UK telecoms firms must strengthen security or face £100k daily fine under new law

Telecoms businesses in the UK will have to follow new security rules or face a fine of 10 per cent of their turnover under a new law.

The new Telecommunications (Security) Bill aims to give the government new powers to boost the security standards of the UK’s telecoms networks and remove the threat of high risk vendors.

The Bill will also aim to strengthen the security framework for technology used in 5G and full fibre networks, including the electronic equipment and software at phone mast sites and in telephone exchanges which handle internet traffic and telephone calls.

Companies that fail to put adequate security measures in place will face fines of up to ten per cent of turnover or £100k a day.

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden explained: “We are investing billions to roll out 5G and gigabit broadband across the country, but the benefits can only be realised if we have full confidence in the security and resilience of our networks.

“This groundbreaking bill will give the UK one of the toughest telecoms security regimes in the world and allow us to take the action necessary to protect our networks.

“To deliver the revolutionary economic and social benefits of 5G and gigabit-capable broadband connections, the government has decided to strengthen the overarching legal duties on providers of UK public telecoms networks and services as a way of incentivising better security practices.”