Mobile operators warn of signal rationing as energy costs spiral

""Among the measures being modelled behind closed doors are the throttling of data speeds, restricting access during periods of high demand, and charging customers a premium at peak times, a move that would mark a significant departure from the all-you-can-eat tariffs that have dominated the British mobile market for more than a decade.""

""Frustration is running deep in the industry following Rachel Reeves's announcement last week that 10,000 manufacturers would see their electricity bills cut by up to 25 per cent under BICS. Although the measures are not due to take effect until April 2027, telecoms bosses argue that their sector, classed as critical national infrastructure, has an equally compelling case for state intervention.""

""It's a serious oversight. It raises real questions about which parts of the economy this Government actually considers strategically important.""

""The sums involved are far from trivial. Britain's mobile networks consume just under one terawatt-hour of electricity annually, enough to power 370,000 homes.""

Britain's major mobile network operators are preparing to ration phone signal access and implement surge pricing due to soaring energy costs linked to the war in Iran. They have been excluded from the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, prompting plans to throttle data speeds and restrict access during peak times. This could disrupt the all-you-can-eat tariff model. The industry warns that ongoing cost pressures may delay 5G rollout and lead to job losses. The mobile sector argues for state intervention, citing its critical infrastructure status.

Read at Business Matters