To further understanding of approaches to regulation between the United Kingdom and the EU/EEA, a BEREC delegation conducted a study trip to London from 15 to 16 September 2025. As part of its annual visits to various non-EU countries, BEREC seeks to learn from different regulatory environments, exploring global trends in digital technology, evolving business models, and best practices in electronic communications regulation.

Regulatory dialogue

During the trip, the BEREC Mini-Board held discussions with the UK’s telecoms regulator Ofcom, exchanging insights on regulatory approaches. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promoting innovation and ensuring the safe, responsible deployment of emerging technologies.

Following meetings with their UK counterparts, BEREC Chair Robert Mourik (ComReg, Ireland) emphasised the importance of maintaining strong dialogue between regulators and highlighted the mutual benefits of learning from one another.

The delegation also engaged with the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), a voluntary forum comprising four UK regulators involved in digital oversight: the Competition and Markets Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office and Ofcom. DRCF representatives presented their current work plan and shared practical examples of collaborative measures designed to address regulatory challenges in the telecoms and digital sectors.

AI & Innovation

The BEREC study trip also included meetings with the Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national institute for data science and artificial intelligence (AI). During the discussions, the delegation gained insights into the institute’s role in shaping the UK’s approach to AI research, ethics and policy.

The BEREC Mini-Board also met with representatives from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT). Discussions focused on recent developments in relation to how government can assist in promoting innovation and the safe deployment of new technologies across the UK and EU.

Industry Perspectives

To conclude the study trip, the BEREC delegation visited British Telecom (the legacy incumbent of the United Kingdom) and separately the UK Competitive Telecommunications Association (UKCTA), which represents the interests of competitive telecoms operators (those who are not the incumbent provider). In these separate meetings, BT and the UKCTA shared insights into the UK’s market structure, investment environment and regulatory simplification from their perspectives.