Laura Sear

“This is a solution to a problem that we don’t have,” said Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association. “And it brings with it a plethora of problems that we don’t need.” Speaking on BBC radio, he referred to traffic congestion, lost property, wheelchair users, and practical aspects of running a taxi service as issues that an AI, however well-trained, might never be able to handle. There’s a second problem-we-don’t-need dimension to this launch.

Australia’s Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation (UOMO) is the first serious attempt at defining D2D coverage and QoS, and it deserves more attention than it has had. The legislation was introduced into Parliament in November 2025 and is currently at the second reading stage in the House of Representatives. The most recent update from the House is a debate on 28 May 2026; the final form of the legislation is still undecided.

This edition of the conference featured a fun poll exercise that neatly exposed the political sensitivity around the DNA. Attendees were asked: “How do you rate the success of 5G in Europe compared to other regions?” According to the results, 57 percent said Europe is on a par with other regions, 6 percent said Europe is ahead, and 35 percent said it is behind.