Editing Telecommunications in the United Kingdom

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}

'''Telecommunications in the United Kingdom''' have evolved from the early days of the [[telegraph]] to modern fibre broadband and high-speed 5G networks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=infosol |date=2022-12-01 |title=The evolution of telecommunications in the UK |url=https://www.telecom-ip.co.uk/the-evolution-of-telecommunications-in-the-uk/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=Telecom IP |language=en-US}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Bell Edison logo.jpg|thumb|Company logo on porch of [[17 & 19 Newhall Street, Birmingham]] (former ''Central'' exchange)]]
[[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|General Post Office (GPO)]] in 1912.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Post Office and British Telecommunications Public Corporations - Archives Hub |url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/a985c70a-8be3-3dfb-83c4-e7f127537064 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241127001337/https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/a985c70a-8be3-3dfb-83c4-e7f127537064 |archive-date=2024-11-27 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Search Results |url=https://www.digitalarchives.bt.com/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Persons&id=DS/UK/12684 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.digitalarchives.bt.com}}</ref>

The telephone service in the [[United Kingdom]] was originally provided by private companies and local city councils, but by 1912–13<ref>{{cite web |title=1912to1968 |url=http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1912to1968/1912.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030184819/http://www.btplc.com/Thegroup/BTsHistory/1912to1968/1912.htm |archive-date=30 October 2013 |website=www.btplc.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 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<ref>{{Cite web |title=1981 – 1983 |url=http://www.bt.com/archives/history/19811983.htm#1981 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050729103940/http://www.bt.com/archives/history/19811983.htm#1981 |archive-date=29 July 2005 |access-date=10 August 2005}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007-06-02 |title=Arqiva and National Grid Wireless combine |url=http://www.arqiva.com/press-office/press-releases/press-releases-2007/arqiva-and-national-grid-wireless-combine-to-create-unified-uk-c |access-date=2025-01-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602105016/http://www.arqiva.com/press-office/press-releases/press-releases-2007/arqiva-and-national-grid-wireless-combine-to-create-unified-uk-c |archive-date=2 June 2007 }}</ref> 

[[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 [[optical fiber|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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.essam/Thales.htm |title=History of Thales Telecommunications Services |publisher=Homepage.ntlworld.com |access-date=2013-08-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511163805/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/martin.essam/Thales.htm |archive-date=11 May 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=as85D7xWvU4C&q=merged+into+Ofcom&pg=PA43 |title=The Creation of Ofcom: Wider Lessons for Public Sector Mergers of Regulatory Agencies |last=Office |first=Great Britain: National Audit |date=2006-07-05 |publisher=The Stationery Office |isbn=9780102939125 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510015255/https://books.google.com/books?id=as85D7xWvU4C&pg=PA43&dq=merged+into+Ofcom&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiMi5be7ajVAhXmrVQKHciBAfMQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=merged%20into%20Ofcom&f=false |archive-date=10 May 2018 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
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|-
!  style="text-align:center; background:lightblue;" colspan="3"|<big>Communications in the United Kingdom</big>
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Radio broadcast stations (1998)
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"|663
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Telephone lines (2002)
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"|35m
|-
!  style="text-align:center; background:lightblue;" colspan="3"|Internet access
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Percent household access (total), 2004
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"|52% of households (12.6 million)
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|Percent broadband household access
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"|Half of internet connections
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|[[Internet service provider]]s (1999)
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"|364
|-
!  style="text-align:left; vertical-align:top;"|[[country code top-level domain]]
| colspan="2" style="vertical-align:top;"|''[[.uk]]''
|}
-->[[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 [[trunk (telecommunications)|trunks]] are now [[Digital data|digital]]. Most are carried via national [[optical fiber|optical fibre]] networks. There are several companies with national fibre networks, including [[BT Group|BT]], [[Level 3 Communications]], [[Virgin Media]], [[Cable & Wireless Worldwide|Cable & Wireless]], [[Easynet]] and [[Thus (company)|Thus]]. [[British Telecom microwave network|Microwave]] links are used up to the 155&nbsp;[[Mbit/s]] level, but are seldom cost-effective at higher [[bit rate]]s.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

===International trunks===
The UK is a focal point for many of the world's [[submarine communications cable]]s, which are now mostly digital [[optical fiber|optical fibre]] cables.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Submarine Cable Map |url=https://www.submarinecablemap.com |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.submarinecablemap.com}}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television transmission services |url=https://www.arqiva.com/media/tv/tv-transmission |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.arqiva.com}}</ref>[[File:Belmont Transmitter Mast at night - geograph.org.uk - 3254782.jpg|thumb|The Belmont Transmitter Mast seen at night]]

[[Arqiva|Arqiva's]] radio network transmits 380 analogue and 300 digital radio stations across the UK via 1,450 radio transmitter sites.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio transmission services |url=https://www.arqiva.com/media/radio/radio-transmission-services |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.arqiva.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Radio |url=https://www.arqiva.com/media/radio/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=www.arqiva.com}}</ref>

== Services ==

===Television and radio broadcasting===

====Radio====
{{Main|Radio in the United Kingdom}}

In 1998, there were 663 radio broadcast stations: 219 on [[Amplitude modulation|AM]], 431 on [[Frequency modulation|FM]] and 3 on shortwave. There were 84.5 million radio receiver sets (1997). Today{{when|date=October 2023}} there are around 600 licensed radio stations in the UK.{{fact|date=October 2023}} 

====Television====
{{Main|Television in the United Kingdom}}

Currently, the United Kingdom has a collection of [[free-to-air]], [[free-to-view]] and [[Pay television|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|Internet in the United Kingdom}}

The [[country code top-level domain]] for United Kingdom web pages is <code>[[.uk]]</code>. [[Nominet UK]] is the <code>.uk</code>. [[Network Information Centre]] and [[second-level domain]]s 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]] [[Opinions (Omnibus) Survey|Omnibus Survey]]). [[Broadband Internet access|broadband]] connections accounted for 50.7% of all internet connections in July 2005,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4696613.stm |work=BBC News |title=UK prefers broadband to dial-up |date=2005-07-19 |access-date=2010-05-25 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307233854/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4696613.stm |archive-date=7 March 2012 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> with one broadband connection being created every ten seconds.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4110733.stm | work=BBC News |title=Broadband in the UK gathers pace |date=2004-12-20 |access-date=2010-05-25 | url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514004411/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4110733.stm |archive-date=14 May 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Broadband connections grew by nearly 80% in 2004. In 1999, there were 364 [[Internet service provider]]s (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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/householdcharacteristics/homeinternetandsocialmediausage/bulletins/internetaccesshouseholdsandindividuals/2017 |title=Internet access – households and individuals: 2017 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |author=Open Government Licence}}</ref>

== Mobile telephony ==

===Mobile phone networks===
;Timeline
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|row4-2-to=1997
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|row4-3-text=One2One
|row4-3-to=2002
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
! style="width:3%;" |Rank
!Logo
! style="width:15%;" |Operator
! style="width:30%;" |Technology
! style="width:20%;" |Subscribers
<small>(in millions)</small>
! style="width:32%;" |Ownership
!MCC / MNC
|-
| style="text-align:right;" |1
|[[File:O2.svg|thumb|150x150px]]
|[[O2 (UK)|O2]]
|900&nbsp;MHz [[GSM]] ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])
900/2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High Speed Packet Access|HSPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]], [[DC-HSDPA|DC-HSPA+]]
700/800/900/1800/2100&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]]

2300/2600&nbsp;MHz [[TD-LTE]]
700/900/2100/2300/3500&nbsp;MHz [[5G NR]]

[[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]], [[VoWiFi]], [[Advanced Mobile Location|AML]]
|23.5 (Q3 2024)<ref name="Virgin Media O2 Results">{{cite web |title=Virgin Media O2 Results |url=https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Virgin-Media-O2-Q3-2024-Earnings-Release.pdf |access-date=30 October 2024 |work=www.virginmediao2.co.uk |publisher=Virgin Media O2}}</ref>
<small>(Includes [[Giffgaff]])</small>
|[[Virgin Media O2]]
(50% [[Telefonica]], 50% [[Liberty Global]])
|23410
|-
| style="text-align:right;" |2
|[[File:EE logo.svg|thumb|263x263px]]
|[[EE Limited|EE]]
|1800&nbsp;MHz [[GSM]] ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])
700/800/1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]]
700/1800/2100/2600/3500&nbsp;MHz [[5G NR]]

[[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]], [[VoWiFi]], [[Advanced Mobile Location|AML]], [[Rich Communication Services|RCS]]
|20.9 (Q3 2024)<ref name="BT Results">{{cite web |date=30 September 2024 |title=BT Results |url=https://www.bt.com/bt-plc/assets/documents/investors/financial-reporting-and-news/quarterly-results/fy25/h1/bt-group-h1-fy25-kpis.pdf |access-date=7 November 2024 |website=bt.com |publisher=BT}}</ref>
<small>(Includes [[BT Mobile]])</small>
|[[BT Group]]
|23430 and 23433
|-
| style="text-align:right;" |3
|[[File:Vodafone logo 2017.png|thumb|250x250px]]
|[[Vodafone UK|Vodafone]]
|900&nbsp;MHz [[GSM]] ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])
800/900/1500/1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]]
2600&nbsp;MHz [[TD-LTE]]

900/2100/3500&nbsp;MHz [[5G NR]]
[[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]], [[VoWiFi]], [[Advanced Mobile Location|AML]]

|18.5 (Q3 2024)<ref name="Vodafone">{{cite web |title=Vodafone Results |url=https://investors.vodafone.com/~/media/Files/V/Vodafone-IR/documents/performance/financial-results/2025/vodafone-q2-fy25-additional-information_v1.xlsx |access-date=12 November 2024 |work=www.vodafone.com |publisher=Vodafone.com}}</ref>
<small>(Includes [[Vodafone UK#VOXI by Vodafone|VOXI]])</small>
|[[Vodafone|Vodafone Group plc]]
|23415
|-
| style="text-align:right;" |4
|[[File:Three logo.svg|thumb|195x195px]]
|[[Three UK|Three]]
|700/800/1500/1800/2100&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]]
700/2100/3500&nbsp;MHz [[5G NR]]
[[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]], [[VoWiFi]], [[Advanced Mobile Location|AML]]

|10.9 (Q3 2024)<ref name="CK Hutchison">{{cite web |date=14 November 2024 |title=Three UK publishes Q3 2024 results |url=https://www.threemediacentre.co.uk/content/three-uk-publishes-q3-2024-results/ |access-date=14 November 2024 |work=www.threemediacentre.co.uk |publisher=Hutchison 3G UK Limited |page=1}}</ref>
<small>(Includes [[SMARTY]])</small>
|[[CK Hutchison Holdings]]
|23420
|}

====First generation networks====
* Cellnet was originally jointly owned by [[BT Group|British Telecom]] and [[Securicor]]. BT eventually bought out Securicor's stake. The network became BT Cellnet and was then demerged to become [[O2 (United Kingdom)|O2]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-09-03 |title=BT unveils new mobile brand |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1522609.stm |access-date=2025-01-19 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

* [[Vodafone UK|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=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 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/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-diversificatio |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

====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 [[Three UK|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2023 |title=3G and 2G switch-off: Our expectations of mobile providers |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/phones-telecoms-and-internet/information-for-industry/3g-and-2g-switch-off/3g-and-2g-switch-off?v=322171 }}</ref>

Mobile network operators are in the process of switching off their 3G networks. EE,<ref>{{Cite web |title=We're Switching Off Our 3G Network |url=https://ee.co.uk/3g-switch-off |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=EE |language=en-GB}}</ref> Vodafone<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office |first=Press |date=2024-02-27 |title=Vodafone successfully switches off 3G in UK, boosting 4G and 5G |url=https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/3g-successful-switch-off-uk/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Vodafone UK News Centre |language=en-US}}</ref> and Three<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our plans to switch off 3G {{!}} Support {{!}} Three |url=https://www.three.co.uk/support/network-and-coverage/our-plans-to-switch-off-3g |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.three.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> have completed their switch-offs, with O2 expected to follow in 2025, starting with the [[Durham, England|City of Durham]] in April.<ref>{{Cite web |title=O2's 3G switch Off – Help and Support {{!}} O2 |url=https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-coverage-and-international/3g-switch-off |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.o2.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

====4G====
4G/Long-term evolution ([[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]) services are extensive. [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]] launched their 4G network in October 2012, using part of their existing 1800&nbsp;MHz spectrum. [[O2 (UK)|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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Seppala |first=Timothy J. |date=2013-07-31 |title=UK's O2 launches 4G service August 29th in London, Leeds and Bradford (updated) |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/07/31/uk-telecom-o2-launches-4G-august/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806221832/http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/31/uk-telecom-o2-launches-4G-august/ |archive-date=6 August 2013 |access-date=2013-08-09 |publisher=Engadget |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Vodafone commenced its 4G services on 29 August 2013, initially in London with 12 more cities added by the end of 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last=Trew |first=James |date=2013-08-07 |title=Vodafone UK confirms 4G network to launch August 29th, plans start at £26 a month |url=https://www.engadget.com/2013/08/07/vodafone-uk-confirms-4g/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810031014/http://www.engadget.com/2013/08/07/vodafone-uk-confirms-4g/ |archive-date=10 August 2013 |access-date=2013-08-09 |publisher=Engadget |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Three commenced 4G services in [[London]], [[Birmingham]], [[Manchester]], [[Reading, Berkshire|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 [[Subscriber identity module|SIM]] update.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Jonathan |date=5 February 2014 |title=Three's 4G network is live! First batch of customers activated this morning |url=https://jmcomms.com/2014/02/05/threes-4g-network-is-live-first-batch-of-customers-activated-this-morning/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170104110243/https://jmcomms.com/2014/02/05/threes-4g-network-is-live-first-batch-of-customers-activated-this-morning/ |archive-date=4 January 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> As a condition of acquiring part of EE's 1800MHz spectrum for 4G use, Three were unable to use it until October 2013.<ref>{{cite news |author=BBC News |author-link=BBC News |date=2 October 2012 |title=4G timetable agreed by UK mobile network operators |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19804578 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004235855/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19804578 |archive-date=4 October 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kelion |first=Leo |date=2013-07-31 |title=UK completes 4G airwave clearance for mobile networks |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23500780 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802141050/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23500780 |archive-date=2 August 2013 |access-date=2013-08-09 |work=BBC News |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

====5G====
5G is currently being rolled-out by mobile network operators. The first commercial networks went live in major UK cities in 2019.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Clark |first1=Adam |last2=Baker |first2=Carl |date=2025-11-01 |title=5G in the UK |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7883/ |journal=[[House of Commons Library]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

EE was the first to launch their 5G network, initially in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester on 30 May 2019,<ref>{{Cite web |title=EE launching UK's first 5G service in six cities, bringing a new era in faster, more reliable connectivity |url=https://newsroom.ee.co.uk/ee-launching-uks-first-5g-service-in-six-cities-bringing-a-new-era-in-faster-more-reliable-connectivity/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=EE launching UK’s first 5G service in six cities, bringing a new era in faster, more reliable connectivity |language=en}}</ref> followed by Vodafone in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and London on 3 July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office |first=Press |date=2019-05-14 |title=Vodafone switches on 5G in the UK on 3rd July 2019; 5G roaming this summer |url=https://www.vodafone.co.uk/newscentre/press-release/5g-uk-live-date-announced-5g-roaming-this-summer/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Vodafone UK News Centre |language=en-US}}</ref>  Three launched their 5G service on 19 August 2019, initially for broadband customers in London.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-08-19 |title=Three switches on 5G today: 5G is in the house |url=https://www.threemediacentre.co.uk/content/three-switches-on-5g-today-5g-is-in-the-house/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Three Media Centre |language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=O2 announces October 5G launch, prioritising areas where customers will benefit most |url=https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/archive/o2-announces-october-5g-launch-prioritising-areas-where-customers-will-benefit-most/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Virgin Media O2 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==== 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of phone numbers |url=https://static.ofcom.org.uk/static/numbering/s7_code.txt |website=static.ofcom.org.uk |format=CSV}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Original 07- mobile number allocations (by 30 September 1999)
!O2
<small>(formerly Cellnet)</small>
!Vodafone
!EE
<small>(formerly Orange and One2One)</small>
|-
|07701 07702 07703 07710 07711 07712 07713 07714 07715 07719 07730 07740 07750
07801 07802 07803 07808 07809 07850 07860 07885 07889
|07721 07741 07747 07760 07767 07768 07769 07770 07771 07774 07775 07776 07778 07780 07785 07787 07788 07798
07818 07831 07833 07836 07867 07879 07880 07881 07887 07899 07901 07979

07909 07990
|07773 07779 07790
07800

07966 07967 07968 07971 07973 07974 07976 07977 07980 07989
|}

=== Mobile phone services ===
{{see also|List of mobile network operators of Europe#United Kingdom|List of mobile virtual network operators in the United Kingdom}}
There are four [[Mobile network operator|mobile network operators]] in the United Kingdom - [[O2 (UK)|O2]], [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]], [[Vodafone UK|Vodafone]], and [[Three UK|Three]].

The number of active mobile subscriptions (excluding [[Machine to machine|M2M]]) was 89.6 million at the end of Q2 2024, up 2.1 million (2.4%) from the year before.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-31 |title=Telecommunications Market Data Update Q2 2024 |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/telecoms-infrastructure/telecommunications-market-data-update-q2-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=www.ofcom.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

In 2011 there were 82 million subscriptions in the UK.<ref name="ofcom">{{cite web |title=Facts & Figures |url=http://media.ofcom.org.uk/facts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130811184426/http://media.ofcom.org.uk/facts/ |archive-date=11 August 2013 |access-date=2013-08-09 |publisher=Ofcom |df=dmy-all}}</ref> There were 76 million in 2008<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-04-23 |title=Vodafone Sees Loss of UK Market Share and Lower ARPUs |url=http://www.cellular-news.com/story/37159.php?s=h |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320073009/http://www.cellular-news.com/story/37159.php?s=h |archive-date=20 March 2012 |access-date=2012-08-28 |publisher=Cellular-news.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 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 operator|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<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=Technology Tracker 2024 Data Tables |date=2024-07-16 |pages=119 |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/data/statistics/2024/technology-tracker/technology-tracker-2024-data-tables.pdf?v=374153 |publisher=Ofcom}}</ref> and it has a [[universal service|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.{{fact|date=October 2023}}

[[Sky UK|Sky]] is the second biggest player in the residential telephone line market.<ref name=":0" /> Other companies provide fixed telephone services such as [[Virgin Media]], [[Vodafone UK|Vodafone]] and [[EE (telecommunications)|EE]].<ref name=":0" />

In Q2 2024, the total number of fixed voice lines (including [[Public switched telephone network|PSTN]], [[ISDN]] and [[Voice over IP|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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-31 |title=Telecommunications Market Data Update Q2 2024 |url=https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/telecoms-infrastructure/telecommunications-market-data-update-q2-2024/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=www.ofcom.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O’Halloran |first=Joe |date=16 December 2024 |title=UK businesses risk disruption as PSTN switch-off approaches |url=https://www.computerweekly.com/news/366617293/UK-businesses-risk-disruption-as-PSTN-switch-off-approaches |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Computer Weekly |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2024 |title=The withdrawal of landlines and switch to digital calls |url=https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9471/ |access-date=6 January 2024 |website=House of Commons Library}}</ref>

====Numbering====
{{Main|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.
== [[British Overseas Territories|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]]
* [[Communications in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha|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]]

==See also==
* [[BBC]]
* [[British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph Company]]
* [[British Telegraph Company]]
* [[BT Group]], formerly British Telecom 
* [[Electric Telegraph Company]]
* [[Electrical telegraphy in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Independent Broadcasting Authority]] (IBA)
* [[Institute of Telecommunications Professionals]]
* [[List of dialling codes in the United Kingdom]]
* [[List of postcode areas in the United Kingdom]] (about 120)
* [[List of postcode districts in the United Kingdom]] (about 2900)
* [[List of telephone operating companies]]
* [[London District Telegraph Company]]
* [[National Telephone Company]] (NTC), 1881 to 1911 
* [[Telegraph Act 1868]]
* [[Telephone Transfer Act 1911]] 
** [[General Post Office|General Post Office (GPO)]]
** [[Post Office Telecommunications]]
* [[United Kingdom Telegraph Company]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/united-kingdom/ CIA World Factbook]

==Further reading==
* Cave, Martin. "The evolution of telecommunications regulation in the UK." ''European Economic Review'' 41.3-5 (1997): 691–699.
* Cave, Martin. "40 years on: An account of innovation in the regulation of UK telecommunications, in 3½ chapters." ''Telecommunications Policy'' 41.10 (2017): 904–915.
* Cave, Martin, and Peter Williamson. "Entry, competition, and regulation in UK telecommunications." ''Oxford Review of Economic Policy'' 12.4 (1996): 100–121.
* Green, James R., and David J. Teece. "Four approaches to telecommunications deregulation and competition: the USA, the UK, Australia and New Zealand." ''Industrial and Corporate Change'' 7.4 (1998): 623–635.
* Hindmarch-Watson, Katie. "Embodying Telegraphy in Late Victorian London." ''Information & Culture'' 55#1 (2020): 10–29. [https://www.muse.jhu.edu/article/749003. online]
* Hindmarch-Watson, Katie.  ''Serving a Wired World: London's Telecommunications Workers and the Making of an Information Capital'' (2020).
* Morris, Robert C. ''Between the Lines: A Personal History of the British Public Telephone and Telecommunications Service 1870–1990'' (1994), we;; illustrated.
* Potter, Simon J. ''Broadcasting Empire: The BBC and the British World, 1922-1970'' (2012)
* Scannell, Paddy,  and David Cardiff. ''A Social History of British Broadcasting: Volume 1 – 1922–1939, Serving the Nation'' (1991)
* Solomon, Jonathan H. "Telecommunications Evolution in the UK." ''Telecommunications Policy'' 10.3 (1986): 186–192.
* Spiller, Pablo T., and Ingo Vogelsang. "The institutional foundations of regulatory commitment in the UK: the case of telecommunications." ''Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE)/Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft'' (1997): 607–629.
* Starr, Paul. ''The creation of the media: Political origins of modern communications'' (2004).
* Standage, Tom. ''The Victorian Internet: The remarkable story of the telegraph and the nineteenth century's online pioneers'' (Phoenix, 1998) [https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8a2d/e81882302b13a8363eed181227f9819151cc.pdf online]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Telecommunications in the United Kingdom}}
{{Telecommunications industry in the United Kingdom}}
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