Broadband policy context in Northern Ireland
Topics:
The telecommunications market in Northern Ireland, as in the rest of the UK, is fully privatised and independently regulated on a national basis by the Office of Communications (Ofcom).
Policy context
Telecommunications is a reserved matter meaning that it has not been devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive but is controlled centrally by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology in London.
Under the Communications Act 2003, the Department for the Economy has been given limited powers to intervene where there is evidence of market failure but this has to be undertaken with caution in order to avoid distortion of the market and comply with European regulations.
DfE exercises these functions in the context of a number of strategies including:
- Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review
- Draft NI Industrial Strategy - Economy 2030
- The National Infrastructure Assessment
- UK Digital Strategy 2017 - GOV.UK
Related link
- Office of Communications (Ofcom)
- Ofcom Connected Nations and Infrastructure Reports - (Reports on the UK’s communications infrastructure, focusing on coverage and performance of fixed broadband and mobile networks)