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Ofcom growth goals: letter from DSIT Secretary of State to Ofcom

Published 11 June 2026

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ofcom-growth-goals-letter-from-dsit-secretary-of-state-to-ofcom/ofcom-growth-goals-letter-from-dsit-secretary-of-state-to-ofcom

The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
22-26 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2EG

Dear Sir Ian,

Economic growth is a top priority for the government, and as we have set out in the Regulation Action Plan, regulation has a crucial role to play here. The government has set out priorities for enabling UK growth in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for telecoms, spectrum and post and in the Statement of Strategic Priorities for online safety.

The next step is to agree specific growth goals for 2026 to 2027, and I am grateful for Ofcom’s engagement with the development of the goals. Taken together, and alongside Ofcom’s existing spectrum licensing KPIs, these goals set out a clear trajectory for delivering tangible improvements for households, consumers and businesses across the UK. The goals and key milestones to be delivered in 2026/27 are expected as follows:

  1. AI innovation in telecoms: generate insight to support responsible innovation and adoption, including analysis of response to Ofcom’s January 2026 invitation in Q1-Q2 2026 and a publication in the second half of 2026 setting out findings and next steps, helping ensure AI is adopted in ways that improve services for consumers, while identifying any gaps in consumer protections.

  2. Fixed telecoms: promote competition, investment and modernisation in fixed networks and UK business connectivity, including regulatory decisions for the leased line market as part of the Telecoms Access Review and publication of the Hull Telecoms Access Review in October 2026. More widely, ensure the smooth transition to VoIP during the PSTN migration takes place safely and delivers a reliable service for all customers, including Openreach customers by January 2027, so that more of the UK benefits from faster, more reliable connectivity.

  3. Mobile: improve investment in UK mobile connectivity consistent with supporting the government to achieve its ambition for higher quality standalone 5G by 2030 for all populated areas, including a discussion paper in summer 2026; strengthening the data and evidence on UK mobile coverage and quality of service by Q3 2026/27; and publishing further plans to improve coverage accuracy (including use of crowdsourced and measured data) and to inform the government’s policy development and monitoring of improvements to road and rail coverage reporting, ensuring users will have access to clearer, more informative data on mobile network coverage.

  4. Spectrum: maximise spectrum access and sharing, including plans for evolving authorisation frameworks in Q3 2026 to 2027; decisions on expanding spectrum for satellite broadband (planes and ships) and innovative wireless broadband solutions for Wi-Fi by Q3 2026 to 2027; a decision on future use of the 2GHz MSS band by Q4 2026 to 2027; and work with the government on UK approach to the World Radiocommunications Conference 2027, in order to unlock innovation and growth across the UK economy.

  5. Broadcasting: progress media reforms that underpin creative sector growth, including building on the broadcast regulation review call for input in Q1 2026/27. This will identify what changes are needed to ensure that audiences are protected.

  6. Post: support a financially sustainable universal postal service, including monitoring Royal Mail’s implementation of Ofcom’s USO reform; and publishing Ofcom’s annual monitoring update in Q3 2026 to 2027.

I have set out the full details on the growth goals in the annex to this letter. I note that online safety was exempt from the growth duty before April 2026, and that due to ongoing discussions about future duties and priorities it was agreed that it was not the right moment to agree a growth goal related to online safety. I have asked my officials to revisit this with you in the autumn, and to work with Ofcom on potential growth goals across Ofcom’s remit and in line with the priorities set out in the SSPs, in advance of the development of Ofcom’s draft Plan of Work for 2027 to 2028.

I am copying this letter to the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, and to Dame Melanie Dawes.

Yours sincerely,

The Rt Hon Liz Kendall MP
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology

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