RTIC0094 Future Telecoms Supply Chain
Real-Time Industrial Classifications

UK Future Telecoms Supply Chain Industry

Discover the UK’s Future Telecoms Supply Chain, where specialist companies are shaping the next generation of communication technologies. From satellite-based networks to cutting-edge photonics, explore the innovators driving connectivity’s future.

Download our Future Telecoms Supply Chain report


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What is Future Telecoms?

Future Telecoms or Telecommunications, refers to the design and manufacture of advanced components and systems that enable the next generation of telecommunications networks. This RTIC focuses specifically on UK-based companies that are driving innovation in the telecoms supply chain, excluding broader service providers like telecom operators or firms with a primary focus outside of telecoms.

The RTIC was created in 2024 through a collaboration between The Data City, sector experts, and the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT). It highlights specialist companies developing core technologies essential for future networks.

Key areas covered in this RTIC include Compute Continuum, Non-terrestrial Networking, Photonic & Optical, and Radio Frequency Wireless—sectors critical to building faster, more resilient, and scalable communication infrastructure.

Future Telecoms Supply Chain sector summary

Discover real-time data and insights sourced directly from The Data City platform, driven by our innovative Real-Time Industrial Classifications (RTICs). Our RTICs harness the power of web data and machine learning, and are published with industry experts for precision and relevance.

Here are the key facts about the Future Telecoms Supply Chain sector. The sector has a turnover of £5.1bn currently, has received £5.9bn of investment and the sector is growing at 3.0% per year.

297
COMPANIES CONSIDERED
£5.1bn
TOTAL TURNOVER
25,471
TOTAL EMPLOYEES
£5.9bn
TOTAL INVESTMENT FUNDING
£95.9m
TOTAL INNOVATE UK GRANT FUNDING
3.0%
AVERAGE COMPANY GROWTH PER YEAR

Future Telecoms Supply Chain verticals

Our industry data goes deep. See the top verticals and specialisms making waves in the UK Future Telecoms Supply Chain industry today.

Our Future Telecoms Supply Chain RTIC is made up of 4 individual verticals. The top verticals in this sector include Radio Frequency Wireless, and Photonic and Optical. You can find out more about the verticals by downloading our RTIC report, or by signing up for a free trial of The Data City platform.

  • Sector Code Description Records
  • RTIC0094 Future Telecoms Supply Chain *New 297 companies

    Companies involved in the design and manufacture of components and (sub-) systems relating to the technologies relevant to future telecommunications supply chains. This RTIC has been developed through a collaboration between The Data City, sector experts and the Department of Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) in 2024. This RTIC focuses on specialist telecoms firms with a physical UK presence targeting future telecoms supply chains and for these purposes therefore excludes those companies with a wider service and product offering such as telecoms operators, vendors that are based outside of the UK or companies that may sell into telecoms but primarily focus on an alternative sector. A full assessment of the future telecommunications sector and ecosystem would also include these firms.

    • Future Telecoms Supply Chain: Compute Continuum

      Provision of computational capacity for communication networks, including public and private cloud, distributed and edge compute, and specialist network processing hardware. The design and provision of the containerisation, security, management and orchestration software that integrate and organise this resource across the network.

      22 companies
    • Future Telecoms Supply Chain: Non-terrestrial Networking

      Design and manufacture of technologies and processes using airborne or spaceborne equipment for networking. This includes satellite communications, as well as high-altitude platforms systems (HAPS) and drones.

      88 companies
    • Future Telecoms Supply Chain: Photonic and Optical

      Design and manufacture of components and (sub-)systems relating to the use of the optical and infrared spectrum for data transmission, both fixed and free-space.

      97 companies
    • Future Telecoms Supply Chain: Radio Frequency Wireless

      Design and manufacture of components and (sub-)systems relating to the propagation of radio (including potentially microwave and THz) waves for wireless communication networks.

      101 companies

Future Telecoms Supply Chain industry growth

Based on a growth rate of 3.0%, we expect that this sector could be worth £5.5bn by 2026. Below you can see our forecast of the growth of the sector.

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