The State Opening of Parliament – often referred to as “King’s Speech‘ – took place today as the UK’s new government unveiled its agenda for the coming session. The speech included mentions of several bills that could potentially support the expansion of gigabit broadband and 5G mobile networks, as well as tightening cybersecurity and digital authentication services.
Just to recap. Labour’s 2024 General Election Manifesto ( here ) has previously made it clear that it will “renewed push to meet ambitions of full gigabit and national 5G coverage by 2030.The party has already given modest support to the Gigabit project and seems aware that any major changes would risk further delays in rollout, but there have been very few detailed details of their actual plan.
The first signs of at least one major change came after they expressed their desire for more flexibility in the planning system ( here ), which could make it easier to deploy new digital infrastructure – those opposed to new telecoms towers and mobile masts will be watching very closely. In addition, there has been previous talk of trying to encourage more infrastructure sharing or cooperative building between network operators, although this is rarely supported by little content.
Suffice to say, the King’s Speech usually provides an opportunity for a new government to elaborate on its upcoming plans in a little more detail, and we’ve been keeping a close eye on whether any of the c.35 bills might be relevant. Unfortunately, there were no specific mentions of even “broadband connection” or “mobile” in the briefing papers, but three of the bills have the potential to touch digital infrastructure and internet connectivity.
However, we were a bit surprised to see the news Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, especially when it comes so soon after similar telecoms and internet security laws were passed under previous administrations – the industry is still in the early stages of adapting to these laws. We have summarized the three laws of relevance below.
Planning and Infrastructure Bill
“My ministers will deliver on building Britain, including through planning reform, as they aim to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing“
● The current planning regime acts as a major brake on economic growth. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will play a key role in addressing this constraint, making more housing and infrastructure available across the country and supporting sustainable economic growth. The planning system must enable growth – enabling democratic involvement in how homes and infrastructure are built, not if.
● Reforming the planning system is key to unlocking our country’s economic growth – enabling us to provide housing and the critical infrastructure that communities need. The Bill will speed up and streamline the planning process for building more homes than ever before and accelerate the delivery of major infrastructure projects in line with our industrial, energy and transport strategies.
What does Bill do?
● The Bill will improve the planning system at local level, modernize planning committees and increase the capacity of local planning authorities to deliver better services.
● The Planning and Infrastructure Bill will speed up house building and infrastructure provision:
on streamlining the delivery process for critical infrastructure, including accelerating national grid upgrades and boosting renewable energy, which will benefit local communities, unlock the delivery of our 2030 clean energy mission and net zero commitments, and ensure domestic energy security. We will streamline the approval process for major infrastructure projects and enable the submission of relevant, new and improved National Policy Statements, introducing a review process that will provide the opportunity to update them every five years, giving developers and communities greater certainty.
to further reform the compulsory purchase compensation rules to ensure that compensation paid to landowners is fair but not excessive where important social and physical infrastructure and affordable housing are provided. The reforms will help free up more sites for development, enable more efficient land pooling, thereby speeding up house building and ensuring more affordable housing, which will support the public interest.
on improving local planning decision-making by modernizing planning committees.
on increasing the capacity of local planning authorities to improve performance and decision-making, providing more predictable services for developers and investors.
about using development to fund nature restoration where both are currently stalled, a win-win for the economy and nature because we know we can be better than the status quo. Our commitment to the environment is unwavering, which is why the Government will be working with conservation organisations, stakeholders and the sector over the summer to identify the best way forward. We will only act in legislation where we can confirm to Parliament that the steps we take will have positive environmental outcomes. Where we can demonstrate this, the Bill will make any necessary changes.
Territorial scope and application
● Most of the Bill is expected to be extended to apply to England and Wales. Some measures may extend to Scotland
Digital Information and Smart Data Bill
● The government wants to ensure we harness the power of data for economic growth, support modern digital government and improve people’s lives.
● The bill will enable the safe development and deployment of new innovative ways of using data and improve people’s lives by making public services work better through reforming data sharing and standards; helping scientists and researchers make life-enhancing discoveries by improving our data laws; and ensure your data is well protected by giving the regulator (ICO) new, stronger powers and a more modern structure. These measures begin to deliver on the Government’s commitment to better serve the British public through science and technology.
What does Bill do?
● The bill will harness the power of data for economic growth. We are giving a statutory basis to three innovative uses of data that people can engage with and which will accelerate innovation, investment and productivity in the UK. It includes:
on establishing digital authentication services that make people’s everyday lives easier through innovative and secure technology. These measures support the creation and adoption of secure and trusted digital identity products and services from certified providers to help with things like moving, pre-employment checks, and purchasing age-restricted goods and services.
o developing the National Underground Asset Register, a new digital map that is revolutionizing the way we install, maintain, operate and repair the pipes and cables beneath our feet. It gives planners and excavators standardized, secure and immediate access to the data they need, when they need it, to do their jobs efficiently and safely.
about setting up Smart Data schemes, which is the secure sharing of customer data at their request, with authorized third-party providers.
● The Bill will improve people’s lives and life chances. The bill will enable more and better digital public services. By making changes to the Digital Economy Act, we will help the government share data about businesses that use public services. We will switch to an electronic birth and death registration system. And we will apply information standards to IT suppliers in the health and social care system.
● The bill will help our scientists better use data for world-class research by reflecting the realities of modern interdisciplinary scientific research in our data laws. Scientists will be able to apply for broad consent for areas of scientific research and will allow legitimate researchers conducting scientific research in a commercial environment to use our data regime equally.
● An account ensures that your data is well protected. We are modernizing and strengthening the ICO. It will be transformed into a more modern regulatory structure with a CEO, board and chairman. And he will have new, stronger powers. This will accompany targeted reforms of some data laws that will maintain high standards of protection, but where there is currently a lack of clarity that prevents the secure development and deployment of some new technologies. We will also promote standards for digital identities around privacy, security and inclusion.
● The Bill also introduces a Data Retention Process that coroners (and coroners in Scotland) can initiate when they decide it is necessary and appropriate to support their investigation into the death of a child. This will help coroners access the online information they need when investigating a child’s death.
Territorial scope and application
● The Bill will be extended to apply throughout the UK.
Cyber Security and Resilience Bill
● Our digital economy is increasingly being attacked by cybercriminals and state actors, affecting essential public services and infrastructure. In the last 18 months, our hospitals, universities, local authorities, democratic institutions and government offices have all come under cyber attack.
● Our essential services are vulnerable to hostile actors and the recent cyber attacks affecting the NHS and the Ministry of Defense show that the consequences can be severe. We must act quickly to address vulnerabilities and protect our digital economy to ensure growth. The Bill will strengthen the UK’s cyber defences, ensuring the security of critical infrastructure and digital services that companies rely on.
What does Bill do?
● The bill will strengthen our defenses and ensure that more essential digital services are protected than ever before, for example by expanding the scope of existing regulation, strengthening regulators and increasing reporting requirements to build a better picture of the cyber threat across government.
● The UK’s existing regulations mirror laws adopted from the EU and are the UK’s only cross-sectoral cybersecurity legislation. They have now been superseded in the EU and require immediate updating in the UK to ensure our infrastructure and economy are not comparatively more vulnerable.
● The bill will make major updates to the original regulatory framework:
on extending the scope of the regulation to protect more digital services and supply chains. They are an increasingly attractive threat vector for attackers. This bill will immediately plug a gap in our defenses and prevent similar attacks facing critical public services in the UK, such as the recent ransomware attack that hit London hospitals.
on putting regulatory authorities on a firm footing to ensure the implementation of basic cyber security measures. This would include potential cost recovery mechanisms that would provide resources to regulators and provide powers to proactively investigate potential vulnerabilities.
on mandating increased incident reporting so that the government provides better data on cyber attacks, including when a company has been held for ransom – this will improve our understanding of threats and alert us to potential attacks by expanding the type and nature of incidents that regulated entities must report.
Territorial scope and application
● The Bill will be extended to apply throughout the UK.
UPDATE 12:23 p.m
The first comment came to us from alternative network operator All Points Fibre.
Jarlath Finnegan, Group CEO of All Points Fiber Networks, said:
“The new government’s commitment to productivity and growth is welcome and connectivity should be at the heart of this plan. There are changes the government could make to planning and tenants’ rights that would make it easier for millions more people to build and install broadband. We hope they will take the opportunity to use fiber to accelerate the digital economy to fulfill the country’s potential.”