ISPA Policy Updates
Online safety and consumer protection in focus
Following soon after the Telecoms Consumer Charter, which ISPA signed during the roundtable with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Ofcom published the latest edition of the pricing and consumer engagement report, which outlines that, although it is too early to tell the impacts of new pricing display rules Ofcom is “confident that the market is delivering good outcomes for consumers”.
Online safety continues to be at the front of public debates and legislation. DSIT has launched a consultation on further measures to protect children online, which, building on the Online Safety Act 2023, considers measures including setting a minimum age for children to access social media, restricting certain functionalities and design features, whether the digital age of consent should be raised, how age verification and age assurance technologies can support effective implementation, whether the guidance on the use of mobile phones in schools should be put on a statutory footing and simpler parental controls.
The Government is also taking additional steps to tackle intimate image abuse. Through an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently in the report stage in the House of Lords, tech companies will soon be legally required to take down non-consensual intimate images (NCII) within 48 hours to protect women and girls from distressing abuse. New amendments have been proposed to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill which would require ISPs to restrict access by children to certain internet services. In parallel, the Liberal Democrats have proposed the Online Services (Age Restrictions) Bill in the House of Commons, which aims to introduce a film‑style age‑rating system for user‑to‑user services. These measures build on efforts to make ‘nudification’ tools illegal and bring chatbots – like Grok – within scope of the Online Safety Act. They also follow recent fines issued by Ofcom, including the largest one to date, ordering pornography site operator 8579 LLC to pay £1.35 million for failing to implement robust age checks to protect children.
Work by ISPA, members and other associations to raise awareness of challenges in higher‑risk buildings has led the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to publish a consultation on proposals to introduce targeted regulatory dispensations for telecoms work in the higher‑risk building (HRB) control regime and the wider building control system. The proposals are broadly positive for the industry, recognising the need to reduce unnecessary procedural burdens for telecoms work.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill has now completed all Committee sittings and is in the report stage, where MPs will suggest and vote on further amendments before the third reading and its passage to the House of Lords. Debates have shown alignment from Conservative MPs with several points raised by ISPA in its written response to the Committee, including concerns about the heavy regulatory burdens placed on industries by the Bill, a lack of clarity over its scope, and the need for a single reporting unit.
Finally, this month the Government also published the Mobile Market Review (MMR) with important proposals in relation to net neutrality.
ISPA Policy
ISPA represented its members at a roundtable with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on 20th January where the Consumer Charter was signed. Following on from that discussion, ISPA sent the Chancellor a position statement outlining how the current regulatory framework is impacting the industry and recommendations for how regulations can be streamlined and better support innovation and growth. DSIT is keen for additional providers to sign up beyond the initial signatories - if you are interested in finding out more to see if this is right for your company, please reach out to policy@ispa.org.uk
Infrastructure continues to be a priority focus for members. ISPA has been working with the HRB Working Group and fire safety consultants to coordinate the industry’s position on the proposals of the consultatio. ISPA is also engaging with DSIT and the MHCLG to discuss our proposals, and will be submitting a position statement outlining ISPA’s longer-term strategy alongside the consultation response, which will be centred in establishing a future Competent Person Scheme and pushing for targeted dispensations in the interim period. ISPA also coordinated a response with the MDU Access Working Group to DSIT’s consultation on legislative proposals to address broadband rollout in leasehold flats. ISPA has also held a briefing with members and DSIT ahead of the submission to ask any relevant questions.
In February, ISPA also coordinated and submitted its response to the consultation published by the Treasury on proposed changes to the Business Rates regime which could impact how members plan investment, especially when it comes to rollout.
Looking ahead, in addition to the HRB consultation, ISPA will also be coordinating and submiting a response to DSIT’s consultation on further measures to protect children online. On the issue of online safety, ISPA has also produced and shared with Ofcom a position statement on ISP perspective on Business Disruption Measures under the Online Safety Act outlining the concerns and recommendations of ISPA with relation to BDMs, including Access Restriction orders.
Having submitted a response to the Committee on the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, ISPA will continue to monitor the Bill as it passes through the final stages in the House of Commons and then on to the House of Lords, coordinating next steps with interested members.
ISPA Partners
It is with great pleasure that Icotera announce our recent partnership with ISPA, building on our significant growth in the UK market. Icotera are a leading European developer and manufacturer of FTTH CPE solutions, empowering ISPs to deliver outstanding end-user experiences through high-performance Wi-Fi and fibre termination products. Headquartered in Copenhagen, with R&D and support across Europe, we combine efficient supply, reliable innovation, and Scandinavian design tailored to European ISPs.
We would be delighted to welcome all ISPA members to our joint webinar with Qualcomm on Thu 12 Mar 13:00 to learn more about selecting the right Wi-Fi router for UK ISPs - Register today
AI is already part of everyday life at home, often without us noticing. For Safer Internet Day 2026, Genexis explores how households can make smart, safe choices with AI-powered technology. From Wi‑Fi and smart devices to privacy, this blog shares a practical checklist and highlights why transparency, secure-by-default design, and simple controls matter. When AI fades into the background, safety and trust shouldn’t. Discover how connected homes can stay both smart and secure.
At MWC26 Barcelona Michael Weening, President and CEO of Calix, shares insight on the company’s progress and the benefits it brings to service providers. Watch it now here.
Three months post-launch, PLEIO is pulling back the curtain with its first data-driven insights report. As the first fully-IP Freely-enabled streaming puck, we are merging internal usage analytics and user surveys with the latest Ofcom benchmarks to capture a definitive snapshot of the UK’s shifting home entertainment habits.
For ISPs, this is essential reading. We are diving into:
Connectivity: Which broadband providers power PLEIO homes?
Behaviour: Daily engagement and "must-have" add-ons.
Gaming: The impact of our Cloud Gaming ecosystem.
The full report drops within the next week. Email aziz.laiour@netgem.com or amelia.guttridge@netgem.com for an exclusive preview.
Future-Proof Your Smart Home Offerings with Matter
Matter is enhancing the smart home experience and ISPs can lead the way. Aginet by TP-Link helps service providers simplify device connectivity, enhance security, and deliver a seamless smart home experience to customers.
Unlock new opportunities, reduce complexity, and stay future proof in the fast evolving connected home market.
Learn more and explore our Matter-ready solutions: https://www.tp-link.com/uk/technology/matter/
Enterprise AI is entering a new era. Organisations, including service providers, are moving beyond one-size-fits-all platforms from Microsoft and Google, shifting instead to purpose-built AI trained on proprietary data and embedded directly into their core systems. This transition from bolt-on tools to integrated, fit-for-purpose intelligence signals a smarter, more strategic approach to AI adoption.
Discover why this shift matters—and what it means for your organization—by reading the full article here.
ISPA Events
ISP Summit 2026 – Customers, Consolidation and Competition: The Next Chapter for UK Connectivity
The UK connectivity market is entering a new phase. As the focus shifts from fibre rollout to take-up, consolidation and sustainable returns, the challenge for the industry is clear: how do we articulate the true value of connectivity to investors, policymakers and customers?
At this year’s ISP Summit, we’ll bring together 200+ senior leaders from across the internet ecosystem to tackle exactly that. Through keynotes, panel sessions and three dedicated workstreams, we’ll explore:
▪ Building investor confidence in a tighter funding environment
▪ Moving from coverage to commercial performance
▪ Turning network capability into customer value
▪ Differentiation in a commoditising broadband market
▪ Unlocking MDUs and high-rise connectivity challenges
Join us for a day of insight, debate and high-level networking as we define the next chapter for the sector.
The post-summit drinks reception will be kindly hosted by ISPA Partner Xantaro at their nearby offices.
Register now for the longest-running and most prestigious awards in the UK internet industry. Register here.
With the UK’s digital infrastructure evolving faster than ever, the 2026 ISPA Awards feature 16 revamped categories designed to reflect the diversity of the sector, from the massive infrastructure projects bridging the digital divide to the hyper-local community projects making a world of difference. Check all this year’s categories and find written entry forms here
There are also many opportunities to raise your company’s profile by sponsoring the event. Find the sponsorship pack here.
ISPA Roundtable: Rethinking Value in a Consolidating Market
Last week, ISPA and our valued partner, Actifai, hosted a critical and in-depth discussion on ‘Rethinking Value in a Consolidating Market: Strategies to Strengthen Propositions for Acquisition or Further Investment’ at ISPA offices.
Leaders from across the sector came together to talk about maximising value and ensure the best returns as the market continues to consolidate.
Key takeaways from the meeting:
Customer & Retention is Key: Prioritise customer acquisition and retention over the next two years to successfully navigate market instability.
Smart Build Strategy: Adopt a demand-driven approach, focusing on high-demand clusters for optimal cash flow and efficient rollout.
Operational Efficiency & Stronger Sales: Embrace Automation and AI to reduce Operational Expenditure (OpEx), improve customer contact, and leverage data to provide more tailored packages.
Government Lobbying: The sector must continue to advocate for consistency in construction regulations and raise public awareness of the copper network switch-off.
Hard-to-Reach: Collaborate on a balanced, mixed-economy solution for remote properties, including satellite and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
ISPA Members
Olilo joins ISPA membership
Olilo is broadband and mobile provider built by network engineers for people who care about how the internet actually works. We focus on transparency, fair pricing, modern IPv6 first networks, and excellent performance, delivering simple services without contracts, hidden charges, or industry nonsense that customers can genuinely trust.
Partner Events
Join London’s new connectivity event at Tobacco Dock on Tuesday 10th March 2026. The all-new Channel Live presents 45+ expert speakers, Exhibitors including Giacom, BT Wholesale, PXC, Dialpad and Arrow, Roundtables, one-to-one meeting App, stay the Channel Live Casino After Party!
Register now for business boosting advice and networking here.
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
Don’t miss CCUK’s Fraud Summit on 15th April at One Birdcage Walk, ISPA Members get special discounted tickets. Find the event’s agenda and secure your ticket here.
Partners of ISPA
ISPA is delighted to welcome our newest partner, AVM GmbH.
AVM is a leading CPE manufacturer which offers an extensive selection of products for high-speed broadband connectivity and smart home networking. Designed and manufactured in Europe at the HQ in Berlin, Germany. AVM and FRITZ! is a leading brand within Germany, wider Europe and the UK helping ISP's stand out from the crowd by maximising customer satisfaction and reducing overall operating costs.
It's FRITZ! product suite covers everything from: DSL, Cable, LTE (4G), 5G and Fibre. This coupled with the FRITZ!OS and Smart Home products, based on wireless LAN, DECT and powerline standards, FRITZ! products are intuitive and easy to use. Regular free updates provide new functions for greater convenience and increased security, ensures an intelligent and secure home network.
Learn more about AVM and their offering - visit their website HERE
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.