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Communication Equipment Manufacturing in the UK - Market Size, Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecasts (2025-2029)

IBISWorld IBISWorld London, United Kingdom Last Updated: April 2025 SIC UK-C263

Revenue

£65.9bn

2025-26

£68.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£X.Xbn

Employees

295k

Businesses

6,766

Wages

£X.Xbn

Communication Equipment Manufacturing in the UK industry analysis

The communication equipment industry is experiencing high demand for smartphones, burglar alarms and fire and smoke detectors. Modern smartphones are equipped with numerous functions that make life easier for consumers, while sales of traditional home phones have declined. As technology advances and regulations tighten, interest in security devices such as burglar and fire alarms is growing. Despite these advances, the industry is facing saturation and significant competition, particularly from abroad. As a result, many European manufacturers have relocated their production to Asian countries such as China and Vietnam to take advantage of lower labour costs and access to unsaturated markets. Over the five years through 2024, industry revenue is expected to sink at a compound annual rate of 5.2% to €65.9 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Technological and regulatory changes shape the industry. Demand for smartphones is increasing, while demand for wired home phones is declining. Stricter regulations and technological changes are leading to an increase in demand for burglar alarms and fire alarms.
  • A drop in export volumes due to tariffs. With the US imposing a 10% universal tariff on EU goods, including communication equipment, European products will become more expensive and less attractive in the US market, likely leading to a fall in export volumes.
  • Most manufacturers have low market shares. In Europe, there are hardly any manufacturers that dominate the market, resulting in a low level of market concentration. Most manufacturers concentrate on niche segments and have low market shares.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report

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What is the market size of the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

The market size of the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £65.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?

There are 6,766 businesses in the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.6 % between 2020 and 2025.

Has the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 2.2 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What does the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Data reception and transmission equipment and Telephones are part of the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

How competitive is the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Communication Equipment Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

Everything you need in one report

  • Reliable market estimates from 2015-2030
  • Competitive analysis, industry segmentation, financial benchmarks
  • Powerful SWOT, Porter’s Five Forces and risk management frameworks
  • Online membership platform with PDF, Word, Excel and PPT exports

Table of Contents

External Environment

Highlights

Trends
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key Takeaways

Manufacturers must comply with safety and waste regulations. Communication equipment manufacturers must comply with the RED directive for safety, ensure RoHS compliance to limit hazardous substances and follow the WEEE directives for responsible disposal of electronic waste.

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External Drivers

Analysis

What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Communication Equipment Manufacturing in the UK industry?

Financial Benchmarks

Highlights

Trends
  • Profit Margin
  • Average Wage
  • Largest Cost

Key Takeaways

Profitability is likely to decline in the coming years. The industry's high profitability is attributable to rapid technological progress and short product life cycles. Increasing competition and regulatory costs could reduce profit margins over the next five years.

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Cost Structure

Charts
  • Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
  • Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
    • Marketing
    • Depreciation
    • Profit
    • Purchases
    • Wages
    • Rent
    • Utilities
    • Other
Analysis

What trends impact cost in the Communication Equipment Manufacturing in the UK industry?


Key Ratios

Data tables
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)

Country Benchmarks

European Leaders & Laggards

Data Tables

Top and bottom five countries listed for each:

  • Revenue Growth (2025)
  • Business Growth (2025)
  • Job Growth (2025)

European Country Performance

Data Tables

Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:

  • IVA/Revenue (2025)
  • Imports/Demand (2025)
  • Exports/Revenue (2025)
  • Revenue per Employee (2025)
  • Wages/Revenue (2025)
  • Employees per Establishment (2025)
  • Average Wage (2025)

Structural Comparison

Data Tables

Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe

  • Concentration
  • Competition
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Buyer Power
  • Supplier Power
  • Volatility
  • Capital Intensity
  • Innovation
  • Life Cycle

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Methodology

Where does IBISWorld source its data?

IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.

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