, including BT, Level 3 Communications, Virgin Media, Cable & Wireless, Easynet and Thus. Microwave links are used up to the 155 Mbit/s level, but are seldom cost-effective at higher bit rates.

International trunks

The UK is a focal point for many of the world's submarine communications cables, which are now mostly digital optical fibre cables.

Broadcast transmission

Arqiva provide services for content contribution, coding and multiplexing, distribution to the transmitter sites as well as maintaining the national transmitter network itself for television.[[File:Belmont Transmitter Mast at night - geograph.org.uk - 3254782.jpg|thumb|The Belmont Transmitter Mast seen at night]]

Arqiva's radio network transmits 380 analogue and 300 digital radio stations across the UK via 1,450 radio transmitter sites. They operate the two commercial national multiplexes – Digital One and Sound Digital – and provide transmission services to the BBC for their national DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) multiplex as well as spectrum planning expertise for small-scale DAB license applicants. They also provide managed transmission services (MTS) and network access (NA) services for both analogue and digital channels from over 1,450 sites across the UK and they also provide contribution, coding and multiplexing and distribution for national and local DAB multiplexes.

Services

Television and radio broadcasting

Radio

Main article: Radio in the United Kingdom

In 1998, there were 663 radio broadcast stations: 219 on AM, 431 on FM and 3 on shortwave. There were 84.5 million radio receiver sets (1997). Today there are around 600 licensed radio stations in the UK.

Television

Main article: Television in the United Kingdom

Currently, the United Kingdom has a collection of free-to-air, free-to-view and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are hundreds of channels for consumers as well as on-demand content.

Since 24 October 2012, all television broadcasts in the United Kingdom have been in a digital format, following the end of analogue transmissions in Northern Ireland. Digital content is delivered via terrestrial, satellite and cable, as well as over IP.

Internet

Main article: Internet in the United Kingdom

The country code top-level domain for United Kingdom web pages is .uk. Nominet UK is the .uk. Network Information Centre and second-level domains must be used.

At the end of 2004, 52% of households (12.6 million) were reported to have access to the internet (Source: Office for National Statistics Omnibus Survey). broadband connections accounted for 50.7% of all internet connections in July 2005, with one broadband connection being created every ten seconds. Broadband connections grew by nearly 80% in 2004. In 1999, there were 364 Internet service providers (ISPs). Public libraries also provide access to the internet, sometimes for a fee.

In 2017, 90% of households were reported to have access to an internet connection. This percentage shows an increase in internet access from 80% in 2012 and 61% in 2007.

Mobile telephony

Mobile phone networks

;Timeline

|row2-colour=#e60000 |row2-bordertop=1px solid #000; |row2-height=1.6em |row2-1-text=Vodafone |row2-1-to=2025

|row3-height=1.6em |row3-bordertop=1px solid #000; |row3-1-colour=#89AFFF |row3-1-text=Cellnet |row3-1-to=1999 |row3-2-colour=#578DFF |row3-2-text=BT Cellnet |row3-2-to=2002 |row3-3-colour=#236AFF |row3-3-text=O2 |row3-3-to=2025

|row4-colour=#ED8B8B |row4-bordertop=1px solid #000; |row4-height=1.6em |row4-1-text= |row4-1-to=1993 |row4-1-colour=white |row4-2-colour=#ED5EB2 |row4-2-text=Mercury One2One |row4-2-to=1997 |row4-3-colour=#ED2E9F |row4-3-text=One2One |row4-3-to=2002 |row4-4-colour=#ED018C |row4-4-text=T-Mobile |row4-4-to=2010 |row4-5-colour=white

|row5-colour=#A3E3ED |row5-bordertop=1px solid #000; |row5-height=1.6em |row5-1-text= |row5-1-to=1994 |row5-1-colour=white |row5-2-colour=#FF6600 |row5-2-text=Orange |row5-2-to=2010 |row5-3-colour=white

|row6-colour=#F3D4CA |row6-bordertop=1px solid #000; |row6-height=1.6em |row6-1-text= |row6-1-to=2010 |row6-1-colour=white |row6-2-colour=#1E9F9E |row6-2-text=EE |row6-2-to=2025

|row7-colour=#B3D3CD |row7-bordertop=1px solid #000; |row7-height=1.6em |row7-1-text= |row7-1-to=2003 |row7-1-colour=white |row7-2-colour=#FFBCC0 |row7-2-text=Three |row7-2-to=2025

|axis-nudge=-0.4em

First generation networks

• Cellnet was originally jointly owned by British Telecom and Securicor. BT eventually bought out Securicor's stake. The network became BT Cellnet and was then demerged to become O2.

• Vodafone.

Both companies ran ETACS analogue mobile phone networks.

2G

2G is being phased out and replaced with 4G and 5G. The four mobile network operators have agreed to switch off their 2G networks by 2033.

3G

The four 2G companies all won 3G licences in a competitive auction, as did a new entrant known as Hutchison 3G, which branded its network as 3.

3G networks were rolled-out during the early 2000s. They made it possible to access the internet through a mobile phone for the first time.

Mobile network operators are in the process of switching off their 3G networks. EE, Vodafone and Three have completed their switch-offs, with O2 expected to follow in 2025, starting with the City of Durham in April.

4G

4G/Long-term evolution (LTE) services are extensive. EE launched their 4G network in October 2012, using part of their existing 1800 MHz spectrum. O2 launched its 4G network on 29 August 2013, initially in London, Leeds and Bradford with a further 13 cities added by the end of 2013. Vodafone commenced its 4G services on 29 August 2013, initially in London with 12 more cities added by the end of 2013. Three commenced 4G services in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Reading, Wolverhampton and the Black country in December 2013 albeit with a limited number of subscribers to evaluate its implementation. Full rollout to remaining subscribers commenced on 5 February 2014 on a phased basis via a silent SIM update. As a condition of acquiring part of EE's 1800MHz spectrum for 4G use, Three were unable to use it until October 2013.

5G

5G is currently being rolled-out by mobile network operators. The first commercial networks went live in major UK cities in 2019. However, as of 2025, nationwide coverage remains poor.

EE was the first to launch their 5G network, initially in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester on 30 May 2019, followed by Vodafone in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London on 3 July 2019. Three launched their 5G service on 19 August 2019, initially for broadband customers in London. O2 was the last network to launch a 5G network; the rollout of which began in October 2019, starting with Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough and Leeds.

Numbers

When mobile cellular networks were first rolled out, there were various numbers beginning 03 through 09 in use, these being interspersed between the various existing geographic area codes. As part of the Big Number Change, all mobile (as well as pager and personal) numbers were brought together under the 07 range. The table below shows the initial ranges of numbers that were allocated as part of the new 07 range, which began on 30 September 1999.

Mobile phone services

There are four mobile network operators in the United Kingdom - O2, EE, Vodafone, and Three.

The number of active mobile subscriptions (excluding M2M) was 89.6 million at the end of Q2 2024, up 2.1 million (2.4%) from the year before.

In 2011 there were 82 million subscriptions in the UK. There were 76 million in 2008 and 55 million in January 2005.

All of the mobile network operators sell mobile phone services directly. In addition, there are a large number of mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Examples include Tesco Mobile, spusu, Lebara, and SMARTY.

Fixed telephony

Landlines

BT is still the main provider of fixed telephone lines and it has a universal service obligation, although companies can contract Openreach to install a phone line on their behalf, rather than telling the customer to get BT to install it, then transfer over.

Sky is the second biggest player in the residential telephone line market. Other companies provide fixed telephone services such as Virgin Media, Vodafone and EE.

In Q2 2024, the total number of fixed voice lines (including PSTN, ISDN and VoIP) was 25.4 million, a fall of 2.6% compared to the previous year. Total fixed-originated call volumes decreased by 1.22 billion minutes (21.5%) to 4.46 billion minutes.

The switched telephone network (both PSTN and ISDN) is due to be turned off on 31 January 2027, after customers are moved to voice over IP services.

Numbering

Main article: Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom

There is a set numbering plan for phone numbers within the United Kingdom, which is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which replaced the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) in 2003. Each number consists of an area code – one for each of the large towns and cities and their surroundings – and a subscriber number – the individual number.

Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

• Telecommunications in Anguilla
• Telecommunications in Antarctica (including the British Antarctic Territory)
• Telecommunications in Bermuda
• Telecommunications in the British Indian Ocean Territory
• Telecommunications in the British Virgin Islands
• Telecommunications in the Cayman Islands
• Telecommunications in the Falkland Islands
• Telecommunications in Gibraltar
• Telecommunications in Guernsey
• Telecommunications in the Isle of Man
• Telecommunications in Jersey
• Telecommunications in Montserrat
• Telecommunications in the Pitcairn Islands
• Telecommunications in Saint Helena, Ascension Island and Tristan da Cunha
• Telecommunications in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Telecommunications in the Turks and Caicos Islands

References

Bibliography

• CIA World Factbook

References

1. infosol. (2022-12-01). "The evolution of telecommunications in the UK".
2. "Post Office and British Telecommunications Public Corporations - Archives Hub".
3. "Search Results".
4. "1912to1968".
5. "1981 – 1983".
6. (2007-06-02). "Arqiva and National Grid Wireless combine".
7. "History of Thales Telecommunications Services". Homepage.ntlworld.com.
8. Office, Great Britain: National Audit. (2006-07-05). "The Creation of Ofcom: Wider Lessons for Public Sector Mergers of Regulatory Agencies". The Stationery Office.
9. "Submarine Cable Map".
10. "Television transmission services".
11. "Radio transmission services".
12. "Radio".
13. (2005-07-19). "UK prefers broadband to dial-up". BBC News.
14. (2004-12-20). "Broadband in the UK gathers pace". BBC News.
15. Open Government Licence. "Internet access – households and individuals: 2017". Office for National Statistics.
16. "Virgin Media O2 Results". Virgin Media O2.
17. (30 September 2024). "BT Results". BT.
18. "Vodafone Results". Vodafone.com.
19. (12 May 2025). "Trading Update for the quarter ended 31 March 2025". CK Hutchison Group Telecom Holdings Limited.
20. (2001-09-03). "BT unveils new mobile brand".
21. "A joint statement on the sunsetting of 2G and 3G networks and public ambition for Open RAN rollout as part of the Telecoms Supply Chain Diversification Strategy".
22. (2 February 2023). "3G and 2G switch-off: Our expectations of mobile providers".
23. "We're Switching Off Our 3G Network".
24. Office, Press. (2024-02-27). "Vodafone successfully switches off 3G in UK, boosting 4G and 5G".
25. "Our plans to switch off 3G {{!}} Support {{!}} Three".
26. "O2's 3G switch Off – Help and Support {{!}} O2".
27. Seppala, Timothy J.. (2013-07-31). "UK's O2 launches 4G service August 29th in London, Leeds and Bradford (updated)". Engadget.
28. Trew, James. (2013-08-07). "Vodafone UK confirms 4G network to launch August 29th, plans start at £26 a month". Engadget.
29. Morris, Jonathan. (5 February 2014). "Three's 4G network is live! First batch of customers activated this morning".
30. BBC News. (2 October 2012). "4G timetable agreed by UK mobile network operators".
31. Kelion, Leo. (2013-07-31). "UK completes 4G airwave clearance for mobile networks". BBC News.
32. (2025-11-01). "5G in the UK". [[House of Commons Library]].
33. "EE launching UK's first 5G service in six cities, bringing a new era in faster, more reliable connectivity".
34. Office, Press. (2019-05-14). "Vodafone switches on 5G in the UK on 3rd July 2019; 5G roaming this summer".
35. (2019-08-19). "Three switches on 5G today: 5G is in the house".
36. "O2 announces October 5G launch, prioritising areas where customers will benefit most".
37. "List of phone numbers".
38. (2024-10-31). "Telecommunications Market Data Update Q2 2024".
39. "Facts & Figures". Ofcom.
40. (2009-04-23). "Vodafone Sees Loss of UK Market Share and Lower ARPUs". Cellular-news.com.
41. (2024-07-16). "Technology Tracker 2024 Data Tables". Ofcom.
42. (2024-10-31). "Telecommunications Market Data Update Q2 2024".
43. O’Halloran, Joe. (16 December 2024). "UK businesses risk disruption as PSTN switch-off approaches".
44. (23 May 2024). "The withdrawal of landlines and switch to digital calls".