The UK could risk falling behind other countries in the global artificial intelligence race if it does not speed up improvements to its mobile and telecom networks.
Senior telecom industry executives have warned that the growing use of AI will place much greater pressure on internet infrastructure. While much of the AI discussion has focused on powerful data centers, chips and electricity supplies, mobile networks and broadband connections will also play an important role.
As AI becomes part of smartphones, computers, business software and connected devices, huge amounts of data will need to move between users, cloud platforms and data centers. Networks that already struggle with speed or capacity could face even greater problems as AI usage grows.
The UK has made progress in improving fixed broadband through the expansion of full-fibre connections. However, upgrades to mobile networks, particularly advanced 5G infrastructure, are moving more slowly.
Recent network performance analysis placed the UK 57th globally overall, while its position for mobile download speeds was even lower. The country was also reported to perform worse for mobile coverage than EU countries and other G7 members.
Telecom executives believe this could become a bigger problem as AI-powered services become more common. Activities that require strong and reliable connections, including video communication, cloud computing, streaming services and AI applications, could compete for increasing amounts of network capacity.
One concern is that problems currently seen mainly in crowded areas could become more common. Mobile networks can sometimes struggle when thousands of people use their phones at the same time at concerts, sports events or other busy locations. Industry leaders warn that growing AI traffic could create similar pressure more regularly if network capacity is not expanded.
Major UK operators are already investing in newer 5G technology. VodafoneThree, for example, has committed £11 billion toward upgrading its network infrastructure. However, telecom companies say investment alone may not be enough because planning rules can slow down upgrades to existing mobile sites.
Around 96% of the upgrades planned by VodafoneThree involve existing sites rather than completely new locations. More than half of those upgrades may still require some form of planning permission, creating additional delays before new equipment can be installed.
The industry is therefore calling for changes that would make it easier and faster to upgrade telecom infrastructure. Operators also want mobile networks to receive stronger policy support because they are considered critical national infrastructure alongside areas such as energy systems and data centers.
The warning shows how the AI race is expanding beyond powerful processors and large data centers. Countries may also need fast, reliable and widely available communication networks to make advanced AI services practical for millions of people and businesses.
For the UK, faster 5G deployment could become increasingly important for attracting technology investment, supporting AI companies and helping businesses adopt new digital tools.
If infrastructure improvements continue moving slowly while competing countries expand their networks more quickly, the UK could find it harder to fully benefit from the next generation of AI-powered services.
With AI expected to become deeply integrated into everyday devices over the coming years, telecom infrastructure may become an important part of national technology competitiveness. The UK now faces pressure to make sure its mobile networks can keep up with that change.
