Building the Future of Telecoms: Energy-Efficient, Secure, and Scalable Networks

Telecoms networks are the backbone of our connected world – but they are also among the most energy-intensive systems. In mobile networks, power amplifiers account for up to 80% of energy use in base stations, making them a major contributor to operational costs and carbon emissions.

At the same time, the UK’s telecoms sector faces growing pressure to strengthen security, increase supplier diversity, and reduce reliance on proprietary systems. The government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy identifies Future Telecoms as a national growth area, calling for new technologies that can enhance energy efficiency, support Open RAN architectures, and ensure network resilience.

The Future Telecoms Hub was created to tackle these interconnected challenges – developing innovative, UK-based solutions that improve energy performance, enhance security, and strengthen domestic telecoms supply chains.

The Future Telecoms Hub has already demonstrated tangible progress in advancing energy-efficient and secure telecoms hardware. Fifteen projects linked to future telecoms have been delivered since 2020, involving 72 partners and achieving an average Technology Readiness Level (TRL) increase of 2.4.

Companies collaborating with CSA Catapult have collectively secured £71.8 million in private investment and £58.1 million in public funding, reflecting strong confidence in UK-led telecoms innovation. Two new technology demonstrators (EVMs) have been developed to support SME engagement and industry testing.

The Hub’s work has produced 11 academic publications and contributed to the commercialisation of four new products, including a quantum-secure 5G unit. It has also enabled six new supply chains and helped increase customer export activity by 10%, strengthening UK competitiveness in the global telecoms market.