PSTI Act: Section 65 Implementation

At the Mobile Infrastructure Forum (MIF), we welcome confirmation that Section 65 of the Product Security and Telecommunications Infrastructure (PSTI) Act 2022 will be implemented on 30 July. Moving the small number of outstanding telecommunications disputes from the County Court to specialist tribunals is a welcome step to optimise the process. It injects clarity, predictability, and speed into the process, while easing the burden on an already overstretched County Court system. This step brings us closer to a streamlined legal framework capable of supporting rapid, sustained investment in the shared physical mobile infrastructure that keeps the UK's businesses and communities running.

However, there is still work to do to fully unblock the UK's digital pipeline. To build and maintain world-class mobile networks, we need planning policy — specifically the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) — to catch up with modern mobile network requirements. A reliable mobile signal is no longer a luxury; it is an essential service, and regulatory measures should reflect its central role in everyday life.

Our participants are ready to invest in building a stronger digital foundation. We look forward to working alongside Ofcom and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) to shape policy that clears the path for rollout, helping to unlock up to £230bn in economic growth across the country.