Telecomms and Radiocomms

Intellect and the telecoms sector

Intellect is the UK leading trade body for fixed and satellite communications. These digital communications technologies lie at the heart of the UK's societal and economic development in the context of today's information age. Intellect works to ensure that Government and the UK population at large understand how important these technologies are, and how crucial the right political and regulatory environment is in place to encourage their growth. We also take our role as commercial enablers seriously. Through working with Intellect, you can not only influence and understand Government and Regulators, you can also add substantially to your understanding of public and private sector markets for telecoms and wireless hardware.

Intellect's key partners

UK Government and Regulatory agencies recognise Intellect as the leading representative body for companies with interests in telecommunications. We host direct meetings with senior Ofcom officials through the Intellect/Ofcom Forum and maintain constant and constructive dialogue with relevant units at BIS & DCMS. We also do a significant amount of work, in the form of consultations and where necessary direct inputs, with the European Commission and European Parliament. We are the largest trade association member of the pan-European trade body Digital Europe. Our considered and balanced positions are influential in all of these bodies, and our members are recognised as some of Europe’s leading experts in their field.

European Commission and Digital Europe	UK regulation and legislation	Equipment and standardisation
Events and meetings of interest	Market data and analysis	Miscellaneous

Key achievements

• The Intellect/Ofcom Forumhas cemented its role as the only direct trade body/regulator liaison group looking at Digital Communications issues. The forum also significantly enhanced the ability of our members to further understanding of their products and services amongst the UK's regulatory community ,expedite their introduction and gain significantly advanced visibility of any regulatory and standardisation measures that may affect their business.
• In 2003, Intellect established Broadband Stakeholder Group. This is now the Governments foremost advisory body on broadband. Organisations across the converging broadband value-chain discuss and resolve key policy, regulatory and commercial issue through it, with the ultimate aim of helping to create a strong and competitive UK knowledge economy
• In 2008, Intellect successfully initiated a bid for £3m of public funding to establish the Digital Communications Knowledge Transfer Network. This has already lead to substantial improvements in the direct links between UK academic expertise and the UK Telecoms sector and is fostering the development of new talent in this area.

Current workstreams

• Members shape and guide our work through three separate committees, each focusing on differing subsectors of the UK's Digital Communications Sector. The Intellect Communications Council mainly looks at issues around fixed and broadband networks. The Intellect Wireless Council is the primary group for issues around spectrum regulation and licensing and the Satellite Committee is the only grouping in Europe that includes all major European Satellite manufacturers. All Intellect Members are free to join and work with any of these groups.
• Through the broader Intellect Concept Viability programme, endorsed by OGC and the Cabinet Office, Intellect is making a significant difference in shaping Government procurement of new technologies. We further understanding of our members needs and commercial considerations and, in turn, assist Government in maximising its return on investment in new systems and networks.
• We reply to almost every significant Government & Regulatory agency consultation relating to telecommunications and spectrum. Our position as the leading independent UK body of experts on regulation and technical capabilities of these systems and networks means that these responses have often carried more weight than those submitted by Individual companies. Direct relationships with key policy makers in these areas mean our views are taken to heart.

Future workstreams

Intellect is taking a leading role as a partner organisation with Government in ensuring that the Digital Britain Agenda is implemented. Lord Carter, prior to his departure, publicly identified us as a key organisation in this respect. A major programme of work is being initiated to ensure the momentum built by Digital Britain is continued by the current and future Governments.

We will be playing are playing a direct role advising the Ministry of Defence on ensuring appropriate resources and skills to release significant amounts of radio spectrum to the commercial market, under their spectrum divestment process.

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