Committees

Send us your views on the UK's 5G infrastructure

15 July 2019

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy launches inquiry into access to 'safe' technology.

Purpose of the inquiry

The recent debate over the UK's 5G telecommunications infrastructure and the role of international equipment suppliers has demonstrated the challenges of securing national infrastructure in an age of global supply chains.

The 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review emphasises the importance of “seizing opportunities, harnessing innovation … and working with industry to ensure we have the capabilities and equipment that we need”, under its ‘Promote our Prosperity' objective.

The 2015 Strategy also identifies the “role of technology” as one of four principal challenges likely to drive UK security priorities over the following decade.  

Building on our previous work on the cyber security of critical national infrastructure and the Government's 2018 White Paper on National Security and Investment, the Committee is holding an inquiry into the Government's approach to sustaining access to ‘safe' telecoms technology as a national security issue.

The inquiry will focus on 5G and the wider telecoms sector as an important test case.

Send us your views

The Committee welcomes written submissions on this subject.

The Committee is particularly interested in receiving submissions which address:

  • The challenges for the UK telecoms industry in a global market;
  • The opportunities and risks involved in purchasing equipment and services for the UK telecoms sector from foreign suppliers;
  • The effectiveness of the Government's past and current support to the UK telecoms industry and innovation within the sector;
  • Areas of strength and innovation in the UK telecoms industry;
  • The scope and implementation of key documents including, but not limited to, the 2015 National Security Strategy and the 2017 Industrial Strategy;
  • The potential role of regulation and legislation including, but not limited to, the 2018 White Paper on National Security and Investment;
  • The roles and responsibilities of the National Security Council and relevant Government departments and agencies;
  • The extent to which policy-making in this area draws on cross-government science, technology and cyber security expertise;
  • How the UK's approach compares with that of allies and partners such as France, Germany, the US, Canada and Australia;
  • The potential for international cooperation with like-minded countries and multinational organisations in sustaining key industrial sectors, such as telecoms.

Deadline for submissions

Written submissions should be submitted to the Committee using the written submission form.

Further information

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