The activities of the Mobile Broadband Group fall broadly into three areas:
- Policy development on new legislation and regulation.
- Self-regulation.
- A point of contact for other stakeholders.
Subject to the agreement of all members, the MBG (Mobile Broadband Group) can cover a whole range of public policy issues.
In recent years, the MBG has worked on the Communications Bill (now Act), which led to the creation of the new industry regulator, Ofcom; on the Gambling Bill, - the mobile phone can be used as one of the access technologies for remote gambling; on the Civil Contingencies Bill - mobile operators, being providers of critical national infrastructure, have been designated as “Category 2 responders”. The MBG can also review the application of EU Directives on the UK communications industry and make representations directly to the European Commission.
In addition, the MBG consults with Ofcom and PhonepayPlus and works closely with them to ensure that detailed sectoral regulation relating to mobile communications is proportionate, transparent and targeted.
The MBG works by consensus, so that all policy positions taken have the full backing and authority of the members.
The MBG is represented on:
The UK Council for Child Safety on the Internet
The Committee for Advertising Practice
The PhonepayPlus Industry Liaison Panel
The Internet Watch Foundation
The MBG has the capacity and authority to create self-regulatory Codes of Practice on behalf of its members.
In 2004, the members of the MBG published a Code of Practice for the self-regulation of new forms of content on mobile. (link through)
The MBG acts as a point of contact for external stakeholders wishing to consult the mobile network operators on regulatory matters.
Contact can be made by sending an e-mail to:
or writing to
PO Box 34586,
London SE15 5YA
The MBG liases closely with other industry bodies that deal with specific policy areas such as:
The Mobile Operators Association (for local planning and health matters) -www.mobilemastinfo.com
Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum
(for policy relating to street crime) –
see:
www.micaf.co.uk
