ISPA Policy Updates
April fools, just policy news
March was a quieter month, as policy activity slowed during recess and the holidays. Ofcom has issued its final statement on the Telecoms Access Review (TAR) 2026–31, setting the regulatory framework for the UK’s fixed telecoms markets from April 2026 to March 2031. In line with the strategy set out in 2021, the regulator aims to continue promoting investment through network competition where viable, while ensuring consumer protection as the market transitions from copper to fibre. The statement highlights that, since 2021, full-fibre coverage has surged from 24% to 78%, with gigabit-capable networks now reaching 87% of premises. Competitive choice has also increased significantly, with 75% of premises now able to access at least two competing networks.
Also, the Government launched its long-awaited consultation on measures to protect children online. Its scope is wide-reaching, covering age verification for social media and AI chat bots, with further references to curfews and a potential expansion of in-scope services to include games platforms.
Moreover, in other online safety news, the government further increased political and regulatory pressure on platforms to address online violence against women and girls (VAWG) this week, with Tech Secretary Liz Kendall warning major platforms at a roundtable that they must go “above and beyond” or face further action from government. This intervention follows recent steps to designate non-consensual intimate image (NCII) abuse, cyberflashing which in turn creates stronger proactive duties to prevent such content before it reaches users.
The government has moved to replace previous Lords’ proposed amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which would have banned social media for under-16s and prohibited access to VPNs for under-18s. The passed "amendments in lieu" instead grant the Secretary of State permissive powers to act via regulation to allow for future restrictions or bans on social media and chatbots for certain age groups, as well as place limits on addictive functionalities, and age-restrictions on VPN use, subject to the results of the ongoing children’s digital wellbeing consultation.
ISPA Policy
The government has published a supplementary memorandum setting out new powers in the Crime and Policing Bill to crack down on the spread of non-consensual intimate images (NCII), which was introduced in the House of Commons on 25 February 2025. These measures significantly strengthen the Online Safety Act 2023. A new clause, “Taking down intimate image content”, places a duty on service providers to remove reported intimate image content within 48 hours of receiving a valid report. The clause also introduces a duty on search services to ensure that individuals can no longer encounter the reported content in search results within the same 48-hour timeframe.
ISPA continues to work closely with government on online safety, including working with DSIT and the Home Office on draft guidance to on the removalof non consensual intimate imagary (NCII) following an initial positioning paper being agreed to with members, which calls , calls for a clear statutory basis for removal. We are planning a post Easter member workshop on blocking and filtering, including encrypted DNS, and are in discussion with South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation on a coordinated approach to engagement. ISPA is also engaging DSIT on the ongoing amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill to enable restrictions on children’s access to social media, with the intervention expected to focus mainly on platforms rather than internet service providers, and will respond to the Growing Up in the Online World consultation.
Infrastructure and access remain central policy priorities. ISPA has responded to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation on improving proportionality and safety outcomes in building control for telecommunications work, supporting proposed dispensations for higher risk and non higher risk buildings while urging government to go further. We are calling for dispensations to cover safe penetrations through external walls, to avoid time limits and to remove completion notification requirements for customer installations. Our immediate focus is securing implementation of dispensations while exploring a future Competent Person Scheme with government and the Building Safety Regulator. Alongside this, ISPA is preparing its response to Ofcom’s Mobile Market Review, maintaining that net neutrality rules should not be further restricted or used as a pretext to require providers to block NCII.
On wider regulation, ISPA is monitoring the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill as it moves through its remaining Commons stages and into the Lords, having highlighted duplication risks and the need for streamlined reporting. Following confirmation of the new Telecoms Consumer Charter at a roundtable with the Chancellor and the Secretary of State, ISPA is collating updates from signatories and reflecting member concerns about regulation through the back door.
As always, please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions!
ISPA Partners
AI at the Core of Smarter ISP Networks
AI is embedded across Aginet solutions, helping ISPs optimise networks and improve customer experience. Through TAUC, machine learning analyses real-time data to deliver clear insights that speed up issue resolution and improve first-call fix rates.
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Customers don’t experience security at the network edge — they experience it at home. When something goes wrong, they call their service provider.
As fiber moves deeper into the home, gateways and routers are no longer just hardware. They’re becoming strategic extensions of the network — and of digital trust.
This is the first blog in our three‑part security series, exploring why the last meter of fiber is not only technical, but strategic.
We’re revolutionizing how you serve your customers. Replacing old, gated OSS/BSS with the first AI-driven system of action.
Your network’s job description keeps growing. Your team’s doesn’t.
Battery mandates. Content filtering. Age verification. Lawful intercept. Each one individually reasonable. Together, they’re quietly stealing the one thing your team can’t get back: attention.
ISPs who are absorbing every new mandate without cracking aren’t the biggest. They just built their infrastructure differently. Find out how.
ISP Summit 2026 – Customers, Consolidation and Competition: The Next Chapter for UK Connectivity
The day will start with refreshments at 9am and opening remarks will commence at 9.30am, followed by panel session on M&A, ISPA partners sessions and Ofcom TAR session. After lunch you can expect more sessions from our partners and panel on Net Neutrality/ IPTV and Gig economy. The post-summit drinks reception will be kindly hosted by ISPA Partner Xantaro at their nearby offices. Register here.
Registration deadline for this year’s ISPA Awards is 17th April!
The UK’s digital landscape is moving at breakneck speed, and it’s time to recognise the people and projects leading the charge. Participate in the longest-running and most prestigious event in the UK internet industry.
The winners will be crowned at our annual gala ceremony at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel on Piccadilly. Join over 300 industry leaders for an evening of networking, celebration, and high-level recognition in the heart of London.
Early Bird tickets are on sale now. Don't miss the chance to secure your spot at the industry's biggest night out.
Partner Announcement
GoCardless is a global bank payment company. Over 100,000 businesses, from start-ups to household names, use GoCardless to collect and send payments through Direct Debit, real-time payments and open banking. GoCardless processes US$130bn+ of payments annually, across 30+ countries; helping customers collect and send both recurring and one-off payments, without the chasing, stress or expensive fees.
With the industry now moving beyond network build into a phase where commercial performance, customer lifetime value and operational efficiency are the key focuses, GoCardless is uniquely positioned to address these challenges. Payment experience, flexibility, and reliability play a direct role in reducing churn, enhancing margins and contributing to customer satisfaction as well as brand perception.
We look forward to working with GoCardless in 2026!
Partner Events
With the recent launch of the Home Office Fraud Strategy and the new Online Crime Centre, the landscape of security is shifting rapidly. To ensure your organisation is ahead of these regulatory changes, we invite you to our sister organisation's CCUK Fraud Summit on 15th April for an in-depth sessions on the latest sector developments. We are also happy to offer ISPA members discounted tickets for just £30 (+fees), simply select ISPA tickets when making the purchase.
FTTH Conference
We are partnering with FTTH Conference 2026, Europe’s leading fibre summit. Taking place in ExCeL London on 15th and 16th April, we are happy to offer ISPA members a 20% discount on tickets. Book yours here and use the code FT26P-ISPA
Become an ISPA Partner
ISPA Partnership offers organisations the opportunity to connect, develop relationships and grow their visibility with our 150+ ISP member community.
The packages run over a 12 month period and include 4 in-person events (including our prestigious ISPA Awards), online thought leadership, marketing opportunities and various other deliverables that ensures your organisation grows its connections in the UK ISP sector.
Find out what the opportunities are here.
To enquire about an ISPA partnership, please message our Head of Partnerships at krystian@ispa.org.uk.
