Hello – I’m William Webb, an independent consultant at Commcisive. I mostly work on technical and strategic telecoms, often relating to regulatory activity, and I previously worked at Ofcom.
What has taken up most of my time recently is The End of Telecoms History, a book I published last summer. The book was provocative and set out a thesis arguing that we have most of the communications we need; I explain why we have reached the end of telecoms history, and look at the implications in detail.
Telecoms networks have improved dramatically over the last 150 years. Initially, developments focused on delivering voice calls to homes, then mobile phones, and from the 1990s, enabled internet connectivity. Data capabilities have improved significantly, and so has data usage. It is natural to think this progression will continue forever, but it won’t. Those who are well connected, with strong home broadband and mobile coverage, have all the connectivity they need, even if it’s just 4G. We no longer need to strive for faster networks, more fibre or the next generation of mobile technology.
The industry has been engaging in debates and discussions virtually, privately and publicly about what my thesis may mean, especially for regulators and governments. This has led me to think about the future of 6G, and I want to generate new thinking around it. I don’t think we should assume it’s just 5G, but better and faster. There will be a sea change in future directions for telecoms, and we need to prepare for it.
What do you enjoy most about working in this space?
The mix of disciplines that get thrown together: strategy, regulatory and political. It is multifaceted and always interesting.
What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve done in the name of work?
At the beginning of my career, measuring radio coverage, I rigged up a trolley at Waterloo train station in London with a receiver inside. An announcement was made across the tannoy, but I tuned it out. Then I noticed that everyone was streaming out of the station. The person on the tannoy had asked everyone to evacuate because of a bomb threat. I began to leave the station, frantically pushing my trolley attached to wires and antennas and realised I was the suspect.
Where do you see telecoms heading?
Towards a utility. We have almost reached the point of having what we need in most places, and telecoms will level out like gas and water.
What would you like people to know about your work?
Amazing things have been achieved and still can be. Twenty years ago, a tablet seemed like science fiction. Because of our communication systems, the world has changed beyond recognition.
Why is a vibrant, flourishing telecoms ecosystem important for the UK?
Well, I’m not sure it is any more. We definitely need strong telecoms networks and an ecosystem of some sort. However, an AI ecosystem might make more sense. The telecoms sector seems to be heading towards a plateau. Putting our energy into advanced applications will create more innovation and change.
