On 22 September 2026, Computer Weekly turns 60. To mark the milestone, we asked some of our friends – experts, parliamentarians, IT leaders and suppliers – for their perspectives on how tech has changed their lives over six decades. What’s changed the most for you since then?
Over the six decades since Computer Weekly began chronicling the UK’s technology landscape, the country has undergone a profound digital transformation.
Connectivity has shifted from a background utility to a defining force shaping how people work, learn, access public services and participate in the economy. Throughout this period, networks have been a key part of the invisible infrastructure enabling that shift – the digital backbone supporting national progress.
Digital infrastructure becomes critical infrastructure
What began as a means of transmitting voice calls has evolved into one of the UK’s most important strategic assets. Today’s digital infrastructure underpins everything from cloud computing and online banking to remote healthcare and emerging AI‑powered applications. As reliance has grown, expectations have risen with it. Networks must be fast, secure, resilient and capable of supporting technologies that did not exist even a decade ago.
Meeting these expectations has required sustained investment across the industry. Over the past decade, the UK has undergone one of the largest modernisation programmes in its communications history, with billions committed to upgrading fixed and mobile networks.
BT has invested more than £25bn since 2020 to expand full-fibre, accelerate 5G roll-out and retire legacy systems. These upgrades are not simply technical milestones – they are the foundations for the next era of digital innovation across the wider IT sector.
A legacy of firsts
The UK’s communications landscape has long been shaped by a willingness to push technological boundaries. From the earliest telegraph cables to the first transatlantic telephone line, each era has been defined by engineering breakthroughs that expanded the country’s ability to connect.
Our company celebrates many of the innovations underpinning today’s networks. Early fibre‑optic work in the 1960s–1980s proved that high‑capacity, long‑distance data transmission was possible, while the development of blown‑fibre installation made large‑scale deployment practical. These advances paved the way for the full‑fibre networks now reaching millions of homes and supporting the UK’s mobile infrastructure.
The arrival of the internet brought a new challenge – transforming the copper telephone network into a platform capable of mass‑market broadband. Progress came through a succession of engineering steps – ISDN, ADSL, VDSL and G.Fast – each increasing speed and capacity. Together, they enabled millions of households and businesses to get online and helped fuel the growth of the UK’s digital economy.
Innovation continued into the mobile age. Both 4G and 5G were milestones that expanded the reach and capability of national connectivity and set the stage for the services people now take for granted. Today, research is focused on the next generation of technologies, including AI‑driven network security and quantum‑secure communications.
Across these eras, the pattern is clear – a continuous line of engineering progress that has kept the UK connected, competitive and ready for whatever comes next.
Building networks at national scale
The UK’s digital progress today is built on networks that operate at true national scale – reaching from rural hamlets to dense cities and underpinning everything from essential public services to major cultural and sporting moments. These nationwide fixed and mobile networks have become critical enablers of economic growth, digital inclusion and everyday convenience.
The rapid expansion of full‑fibre infrastructure, now passing more than 23 million premises and on track to reach up to 30 million by 2030, is transforming how people and businesses connect. Faster, more reliable fibre is supporting everything from cloud adoption to digital public services and the growth of the UK’s tech sector.
“As the country enters an era shaped by AI, automation and ubiquitous digital services, resilient and secure infrastructure becomes ever more critical”
Greg McCall
On mobile, near‑universal 4G and 5G coverage have reshaped how the country stays connected and accesses information. The rollout of 5G+, already available in over 650 towns and cities – represents the next leap forward, providing stronger mobile internet connections, faster download and upload speeds, and improved video calling, especially in busy locations and at peak times.
These nationwide upgrades are already unlocking new possibilities. At the SailGP global racing championship for example, 5G+ network slicing delivered dedicated, high‑performance connectivity for the global racing championship – a glimpse of how future networks will support mission‑critical applications across sport, industry and live events.
Connectivity where it’s needed most
Ensuring that connectivity reaches every part of the UK remains one of the country’s defining digital challenges. The needs of a busy city centre differ greatly from those of a rural village, and modern networks have had to evolve to serve both.
In urban areas, thousands of small cells now help keep pace with rising data demand, while targeted upgrades in rural communities have helped close long‑standing coverage gaps. Connectivity inside buildings has become just as important. Complex environments such as airports, shopping centres and major venues increasingly rely on distributed antenna systems (DAS) to maintain consistent performance. At the same time, public connectivity is expanding through a growing Wi‑Fi hotspot network.
A major step forward is happening beneath the capital too – where high‑speed mobile connectivity is being brought to the London Underground – one of the most complex transport environments in the world. Significant sections of the Tube network are already connected, with full completion due by the end of this year.
Reaching the hardest‑to‑serve areas requires a different approach altogether. Some communities sit beyond the practical limits of traditional infrastructure and closing that divide means drawing on every available technology.
High‑speed satellite connectivity is now helping connect rural locations previously out of reach for traditional networks. It reflects a broader shift in the UK’s strategy – recognising that no single technology can meet every need, and that a truly inclusive digital Britain will rely on fibre, mobile, satellite and future innovations working together.
Some of the UK’s most memorable cultural and sporting moments have been shaped by the strength of the country’s digital infrastructure. From London 2012 – the most connected Olympic Games of its time – to major venues such as Wembley, Murrayfield and Silverstone, reliable high‑capacity networks have become essential to how national events are staged, broadcast and experienced. Modern connectivity now underpins everything from live streaming and digital ticketing to real‑time operations and safety systems, helping events run smoothly and allowing millions of people to share in them.
That role continues to evolve as expectations rise. Wembley Stadium recently became the first UK sports venue to operate with a permanent 5G+ network, enabling richer fan experiences, more efficient venue management and new digital services. This summer, enhanced 5G+ capabilities will support more than 25 of the UK’s biggest festivals and gatherings, helping organisers manage crowds, broadcasters deliver high‑quality coverage and visitors stay connected throughout some of the country’s most iconic cultural moments.
A critical national role
A quieter but essential part of the UK’s digital backbone is the infrastructure that keeps emergency responders connected. The Emergency Services Network uses mission‑critical 4G and 5G technology to link police officers, firefighters and paramedics with the information they need in real time.
That expectation of resilience now extends far beyond emergency response. As organisations digitise operations, secure, reliable, high‑performance connectivity has become fundamental.
Behind the UK’s connectivity sits a constant cycle of research and experimentation. The power of new discovery and innovation remains vital and we’re focusing on converged networks, sustainable optimisation, AI‑driven security and quantum‑ready infrastructure. Partnerships with more than 30 universities and research bodies help accelerate the development of emerging technologies.
But innovation and infrastructure alone, is not enough. Digital inclusion has become a national priority. From older users getting online for the first time to small businesses adopting new tools and young people preparing for a digital‑first jobs market.
A role that continues to evolve
For 180 years, the UK’s communications networks have evolved through constant reinvention – from telegraph cables to full fibre, from early mobile networks to quantum‑secure communications. As the country enters an era shaped by AI, automation and ubiquitous digital services, resilient and secure infrastructure becomes ever more critical.
Connectivity now underpins the UK’s economy, public services and social participation. The networks built today will define the nation’s digital future – and recent analysis shows the scale of the prize, with a highly resilient, nationwide high‑capacity mobile network capable of unlocking up to £230bn in economic benefits by 2035, alongside significant social and environmental gains.
Greg McCall is chief security and networks officer at BT.
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