Motorola loses appeal over UK emergency services contract
A £200 million price cap on Motorola’s Airwave network will remain in place following the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
Motorola has been denied permission to appeal against the UK competition regulator’s ruling that it was making excessive profits from its contract to provide communications for Britain’s emergency services. The Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed the company’s application, upholding the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) decision to impose a price cap on Motorola’s Airwave network.
The CMA introduced the cap in July 2023, reducing the cost of the Airwave service to reflect a competitive market, cutting an estimated £200 million in annual charges. Motorola had previously challenged the regulator’s findings at a tribunal but was unsuccessful. CMA Executive Director George Lusty welcomed the court’s decision, stating it ensures fair pricing for emergency services and marks the end of the legal dispute.
A Motorola spokesperson defended the company’s role, emphasising that Airwave remains essential for UK public safety communications. Despite disagreeing with the CMA’s ruling, Motorola said it is focused on continuing to provide high-quality emergency communication services.
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