Government should identify the specific telecommunications needs of the energy, water and transport sectors and ensure that infrastructure is delivered to meet these by, at the latest, 2030 for the energy and water sectors and 2035 for the road and rail sectors. Strategies for how this will be achieved must be set out by the end of 2025 for energy and water and by the end of 2026 for road and rail, including:

• the most cost effective network deployment models, and the extent to which infrastructure can be shared between different sectors
• a spectrum authorisation approach that ensures access to adequate spectrum, whether dedicated national bands or shared spectrum for infrastructure users
• clear responsibilities within government for delivering telecoms strategies
• consideration of whether dedicated networks and spectrum or upgrades to existing networks can meet specific public policy goals, including consistent and reliable rail passenger connectivity.