Welcome to UKTL

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leading the way to a secure and resilient telecoms future in the UK.

About UKTL

The UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) is the UK’s national telecoms security and resilience testing and research facility, operated by the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). UKTL is recognised as a leading centre of excellence in telecoms security, delivering world-class test and evaluation capabilities to safeguard the UK’s telecoms infrastructure. As a trusted, independent facility in the heart of the UK, our expertise and proactive collaboration with industry, academia and government drive innovation and economic growth in the UK.

View our current vacancies and apply now

Our goals:

Work with operators and suppliers to protect the UK’s critical telecoms infrastructure through advanced research and security testing

Support economic growth by developing cyber security skills and job opportunities in the West Midlands

Invest in new technology and promote diversification of the telecoms supply chain for long term sustainability

Our core responsibilities:

Industry Security Testing

Testing of telecoms network equipment and software that are configured to represent live network deployments. Testing is guided by the UK’s regulatory environment and best practice, referencing artefacts such as the Vendor Security Assessment issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). It is working toward a ‘test once, benefit all’ model.

Advanced Vulnerability Research

Advanced vulnerability research into the security of existing and emergent communications technologies to safeguard the UK’s connectivity networks, end-to-end across our critical national telecoms infrastructure.

Independent security and secure interoperability testing

Vendor functionality and secure interoperability testing of equipment and software. Testing will evaluate the security of new interfaces arising in disaggregated network functions, establish whether equipment can securely interoperate with other devices and provide insights.

Who we are

UKTL offers a capability no other lab in the UK currently can. Securing modern telecoms networks requires a complex and unique blend of skills (telecoms, IT networks, IT platforms, virtualisation and containerisation). By leveraging these, we play a major role at the forefront of telecoms standardisation, innovation and research.

True independent testing of equipment is rare. We employ the brightest minds to deliver cutting edge testing and research to make it happen. UKTL is committed to collaboration, delivering valuable work that reassures industry, government and academia, and we support the telecoms sector in its efforts to align with the world leading Telecoms Security Act and Code of Practice. We will put the UK on the map as a world leader in open and interoperable networking, actively shaping the future of the nation’s digital infrastructure.

Current vacancies

View all our roles

Security Testing

Senior DevSecOps Engineer

At UKTL, you will play a key part in supporting the team conducting testing and research, and will work alongside our infrastructure and cybersecurity professionals to develop a resilient and secure telecoms infrastructure…

Apply to be a Senior DevSecOps Engineer

Security Research

Senior Vulnerability Researcher

Play a senior role in a small team of researchers, tackling cyber problems that impact the UK’s national security. You will be instrumental in supporting an industry-leading security facility, encouraging a network…

Apply for the Senior Vulnerability Researcher role

Join a dedicated security team tackling some of the most interesting cyber problems affecting the UK’s national security. You will conduct security evaluations to identify new and existing vulnerabilities in the hardware…

Apply for this security role

"The security of the UK’s telecoms networks is of paramount importance, with these networks recognised as critical infrastructure since 2020. The UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL) plays a leading role in shaping the future of the UK’s telecoms infrastructure, offering a secure and confidential space for the research into and testing of telecoms network security. Since opening in 2023, this flagship facility in Solihull is helping to strengthen our national security by testing security vulnerabilities of major vendor's network equipment, working with new vendors to help diversify the supply chain and creating career opportunities in telecoms security."

Sir Chris Bryant, Telecoms Minister, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)

“UKTL is a foundational component of our strategy for ensuring and assuring the cybersecurity of both current and future telecommunications technologies and networks. By building this unique national laboratory, we enable mission collaboration between experts across government, industry, and academia to achieve outcomes that would not otherwise be possible. UKTL facilitates experts across the cybersecurity and telecommunications sectors to work together on real-world equipment and networks, collectively developing the understanding and capability to manage those threats and vulnerabilities that pose national security risks.”

Ollie Whitehouse, Chief Technology Officer, National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)

“Leveraging technology to create a better and safer world is a driving force of the West Midlands business ecosystem. By nurturing innovation to shape the future of global telecoms and cybersecurity networks, UKTL exemplifies this mission and we look forward to supporting their continued growth at Solihull’s UK Central.”

Neil Rami, Chief Executive, West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC)

Key stakeholders

UKTL is funded by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and works with a range of partners including the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), Ofcom, The UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN), Digital Catapult and West Midlands Growth Company (WMGC).

UKTL works in collaboration with primary operators and vendors to keep the UK safe such as Vodafone, BT/EE, VMO2, Three, Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and Rakuten.

We contribute to telecoms security research and engage with innovation and skills development communities across the UK. Our strong partnerships within the telecoms security and academic sectors leverage NPL’s vast network and rich heritage, and the expertise of our highly skilled specialists. 