Ofcom has published its proposed plan of work for the financial year 2025–2026, setting out its key priorities and approach. As part of this process, Ofcom has conducted a consultation to gather industry feedback on its proposed workplan.
techUK welcomes the publication of the plan, which provides valuable transparency on Ofcom’s priorities. The coming year will be pivotal, particularly with the continued implementation of the Online Safety Act. Strong collaboration between Ofcom and industry will be essential to ensuring effective and proportionate regulation that supports innovation while protecting users.
Key areas of focus
Ofcom has outlined four priority areas for the year ahead, detailing scheduled work under each category. techUK has summarised these priorities as follows:
Connectivity (Reliable internet and post services)
This priority focuses on ensuring resilient networks, competitive markets, fair consumer treatment, and an affordable postal service. Key areas of Ofcom’s work include:
The Telecoms Access Review and Wholesale Voice Markets Review
Telecoms and digital infrastructure security
Postal Universal Service Obligation (USO) review
Media Trust (Ensuring trusted and diverse content)
Ofcom aims to safeguard access to impartial news, fair competition, audience protection, and free expression. Key areas of work include:
Media Act implementation
Public service media (PSM) review
BBC periodic review
Strengthening protections against harmful content
Online Safety (Creating a safer digital environment)
With the Online Safety Act taking full effect, Ofcom’s focus is on establishing a robust regulatory framework that balances safety, transparency, and user choice. Key areas of work include:
Implementing and enforcing the online safety regime
Tackling illegal harms and protecting children online
Strengthening partnerships to enhance online safety
Spectrum (Maximising wireless innovation)
This priority ensures efficient spectrum use to support connectivity, minimise interference, and represent UK interests globally. Key areas of Ofcom’s work include:
International engagement on spectrum management
Enabling innovation through timely spectrum availability and greater sharing
Driving efficiencies through advanced spectrum management
Online Safety Approach
The area of particular importance to the technology sector will be Online Safety and how the Act is implemented. Ofcom have laid out their plan supporting Online Safety, as summarised below:
Enforcing protections against illegal harms and child safety – Ofcom will begin enforcing the Illegal Content and Protection of Children Codes of Practice once approved by Parliament, with further consultations on user protections starting in spring 2025. Best practice guidance on protecting women and girls will also be finalised.
Ensuring compliance – Ofcom is working with high-risk services to assess and strengthen their safety measures. Ofcom will launch broader compliance programmes to address sector-wide risks, while support will be provided to help all services meet their new obligations.
Duties on categorised services – Following the publication of the register of categorised services in summer 2025, Ofcom will start issuing draft and final transparency notices. The first mandated transparency reports are expected by the end of 2025, with further Codes of Practice and guidance set for early 2026.
Building regulatory infrastructure – Ofcom is enhancing its technological and data capabilities for effective oversight. Industry fees will fund regulation, with invoicing expected to begin in the 2026/27 financial year.
Collaborating with partners – Ofcom continues working with UK and international regulators, aligning regulatory approaches to aid compliance. It is also developing a super-complaints process to highlight systemic safety issues across platforms.
techUK Reaction
Ensuring high-quality, secure connectivity is critical for the UK’s digital economy. We support Ofcom’s efforts to promote competition, expand rural coverage, and advance technologies like 5G and 6G. Ongoing regulatory clarity—particularly around spectrum access, network security, and investment incentives—will be vital in maintaining the UK’s leadership in digital infrastructure.
Implementing the Online Safety Act will be a major focus for 2025–26. We welcome Ofcom’s clear regulatory timelines, which provide much-needed clarity for industry. To ensure effective collaboration, we encourage Ofcom to maintain openness and transparency throughout the enforcement process. In areas such as fees, penalties, and compliance monitoring, independent experts and external auditors could play a role in maintaining industry confidence.
Greater transparency in decision-making would benefit both regulators and industry. Our members would welcome the publication of more of the evidence Ofcom has used in reaching its decisions. This would help businesses better understand regulatory reasoning, improving industry engagement and fostering more informed discussions.
Tackling online fraud and improving digital inclusion remain key priorities. As highlighted in the UK Tech Plan, closing the digital skills gap—through measures such as reforming the apprenticeship levy—could unlock up to £5.69 billion in wage increases for UK workers. We encourage Ofcom to continue fostering collaboration across government and industry to address these challenges.
Stable and proportionate regulation supports long-term investment, innovation, and growth in the UK tech sector. We look forward to further clarity on how Ofcom will apply its new growth duty across its workstreams to ensure a regulatory environment that enables the sector to thrive.
techUK remains committed to working closely with Ofcom to ensure a competitive, secure, and forward-looking digital economy.
We have submitted a detailed consultation response directly to Ofcom.
Contact the team:
Oliver Alderson
Junior Policy Manager, techUK
Oliver Alderson
Junior Policy Manager, techUK
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
Samiah Anderson is the Head of Digital Regulation at techUK.
With over six years of Government Affairs expertise, Samiah has built a solid reputation as a tech policy specialist, engaging regularly with UK Government Ministers, senior civil servants and UK Parliamentarians.
Before joining techUK, Samiah led several public affairs functions for international tech firms and coalitions at Burson Global (formerly Hill & Knowlton), delivering CEO-level strategic counsel on political, legislative, and regulatory issues in the UK, EU, US, China, India, and Japan. She is adept at mobilising multinational companies and industry associations, focusing on cross-cutting digital regulatory issues such as competition, artificial intelligence, and more.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of London, where she founded the New School Economics Society, the Goldsmiths University chapter of Rethinking Economics.
techUK's Policy and Public Affairs Programme activities
techUK helps our members understand, engage and influence the development of digital and tech policy in the UK and beyond. We support our members to understand some of the most complex and thorny policy questions that confront our sector. Visit the programme page here.
Tech Policy Conference 10 March
techUK's annual flagship Policy Conference to bring together senior policymakers from across Westminster, Whitehall and beyond with our membership to discuss the biggest challenges facing the sector and the most pressing topics for the industry.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Antony Walker is deputy CEO of techUK, which he played a lead role in launching in November 2013.
Antony is a member of the senior leadership team and has overall responsibility for techUK’s policy work. Prior to his appointment in July 2012 Antony was chief executive of the Broadband Stakeholder Group (BSG), the UK’s independent advisory group on broadband policy. Antony was closely involved in the development of broadband policy development in the UK since the BSG was established in 2001 and authored several major reports to government. He also led the development of the UK’s world leading Open Internet Code of Practice that addresses the issue of net neutrality in the UK. Prior to setting up the BSG, Antony spent six years working in Brussels for the American Chamber of Commerce following and writing about telecoms issues and as a consultant working on EU social affairs and environmental issues. Antony is a graduate of Aberdeen University and KU Leuven and is also a Policy Fellow Alumni of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University.
As Head of Public Affairs, Alice supports techUK’s strategic engagement with Westminster, Whitehall and beyond. She regularly works to engage with ministers, members of the UK’s parliaments and senior civil servants on techUK’s work advocating for the role of technology in the UK’s economy as well as wider society.
Alice joined techUK in 2022. She has experience working at both a political monitoring company, leading on the tech, media and telecoms portfolio there, and also as an account manager in a Westminster-based public affairs agency. She has a degree from the University of Sheffield in Politics and Philosophy.
Edward leads the Digital Economy programme at techUK, which includes our work on online safety, fraud, and regulation for growth initiatives.
He has prior experience working for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and has previously worked for a number of public affairs consultancies specialising in research and strategy, working with leading clients in the technology and financial services sectors.
Samiah Anderson is the Head of Digital Regulation at techUK.
With over six years of Government Affairs expertise, Samiah has built a solid reputation as a tech policy specialist, engaging regularly with UK Government Ministers, senior civil servants and UK Parliamentarians.
Before joining techUK, Samiah led several public affairs functions for international tech firms and coalitions at Burson Global (formerly Hill & Knowlton), delivering CEO-level strategic counsel on political, legislative, and regulatory issues in the UK, EU, US, China, India, and Japan. She is adept at mobilising multinational companies and industry associations, focusing on cross-cutting digital regulatory issues such as competition, artificial intelligence, and more.
She holds a BA (Hons) in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from the University of London, where she founded the New School Economics Society, the Goldsmiths University chapter of Rethinking Economics.
Audre joined techUK in July 2023 as a Policy Manager for Data. Previously, she was a Policy Advisor in the Civil Service, where she worked on the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and at HM Treasury on designing COVID-19 support schemes and delivering the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Before that, Audre worked at a public relations consultancy, advising public and private sector clients on their communications, public relations, and government affairs strategy.
Prior to this, Audre completed an MSc in Public Policy at the Korea Development Institute and a Bachelor's in International Relations and History from SOAS, University of London. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, learning about new cultures through travel and food, and going on adventures.
Mia focuses on shaping a policy environment that fosters the expansion of the UK tech sector while maximising the transformative potential of technology across all industries.
Prior to joining techUK, Mia worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) within the Policy Unit.
Mia holds an MSc in International Development from the University of Manchester and a BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations from the University of Nottingham.
Archie Breare joined techUK in September 2022 as the Telecoms Programme intern, and moved into the Policy and Public Affairs team as the Team Assistant in February 2023 and as Public Affairs Manager in September 2023
Before starting at techUK, Archie was a student at the University of Cambridge, completing an undergraduate degree in History and a master's degree in Modern British History.
In his spare time, he likes to read, discuss current affairs, and to try and persuade himself to cycle more.
Oliver is the team assistant for the Policy and Public Affairs teams, joining techUK in November of 2023. He assists the teams admistrative support, communication, and event production.
Prior to working at techUK, Oliver studied at Swansea and Bristol universities, attaining a masters in Policy Research. During this time he competed in debating competitions around the country where he discussed and deliberated various policy issues. Between his studies Oliver acted as a student assistant in mental health research for the SMaRteN student network.
