Brexit: mixed reaction from industry
The news that the UK is to leave the EU has been met with a mixed reaction from the mobile phone industry.
The vote on 23 June gave the Leave campaign a majority win of 51.9% over the Remain campaign. The Prime Minister has now announced that he is to step down by the autumn, and the UK is getting ready to invoke Article 50, which will begin the separation process.
Just last month, mobile phone service providers were backing the Remain campaign amid concerns that leaving the EU would be damaging for industry and the jobs market. A BT spokesperson has said that the company will be working with both the Government and the EU while the negotiations are taking place to make sure that the company’s concerns are heard.
Vodafone has operations in 14 countries in the EU, but a spokesperson for the group has said that the UK business will not change dramatically, as in each country, Vodafone is operated as a standalone business. Virgin Media’s parent company, Liberty Global, has voiced the same opinion as Vodafone, but O2 has expressed disappointment in the referendum outcome, though it has said that it will continue to work hard in the marketplace.
Regulations in the EU could affect the changes to roaming charges, however. Legislation has been put into place to prevent providers from charging high fees to those travelling within the EU, but this may not apply to UK mobile users once the UK’s exit has been completed.
Manufacturers such as China’s Huawei have confirmed that investment in the UK will continue.