Telecommunications: Codes of Practice
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to her Department's consultation response entitled Proposals to update the Telecommunications Security Code of Practice 2022: government response, published on 1 June, what estimate she has made of the additional cost to telecommunications providers of implementing the revised Code of Practice; and what assessment she has made of the potential impact of those costs on consumer bills.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The Telecommunications Security Code of Practice provides technical guidance for public telecoms providers on how they can comply with their security requirements as set out in the Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 and the Electronic Communications (Security Measures) Regulations 2022.
The government is committed to continuously evaluating the effectiveness of the UK’s telecoms security framework, and the Draft Revised Code of Practice strengthens security guidance to public telecoms providers to reflect evolving technology and emerging security threats.
The Draft Revised Code of Practice was laid in Parliament and published on GOV.UK on 3 June, alongside an explanatory memorandum setting out the departments estimates of costs to industry. Indicative estimates suggest potential one-off implementation costs in the order of £1.9 million to £3.2 million per provider, with ongoing annual costs of approximately £285,000 to £445,000 per provider. When considered in the context of the scale and revenues of the UK telecommunications sector, these costs are minor.
The Government has not made a specific assessment of the impact of these costs on consumer bills. Decisions on pricing are a commercial matter for providers and will depend on a range of factors, including competition and wider cost pressures. The latest Ofcom report indicates that the UK telecoms market is competitive and delivers value for consumers, with prices that have fallen in real terms and which are internationally competitive (Pricing and Consumer Engagement 2026). Ofcom’s regulatory framework supports fair and transparent pricing and protects consumers.
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