UK telecommunications policy under Conservative governments from 2010 to 2024

The Conservative Party formed the government of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2024, long enough to evaluate its performance in telecommunications policy. Conservative ministers made rhetorical assertions that the UK was or soon would be world-class in 5G, fixed broadband, data protection, cybersecurity, Internet safety and more. While state aid was provided to boost fixed and mobile broadband availability, the UK remained a laggard amongst OECD countries, notably in residential adoption of fibre. Investments in technology did little to improve economic growth or increase productivity. Yet ministers were generally content to leave most of the work to various regulatory and advisory bodies. Changes were made to the regulatory state, for competition and surveillance, in particular improvements to appellate systems. Additions were made, notably a cybersecurity agency and national infrastructure commission, plus new collaboration mechanisms amongst the regulatory agencies. A notable omission was coordination mechanisms with the devolved administrations. There was no effort at systematic reform, despite assertions by a few neoliberal Conservatives that leaving the EU (Brexit) would allow the lifting of its intolerable regulatory yoke. The policy and legislative initiative passed back to London, but there were few novel ideas or reforms. After repeated promises and protracted public and parliamentary debate the Online Safety Act had been passed in 2023, but parts have yet to be implemented and new issues have arisen, with significant failures and gaps. The five Conservative administrations faced two major challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic and Brexit, both of which proved distractions, with the latter causing rapid turnover in prime ministers, with ministers responsible for telecommunications never lasting two years. The subsequent COVID inquiry showed ministers did not understand basic features of messaging and mobile phones.