IIC UK Chapter meeting – Promoting competition and investment in fibre networks: Telecoms Access Review 2026-31

Alex Blowers has been involved in telecoms policy and regulation since 1991. Originally a civil servant with responsibility for implementing the 1991 Duopoly Review, Alex led market liberalisation projects at Oftel in the mid-1990s and was Project Director for Ofcom’s Telecoms Strategic Review in 2004-2005. Alex also led Ofcom’s international function at the time of the 2007/08 EU Telecoms Review. Alex has also had spells working for cable company ntl and internet domain registry Nominet before joining CityFibre in October 2016. Alex is currently the Director of Regulatory Affairs at CityFibre and was recently the Chair of INCA.

Ben is a Policy Director at Ofcom. He leads the Telecoms Access Review 2026, which will set the regulations that will apply to the UK fixed telecoms markets from 2026 until 2031.

Prior to his current role, Ben was an Economics Director at Ofcom.

He has worked on a wide range of competition and regulatory matters across the communications sectors and has been closely involved in Ofcom’s work to promote investment and competition in fibre networks since the 2016 Strategic Review of Digital Communications.

Ben is part of the management team in Ofcom’s Network and Communications Group and leads Ofcom’s work on fixed telecoms markets.

James Tickel is the Director of Regulatory Policy and Strategy at Openreach

Lynn Robinson became Director General of the International Institute of Communications (IIC), in March 2020.

Lynn is an experienced senior director and trustee / non exec-director, having held key senior leadership positions in the technology, built environment, regulation, accreditation and dental industries. She has extensive experience of professional membership bodies working within the full spectrum including, Regulatory bodies, Industry associations and Chambers of Commerce. Lynn is a well-known and established ambassador in these areas having led on many strategic programmes to aid engagement, growth, retention, change management, stakeholder and political engagement.

Michael is an experienced economist with specialist expertise in telecoms (mobile and fixed), media, and digital services. Part of the leadership team of Oxera’s Digital, Telecommunications, Media and Technology (DTMT) practice, he applies economic thinking to help organisations navigate complex questions in competition, regulation, and public policy, delivering clear, practical insights that support effective decision-making.

With a core focus on the telecoms sector, his expertise spans the full spectrum of regulatory and competition economics including regulatory policy design, market reviews, cost-benefit analysis, and litigation support for competition disputes and regulatory appeals.

It’s been almost six years since Nathan joined Gigaclear, first as Delivery Director and then COO before his appointment as CEO in March 2024. During this time, he has been a key architect in the company’s rapid build growth to become the leading rural fibre-to-the home operator.

Nathan has a solid background in telecoms having gained a broad base of experience in operational, finance and transformation roles. During his time at Openreach, he was responsible for delivering the company’s superfast and ultrafast build programmes across the south of England whilst at BT, he helped drive through c£5bn of savings as the Head of Cost Transformation and Continuous Improvement.

A passionate believer in the transformational impact full fibre broadband can deliver to underserved, rural communities, Nathan is confident Gigaclear will reach its ‘one million prems connected’ target in 2027.

Nick joined Virgin Media O2 on its formation, from one of its shareholders, Telefonica SA.  He is responsible for a multi-disciplinary regulatory and public policy team reporting to VMO2’s General Counsel.

He joined O2 UK in 2004, transferring to Telefonica SA in 2013 and has undertaken a variety of regulatory and management roles within the business, always with a strong strategic focus.

Prior to joining O2, Nick worked in management consulting advising firms during the wave of telecoms liberalisation in the 1990s.  He holds a physics degree from Imperial College, London.