Hello – I’m Simon Saunders, an independent telecoms advisor. I am an honorary professor at the University of Bristol, a visiting professor at King's College London and Chair of the UKTIN Wireless Networking Technologies Expert Working Group. I co-founded Real Wireless, which helps businesses, organisations and policymakers make the most of wireless connectivity technologies in the 5G era. In the past, I’ve worked for traditional telecoms companies like Pye and Motorola, and cloud/AI specialists including Google. I’ve also worked in the policy and regulatory space as Director of Emerging Technologies for Ofcom.
I recently finished working for DSIT as an advisor in the future telecoms policy unit and am very pleased with the evolution of the government’s objectives over the past two years. DSIT’s diversification agenda initially intended to bring more vendors into the UK and along the way, the Department realised that the UK should have a slice of the pie.
DSIT has acknowledged that the UK needs to re-enter the global supply chain and build on its strengths. Our capability has degraded over the past 20 years because we have sourced telecoms globally, choosing whichever country was cheapest, rather than investing in our own capabilities. The telecoms sector opens up opportunities for innovation. We need security and resilience in our networks, along with the skills and preferably the revenue that comes with that.
UKTIN and its advisory boards are here to facilitate this mission. How do we approach the UK’s re-entry? We can’t do everything and we can’t do it alone. We have to choose specific areas where we can excel and work out how to plug those areas into the existing supply chain, aiming to find customers worldwide. We also can’t reinvent the UK to have the skills we had 20 years ago - we need to update and modernise, just as networks have and will continue to do. It is an ambitious goal, but a very important one.
What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
The people. I’ve always been fascinated by technology, but I’m particularly interested in how different people react to it. I’ve spent lots of time working with lawyers, policymakers, and economists who are very bright but need to work with specialists to access the underlying knowledge of telecom technology. Crossing that gap is a lot of fun.
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
In the early days of 5G, I organised the world's first 5G music lesson. I was in London’s Roman amphitheatre with musician Jamie Cullum while young musicians in Birmingham and Bristol played along in real-time, gathered around Jamie's piano on life-size video screens. It was a magical moment and in aid of Music for All, a charity for which I'm a trustee.
What excites you most about working in telecoms?
The endless renewal. I’ve been in telecoms for over forty years and it should all be old hat by now, but I am constantly learning new things. You have to in telecoms. This keeps the interest levels up.
What would you like people to know about your work?
I am always available. If people want to talk, I’m here to help. I love explaining complex things and concepts to people who aren’t necessarily experts in the field. Also, I’m chairing the world’s premier spectrum innovation conference, DySPAN’25, coming to London next May 12-15! See here for details.
Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
We need to be in touch with each other on a personal level. Increasingly technology is required to do that, but we need it to be resilient and sustainable. Telecoms is the glue that sticks society and the economy together. Though, taking a break from it for a walk amongst the trees is a good idea from time to time!
