Events

Ofcom’s LGBTQ+ History Month event

9 February 2022

Ofcom’s LGBTQ+ History Month event took place on Wednesday 9 February. We looked at LGBTQ+ representation and experiences both on-screen and behind the scenes.

We heard from:

• Russell T Davies, acclaimed screenwriter;
• Phyll Opoku-Gyimah (also known as Lady Phyll), co-founder of UK Black Pride and executive director of the Kaleidoscope Trust;
• Bethany Black, stand-up comedian, actor and writer; and
• Shivani Dave, physicist, presenter, and producer.

This hybrid event included a panel discussion, as well as an opportunity for the audience to ask questions to our speakers.

Ofcom’s Plan of Work virtual event 2022

24 January 2022

Ofcom hosted a virtual event as part of the consultation process for our proposed 2022/23 Plan of Work.

The event provided an opportunity for people to have their say on our plans for the coming year. This is part of our wider consultation process ahead of the publication of our Plan of Work statement in March 2022.

In a change from previous years, this year we hosted one event with guests from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland invited to join this single event so that attendees and Ofcom colleagues can hear from everyone.

Making Sense of Media event: Ofcom’s approach to online media literacy

21 January 2022

You’re invited to a virtual event on Ofcom’s approach to online media literacy. Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes introduced highlights from our recent publication alongside Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom's Group Director for Strategy & Research, and the Making Sense of Media team.

Supporting women in broadcast technology

7 October 2021

Technology and engineering are critical to broadcasting, and drive innovation in this rapidly changing sector. However, in 2019 we reported that only 28% of broadcast technology and engineering roles were held by women. As the UK’s communications regulator, we are committed to a more diverse workforce, and want to help improve on this by raising awareness of the exciting career opportunities available.

In this session you heard from inspiring women who have found different ways to develop their technical expertise within the broadcasting sector. We also discussed the role that everyone can play in promoting greater diversity and supporting women in technical roles.

Confirmed speakers: Cristina Gomila, Managing Director of Content Technology & Innovation at Sky, Judy Parnall, Head of Standards & Industry at BBC, and Ranjeet Kaur, Head of Delivery at DTG Testing. The panel will also be joined by Graham Plumb, Director of Spectrum Planning and, Steph Barnett, Senior Broadcast Specialist, from Ofcom who will share their perspectives of working in broadcasting.

All In: Diversity in Broadcasting 2021

30 September 2021

This virtual event looked at the past, present and future of diversity in UK broadcasting. It included discussions, interviews and training sessions, all looking at practical ways to make broadcasting a more diverse and inclusive sector.

Throughout the day we heard voices from across TV and radio, from people at the start of their careers to established names.

The event was aimed at people working in the broadcasting industry.

Unlocking the potential of Terahertz spectrum

14 July 2021

There is growing interest in using higher frequencies above 100 GHz, commonly referred to as ‘Terahertz’ spectrum, for all sorts of uses including new sensing and positioning applications, medical diagnosis, industrial processes, and potentially the new frontier for mobile and wireless broadband networks.

This event was aimed at starting a conversation about how spectrum regulators can help maximise the value of Terahertz bands and how best to share this limited resource between existing and new users. Given the scale of the investment and timescales required to develop the technologies and applications, a clear roadmap of how and when spectrum will be made available is vital to unlock its potential.

We were joined by an international panel of experts from academia, industry, and regulation including: Javier Juárez, Commissioner, Federal Institute of Telecommunications, Mexico; Agostinho Linhares, Spectrum Orbit, Anatel, Brazil; Professor Ted Rappaport, New York University; Dr Howard Benn, VP Communications Research, Samsung Electronics; and Professor Brian Ellison, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Head of Millimetre-Wave Technology at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.

The Wireless Future: Global spectrum management challenges for the 2020s

6 July 2021

Radio spectrum connects our digital world. Used cleverly and efficiently, it can continue to transform the way we connect, live and work, as well as advancing our understanding of the natural world. But there is only a finite amount of spectrum available, and there are many challenges in how we manage and use spectrum at a national and international level, balancing different uses and needs.

These are challenges which many countries and the industry will face. Without collectively addressing these, we risk the effective development of the wireless world of the future, stifling innovation and delaying the benefits to society and economy.

There are no easy answers in the world of spectrum but there is a need for a global conversation, on how to make sure we will benefit from the wireless opportunities of the future.

This event was aimed at facilitating this conversation, and was targeted at individuals with an interest in spectrum management.

Ofcom and Digital Poverty Alliance research event on digital access and inclusion in the UK

30 June 2021

Ofcom and the Digital Poverty Alliance hosted a virtual research symposium to compare, aggregate and enhance data on digital access and inclusion in the UK. This event brought together organisations and individuals who conduct research into, or work in the area of, digital access and inclusion in the UK. The objectives of the symposium were to collaborate, share research insights, and identify knowledge gaps and discuss how to bridge them.

The session was interactive, and attendees will have the opportunity to share details of their existing and planned research or work in this space and were able to contribute to a discussion on gaps in research and data.