Telecommunication industry
Research Topic
Language: English
This is a research topic created to provide authors with a place to attach new problem publications.
Research problems linked to this topic
- What journey-related mobile connectivity needs do passengers have now and in the future? How best can these needs be met, and what role could government play to support delivery of these outcomes?
- Where are the opportunities for international collaboration to increase the UK’s role and influence over the development of next generation telecommunications technologies - including advanced 5G and beyond?
- Which areas of research on the uses of next generation networks may need policy interventions (e.g. Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence)? This may include driving strong take-up of fibre and 5G/6G, encouraging the adoption of the products and services, and increasing Willingness to Pay and supporting industry to make the necessary investments?
- What are the economic trade-offs of achieving capacity improvements in mobile networks over the coming decade? How does achieving this exclusively through increased use of spectrum compare to network densification? In comparing strengths and weaknesses, what might be an optimal combination of both?
- How does wide-spread take-up of gigabit connectivity affect businesses on local and national level? What impact might it have on (i) productivity, including Business-to-Business transactions [for further relevant questions on productivity see Digital Infrastructure section 1], (ii) competition, (iii) economic performance, (iv) human capital? How does this differ for different business sectors?
- How might wide-spread take-up of gigabit connectivity affect an individual’s daily life? What impact might it have on; (i) spending/saving habits, (ii)occupation, (iii) location of residence, (iv) education, (v) health (including wellbeing)? How does this differ for different demographic groups?
- What datasets, like street works data, could be used to verify open market review (OMR) plans of suppliers?
- What are the key factors that influence a supplier’s decision to include or exclude premises in area build plans? Are there ways to predict or model this behaviour within an area?
- What are the potential opportunities and issues associated with the development and deployment of open telecoms solutions such as Open RAN, and how should government intervention be targeted to utilise or mitigate these? How is Open RAN adoption progressing and what is the likely trajectory? What are the barriers to adoption and acceptance of open architectures for 5G deployment and how are they changing? What are the economic benefits associated with this?
- What are the direct benefits from increases in connectivity?
- How do changes in technology usage and market structure change the risks faced?
- What technologies will have the biggest impact on demand for data? Is growth in data exponential, linear or decreasing?
- In what ways do security interventions (under the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021) in the telecoms market have an impact on investment within the sector? How is this broken down, in a quantitative manner, by fixed and mobile infrastructure?
- What is the economic opportunity from growing UK commercial ecosystems of telecoms security/resilience solutions? What should the UK prioritise supporting as part of the next generation of telecoms solutions?
- To what extent are telecommunications companies investing in research and development to devise and implement alternative ways, to traditional telecoms mast structures, of expanding wide area mobile coverage across the UK? Low altitude balloons; repeaters etc.
- What is the economic value of security and resilience within telecoms networks for the UK?
- What are the empirical trends in previous technology adoption cycles, and to what extent can they be used as proxies to predict future trends and rates of adoption?
- What is the potential for future technologies in delivering mobile connectivity more efficiently and effectively than contemporary technologies e.g. low earth orbit satellite technology? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies?
- What are the potential unintended consequences of digital technology (5G, ORAN, Fibre, etc) policies and to what extent could the market mitigate them?
- What priority areas should the UK be targeting in key convergence areas to support growth of UK supply-side market share? Where is there a clear UK competitive advantage?
- What are the impacts of 5G on users’ day-to-day lives? How will people and businesses use this connectivity?
- What will be the role of terrestrial and non-terrestrial (satellite and intermediate platforms) in delivering high quality mobile coverage and capacity across different regions of the UK? What regulatory changes will be needed, including on spectrum management?
- Digital Infrastructure - High capacity fixed and wireless networks adoption
- How might AI contribute to future spectrum regulation/management?
- What are the advantages, disadvantages, and limitations in using non-terrestrial technology to support the expansion of mobile coverage across the UK?
- What is the industry view on the potential of and the requirements for 6G? How far will 6G take us?
- To what extent will mobile market consolidation impact: (i) mobile coverage, (ii) consumer choice, (iii) consumer behaviour? How might the government or regulatory body need to prepare or intervene?
- What is the overall impact of gigabit connectivity and 4G mobile connectivity on the government’s target to achieve net zero by 2050?
- What are some of the emergent technologies which will increase the need for gigabit connectivity for (i) residential premises; (ii) business premises?
- How might wide-spread take-up of 4G mobile connectivity affect an individual’s daily life? What impact might it have on; (i) spending/saving habits, (ii) occupation, (iii) location of residence, (iv) education, (v) health(including wellbeing)? How does this differ for different demographic groups?
- How does the mobile network landscape differ by quality and capacity across the UK for rural and urban areas? Additionally, how does this differ for transport specific contexts?
- "How does the upgrade in mobile connectivity from 4G to 5G impact end users, both positively and negatively? Additionally, what changes in usage does this upgrade cause for both residential and business users? How can the impact of this uplift be monetised?"
- "How does introducing 4G mobile coverage to areas which previously had no coverage impact the entire area? How does it affect the local industries and does it allow for new emergent industries? How does it impact local ways of life, tourism, educational facilities, safety for residents and visitors, and leisure activities? Are there international case studies of this happening?"
- "Could 4G mobile connectivity be enough, especially for extremely isolated populations that would be extremely costly to connect with fibre? For how long could 4G coverage be sufficient instead of broadband for (i) a residential premise; (ii) a business premise? To what extent is there demand in these communities for broadband connectivity?"
- Identifying the distribution of productivity benefits from telecoms infrastructure investment (fixed and wireless): (i) to what extent can, or has, telecoms investment reduce(d) the difference in productivity between areas of the UK? (ii) what is the impact of telecoms infrastructure on the differences in productivity between firms within sectors (e.g. can it help address the issue of ‘long-tail’ of low productivity firms)? And how do the productivity impacts differ between different industries? (iii) what are the barriers to scaling up wireless enterprise applications for growth and how are they changing? (iv) How do productivity impacts vary across public mobile networks, private mobile networks (e.g. private 5G) and fixed networks including the role of Wi-Fi? For further relevant questions on productivity see BDUK section 9.
- To what extent are individuals without landline based connectivity at greater risk of exclusion?
- "What is the interaction between mobile and fixed connectivity? What is the role of 4G mobile connectivity in people’s online access compared to broadband/fixed access? Are there certain benefits or disbenefits which are only achieved with both mobile and fixed connectivity?"
- To what extent is wide-spread connectivity contributing to a growth in digital citizenship? How can we determine what is attributable to BDUK’s interventions and monetise their benefits?
- How has gigabit connectivity and the digital harmonisation, or moving a variety of services onto one system, of local public services affected; (i) how they’re delivered, (ii) how they’re used, (iii) future coverage within that local area, (iv) technological innovation within that local authority?
- How does the UK compare to other countries in respect to 4G mobile coverage? In particular, how does the UK compare to G7 and EU countries? What factors contribute to this? What can the UK learn from 4G mobile roll-out in other countries?
- How have other countries delivered gigabit connectivity in difficult areas? This includes (i) urban areas, such as cobble streets, (ii) and rural areas characterised by difficult terrain or where existing infrastructure is lacking?
- How do delays to delivery impact: (i) the organisation delivering the network(ii) other actors in the telecom market (iii) the premises being delivered to (business and residential)? How does this impact vary based on the length of delay?
- "How can benefits of 4G mobile connectivity be monetised for areas where very few people live? Are there international examples, such as national parks from across the world, that are comparable?"
- What are the benefits of connectivity that fibre, cable and other fixed technologies deliver in terms of their improved quality of service to the end user? How can this be understood in terms of its economic impacts?
- For how long will gigabit capable speeds be sufficient for (i) residential premises; (ii) business premises; (iii) public sector organisations?
- How does the benefits of connectivity change for the end user when there is an increase from superfast to gigabit compared to a change from sub-superfast to gigabit and sub-superfast to superfast?
- How does technology usage affect competitiveness in the market, for example delivery rates and value for money? How does this differ across technologies and organisations?
- What is the potential for future technologies in delivering mobile connectivity more efficiently and effectively than contemporary technologies e.g. low earth orbit satellite technology? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these technologies, including their feasibility and possible barriers to implementation?
- How can Quality of Service data be quantified and measured as a consistent metric across BDUK delivery?
- How best can local context be incorporated into data received to understand how local events and human and natural geographical features of the area affect the speed of build and risks of delivery?
- What are the barriers to delivery of full mobile coverage across the UK? What possible solutions exist to these barriers?
- To what extent can efficiency in maintenance be gained by utilising existing public sector resources and assets to preserve or maintain our networks?
- To what extent are the decisions being made by network suppliers in where to build equitable both at the beginning of and during delivery (specifically considering the impact of descoping premises from delivery)?
- How will the mobile market be affected by reaching 95% coverage of the UK and increasing competitiveness across regions of the UK by 2030?
- What incentivises and supports sharing of knowledge to promote sector-wide best practice in a competitive market place?
- How are approaches to delivery differing across regions in the UK and are different approaches needed to aid later delivery?
- How do network providers differ in the surveying methods used and what efficiencies do particular methods have?
- To what extent are the networks being built adding to the resilience of national infrastructure?
- To what extent is overbuild an issue within the market and what characteristics make it a more or less favourable delivery decision for suppliers?
- What are the factors which lead to urban premises not having FTTP connectivity?
- What is the financial capability of the broadband altnet market and how may this change over the next decade?
- How would a retrenchment of the telecoms market affect: (i) market structure and market behaviour, (ii) outcomes for delivery, (iii) the general public?
- How would future market consolidation impact connectivity for businesses, public sector organisations and residential premises on different networks? What recommendations should be made to the UK government to prepare for these scenarios?
- To what extent are network providers effectively planning their networks to ensure delays and additional cost are avoided?
- To what extent is tactical blocking of fibre connectivity an issue within the market and which methods are most effective at overcoming it or accounting for it in strategic decision making?
- What factors in the market increase the likelihood of future market consolidation and what barriers exist that decrease this likelihood? Why would an actor in the market pursue integration of another firm’s network and why would they not?
- To what extent would future market consolidation affect the different actors within the market and the performance of the market as a whole?
- What are some of the key drivers and enablers for take-up of gigabit-speed connectivity for (i) residential premises; (ii) business premises? [question of relevance to Digital Infrastructure, as seen in their section 1]
- How does wide-spread take-up of 4G mobile connectivity affect businesses on a local and national level? What impact might it have on (i) productivity, (ii)competition, (iii) economic performance, (iv) human capital? How does this differ for different business sectors?
- "What kind of methods exist for tracking data usage from tourists or transient visitors to an area where 4G mobile connectivity has recently been installed? How can this be used to monetise and evaluate the socio-economic benefits of installing 4G mobile connectivity?"
- What benefits do consumers gain from offering a wider selection of mobile providers through the expansion of mobile connectivity in areas with partial coverage?
- What will gigabit capable speeds not be sufficient for, and will this interact with overall network capacity and/or government ambitions? Does this differ for other characteristics of connectivity such as bandwidth and latency?
- What benefits of increased connectivity can still be achieved at sub-gigabit speeds which are still above ultrafast (300-999 mbps)? How do the benefits compare at different levels; for example, what are the benefits at 600 mbps versus 700 mbps? How do these differences in benefits change over time?
- How do network providers, internet service providers and mobile connectivity providers plan and consider the risks of climate change within the UK to the longevity of infrastructure? Are their considerations and plans sufficient for the expected extent of climate change?
- How can advances in communication technologies be used to inform our understanding of trade in digital services?
- What are implications of advances in communications technologies for trade in services?
- What is the value of subsea communications cables to the UK economy, and should the UK seek to attract or incentivise the expansion of the subsea cable network?
- What are the connectivity performance and protection requirements in ports and on sea? Can there be specific international connectivity corridors?
- What is telecom’s role in achieving net zero and the impact of changing climate? To what extend is telecoms a driver of energy efficiency within and across sectors?
- What new skills/professions are likely to emerge as a result of future telecoms technologies and how can the UK be best placed to exploit them?
- Evaluate the technologies that will drive smart networks: evidencing the utilisation of the UK’s lead in AI and Edge technology to develop self-organising, secure and highly optimised network software.
- What impact do open internet regulations have on the efficient deployment and use of full fibre and 5G networks to meet the growing connectivity demand? How do changes in these regulations impact network investments, deployment and use - e.g. impact on traffic growth, traffic management, costs for ISPs and requirements of new use cases?
- Given changing TV viewer habits (online vs terrestrial TV), how can the use of the remaining Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) spectrum be optimised? What is the potential of incentivising more spectrally efficient technology (e.g. Digital Video Broadcasting — Second Generation Terrestrial or ‘DVB-T2’) and enabling increased access for mobile services while facilitating a sustainable future for DTT (albeit with a reduced set of channels). Note: this work will need to be coordinated with DCMS and its planned DTT viewing and policy reviews.
- There are legitimate but competing demands for access to the Upper 6GHz band by proponents of Wi-Fi and mobile services both internationally and in the UK. What are the advantages/disadvantages to the UK of an allocation favouring mobile or Wi-Fi compared to a hybrid option, which enables access but with limitations to both services?
- To what extent can existing rail and roadside infrastructure be used to support or deliver expanded mobile coverage across the UK? What innovative business models might promote improved coverage in road and rail corridors?
- To what extent does increased connectivity increase teleworking? How does this change in teleworking impact emissions from commuting and business travel?
- How does access to a gigabit connection affect CO2eq emissions for; (i) household, (ii) a business, (iii) a public sector organisation?
- How long does it take for the CO2eq emissions from the production, shipping, installation and use of fibre to result in a net emission saving overuse of copper?
- What is the full carbon life cycle of fibre? How does this differ where different machineries and processes are used? Are there possible emissions savings that could be made across the lifecycle? What are the ways in which these savings could be implemented or influenced by BDUK or other actors in the market?
- What are some of the barriers local authorities experience in using gigabit connectivity and extracting the most value from digitally harmonised services?
- How does improved fixed and mobile connectivity impact the different utilities services and networks within the UK?
- How does the growth in gigabit-capable connectivity in the UK compare to other countries? In particular, how does the UK compare to France, Spain, the United States, South Korea? What factors contribute to this? What can the UK learn from gigabit roll-out in other countries with similar geographies /populations /characteristics such as New Zealand?
- What impact will the copper switch off have on the resilience for networks and their usage? How might it impact public sector service providers, such as care homes, emergency services and other NHS sites? How aware are customers that the copper switch off is taking place and what risks come from this for the market?
- What is the current forecast of non-fibre based technology (including anything capable of delivering speeds above superfast but below gigabit[30Mbps - 1Gbps], or speeds which exceeds gigabit [>1Gbps]) and its role in delivering broadband connectivity to homes and businesses where fibre is not feasible? What is the lifespan and redundancies of these technologies?
- What are the barriers to delivery of fibre-to-the-premises across the UK? What possible solutions exist to these barriers?
- What other factors beyond cost to build affect the commerciality of a premise? And how may this change up to 2030?
- Are telecoms networks a net contributor or mitigator of GHG emissions, and will their net emissions grow or shrink in the future?
- How will climate change/energy insecurity impact the UK’s telecoms networks? To what extent are our networks (directly or indirectly) vulnerable to climate change e.g. voltage instability during heat waves? For further relevant questions on network resilience see BDUK section 3.