UK Telecoms Strategy Highlights Role of Compound Semiconductors and Regional Clusters
16th July 2025
The UK’s recently published Future Telecommunications Report from UKTIN outlines a long-term vision for telecommunications R&D, highlighting the strategic importance of semiconductors and regional innovation clusters. The report reflects many of the principles that underpin CSconnected’s collaborative model in South Wales, and supports the case for sustained investment in critical technologies such as compound semiconductors, silicon photonics and advanced packaging.
Led by nine expert working groups, the report sets out technology roadmaps to 2035 and beyond, with a focus on strengthening the UK’s position in wireless systems, AI, security, non-terrestrial networks, and core infrastructure. Semiconductors are described as underpinning all other technologies identified in the roadmap, enabling progress in areas from AI to quantum and photonics.
The report recommends increased support for later-stage R&D, with targeted investment to scale up start-ups and accelerate innovation among established players, and enhanced international collaboration. It points to the need for a clear national effort to scale up manufacturing, secure supply chains, and maintain technological advantage in areas where the UK already has world-leading expertise.
Wyn Meredith, Chair of CSconnected, contributed to the development of the semiconductor roadmap as part of the expert working group. The publication highlights how place-based collaboration between government, academia and industry, as exemplified by CSconnected, can provide a strong framework to deliver innovation, skills and economic growth.
As the UK continues to develop its semiconductor and telecoms strategies, this report affirms the relevance of the CSconnected cluster and its partners in delivering the technologies that will underpin future communications systems.
You can read the report here: Future Telecommunications Report
Notes to editors:
Contact
Camille Colombier, Marketing Manager
Nina Stevens, Communications Coordinator
comms@csconnected.com
About CSconnected
CSconnected is the world’s first compound semiconductor cluster, located in South Wales. Supported by the Strength in Places Fund (UK Research and Innovation) and Cardiff Capital Region, the cluster unites leading companies, research institutions, and government partners to drive innovation, economic growth, and global leadership in semiconductor technology.
