Powering London's growth by tackling the connectivity challenge

The final event in BusinessLDN’s Labour Party Conference programme turned the spotlight on one of the least visible, but most important, foundations of London’s economy: connectivity. Bringing together business leaders, policymakers and industry experts in Liverpool, the afternoon roundtable explored what is holding back the rollout of telecoms infrastructure across the capital and what needs to change if London is to remain competitive in an increasingly connected world. The event was kindly sponsored by VodafoneThree. 

Our Deputy Chief Executive, Muniya Barua, observed that connectivity is one of those things we tend only to notice when it stops working, something many people travelling between London and Liverpool for conference season will have experienced first-hand. Yet what might feel like a minor inconvenience can have much wider implications for London’s economy. Reliable networks now underpin productivity, investment and growth across virtually every sector. When businesses cannot access the services they need, opportunities can quickly be lost. 

Stephen Lerner, General Counsel (Regulatory), Chief Regulatory & Government Affairs Officer and Company Secretary at VodafoneThree, set out some of the challenges facing deployment in London and across the UK. Demand for both mobile and fixed services continues to grow, but progress is often slowed by planning constraints, regulatory barriers and the cost of energy. 

One issue that particularly resonated around the table was the challenge of replacing existing mobile masts when operators are issued with a notice to quit and required to relocate equipment. Stephen highlighted examples where securing approval for replacement sites took years. One London location required five years to replace a single mast, while another network provider later described a case that took seven years and thirteen separate planning applications to achieve the same outcome.

These examples reflect a wider challenge identified in VodafoneThree’s recent research into notice-to-quit arrangements in London. The report shows how delays in securing replacement sites can increase costs, slow upgrades and, in some cases, create coverage gaps if suitable alternatives cannot be found. The economic consequences are significant, with VodafoneThree estimating that poor mobile coverage results in £2.7 billion of lost economic output in London every year.

It was therefore unsurprising that planning emerged as a recurring theme throughout the roundtable. Attendees pointed to the draft new London Plan as an opportunity to create greater consistency across boroughs and provide a more supportive framework for telecoms infrastructure. Several contributors argued that connectivity should be recognised as critical infrastructure, reflecting its importance to economic activity and everyday life.

Guests also noted that debates around new masts can often focus on the visible impact for a small number of people without sufficient recognition of the much wider benefits they enable. Better connectivity supports businesses, residents and public services across entire communities, even if those benefits are not always immediately apparent.

The roundtable reinforced just how important digital networks have become to London’s competitiveness. They are no longer simply a convenience but essential for attracting investment, supporting innovation and enabling firms to grow. If London fails to keep pace with rising demand, there is a risk that businesses and opportunities will increasingly look elsewhere.

Guests also heard from Juergen Maier CBE, founder of Vocl and Chair of GB Energy, who argued that business has been too timid over the past decade and needs to find its voice in championing the changes required to drive regional and national growth. 

Finally, attention turned to the role devolution could play in accelerating rollout. Participants discussed whether greater local powers, if implemented effectively, could help speed up decision-making and support the changes needed to bring forward digital infrastructure more quickly.

The roundtable provided a fitting conclusion to BusinessLDN’s 2026 Labour Party Conference programme. Ensuring London has the connectivity required to compete on the global stage will demand action from government, regulators, local authorities and industry alike.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Liverpool, and especially to Stephen Lerner and the team at VodafoneThree for sponsoring the roundtable and helping to bring together such a timely and important conversation about the future of London’s connectivity.