The United Kingdom (UK) has joined the Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), along with Australia, Canada, Japan and the United States.
The coalition's goal is to ensure that communication networks across countries are resilient and adaptable in the face of challenges such as cyberattacks or supply chain disruptions.
The aim of the GCOT is to encourage greater cooperation among countries on issues such as telecommunications technology research and development, information sharing and funding alignment.
The coalition's partners stated in a joint statement that the group's focus topics will include telecommunications supply chain diversification, 6G and future telecommunications, telecommunications security and resilience, telecommunications skills and coordinated approaches to telecommunications standards development.
“Telecommunications networks are the lifeline of global economies, and safeguarding their resilience and security in an evolving, interconnected world is a top priority for our governments,” said the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Michelle Donelan. “By joining forces, the UK and our partners are well-positioned to take the lead in broadening supply chains, nurturing industry knowledge and bolstering security to address emerging challenges.”
The UK government also announced a £70 million (over $85 million) initial investment in telecommunications technology through the Future Telecoms Technology Missions Fund (TMF) Program. This program is one of the Five Priority Technologies of the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology.
“This £70 million investment will, via the Future Telecoms UKRI TMF Programme, form part of the UK’s contribution to international cooperation in this field and provide tangible benefits to the population and economy,” explained the Executive Director, Cross-Council Programmes at UKRI, Dr. Kedar Pandya.
