Skip to content

Shaping the UK internet industry with ISPA: enabling £40bn in fibre investment

Success by numbers

30+

years shaping UK internet policy and advocacy through ISPA

170+

ISP members and partners represented across the UK connectivity ecosystem

$40b

fibre infrastructure investment enabled across the last five years

featured-image

Policy communications and strategic events to protect UK internet growth, shape regulation, and align a fast-scaling telecoms sector.

The partnership

In 1995, Clarity joined forces with a group of pioneering UK internet service providers to found the Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK). The goal was clear: create a single, credible voice for a nascent sector facing intense scrutiny from parliamentarians, government, the media, and regulators.

ISPA has since grown into the UK’s primary advocacy body for the ISP industry, representing more than 170 members and partners across the ecosystem, from national brands such as BT, Openreach, VMO2, Vodafone, Three, and Sky to emerging alternative networks.

As the internet shifted from dial‑up to LLU, broadband, and now gigabit-capable fibre, Clarity remained at the centre of the partnership. The focus has been to champion inward investment, shape the framework that governs connectivity, and ensure regulation enables – rather than constrains – the UK’s digital and economic growth.

Reducing fragmentation

Over three decades, Clarity has designed ISPA’s advocacy, engagement, and policy work as a long-term system rather than a sequence of campaigns. A senior team with more than 50 years’ collective experience continuously horizon-scans for regulatory threats, convening members early to develop unified positions before interventions crystallise. 

Clarity has built enduring relationships across government, parliament, regulators, industry, and national media including the BBC, The Telegraph, and the Financial Times. This positions ISPA as the default interlocutor on UK connectivity.

To reduce fragmentation, Clarity has led on best practice, establishing industry codes of practice and self-regulatory frameworks that give policymakers confidence while preserving space for innovation. Flagship parliamentary events, major annual awards, and a leading sector conference bring senior stakeholders together, embedding alignment as the market evolves from dial-up to full fibre. This coordinated approach has underpinned legislative wins and helped unlock large-scale infrastructure deployment nationwide.

 

Achieving global growth

case-study-quote
“Clarity has built and delivered an effective voice for the UK ISP sector through its support for the Internet Services Providers' Association (ISPA). For many years now, Clarity has helped ISPA to lead the policy agenda, representing the sector to parliamentarians, civil servants and the media – promoting a vibrant and critical industry.”
Steve Leighton
Chairman, ISPA UK

Internal alignment

  • Forged ISPA as the central, coordinated voice for ISPs, infrastructure builders, hardware manufacturers, and software providers across the UK.
  • Created a structured forum for members to shape shared positions on issues from infrastructure deployment and sector funding to online safety and cyber security regulation.
  • Sustained long-term collaboration between industry and policymakers through flagship parliamentary events, major awards, and a key annual sector conference.

Commercial momentum

  • Developed the first and primary UK internet industry code of practice, reinforcing trust and regulatory confidence.
  • Became the first point of contact for government departments, parliament, and regulators when developing connectivity-related legislation and consultations.
  • Secured legislative wins, large and small, that have supported the roll-out of nationwide gigabit-capable fibre and the wider digital ecosystem.

 

Global growth

  • Played an important role in enabling one of the largest infrastructure projects of the century: building nationwide fibre networks, underpinned by over £40bn of investment in the last five years.
  • Supported the growth and adoption of the internet across the UK, transforming how society operates and how businesses, public services, and citizens connect. 

 

Ready to grow with Clarity?

Tell us what you’re trying to solve, sharpen or scale. We’ll connect you with the right senior expert to start the conversation.

form-circle-vector
cross-transparent