United Kingdom · Technology and data · Principal/Manager (12-16 years)

Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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Free to start: a plan built for this role, and a Future Fluency module to try first. No card.

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  • Experience bandPrincipal/Manager (12-16 years)
  • Direct reports10-25 reports
  • Reports toDirector of Radio Network Engineering
  • UK framework levelUsually someone running a function, or a director

Also advertised as Head of RF Optimisation · 5G Solutions Lead · Lead Radio Network Architect · Senior Manager, 5G Engineering

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in qualifications employers recognise

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in IT-Networking Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 5 standards
Qualifi Level 5 Diploma in IT-Networking Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 5 standards
Qualifi Level 5 Diploma in Information Technology Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 5 standards
Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Information Technology Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 5 standards
Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in Networking and Cyber Security Qualifi Ltd · Level 5 · covers 1 of 5 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Professional Competence for IT and Telecoms Professionals Pearson Education Ltd · Level 4 · covers 1 of 5 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Network Design and Administration Qualifi Level 5 Extended Diploma in IT-Networking
Cisco Discovery Designing and Supporting Computer Networks Pearson BTEC Level 4 Diploma in Professional Competence for IT and Telecoms Professionals

The future skills this job leans on

AI Fluency working with AI as a thinking partner
Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
AI Governance Fluency using AI responsibly
Change Fluency taking people through change
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager

2 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Network Design and Administration Qualifi Ltd · covers 1 of 5 standards Level 5
  2. Cisco Discovery Designing and Supporting Computer Networks Pearson Education Ltd · covers 1 of 5 standards Level 4
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Open RAN Ecosystem Management & Integration
  • AI/ML for Advanced Network Autonomy (Self-Optimising Networks)
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager plan as you set up, starting with a Future Fluency module on using AI in your job. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

3What this role really is

This job involves leading the design, optimisation and evolution of a 5G network. You handle the toughest technical problems and set the standard for how the network is built. You lead a team and work deep in the architecture, making sure the network performs well and is ready for what comes next. It combines hands-on technical leadership with strategic planning.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

Forsk Atoll / Infovista Planet (RF Planning & Simulation) Expert

Owning the strategic network design model, making platform decisions, and managing enterprise-wide licenses and integrations. You'll ensure the models accurately reflect our network and future needs.

TEMS Investigation / Accuver XCAL/XCAP / NEMO Analyze (Drive Test & Post-Processing) Expert

Setting the national standard for data collection and analysis methodology. You'll use aggregated data to identify systemic network issues and drive vendor feature requirements, ensuring our testing is robust.

NetScout / Viavi Observer / Keysight Hawkeye (Performance Monitoring & Assurance) Expert

Architecting the end-to-end service assurance strategy. You'll use platform data to justify major network investments and hold vendors accountable to performance SLAs, ensuring our monitoring gives us real insights.

Rohde & Schwarz FSW / Keysight FieldFox / Anritsu Site Master (Spectrum Analyzers & Test Gear) Expert

Defining the company's spectrum clearance and interference mitigation policies. You'll evaluate and select next-generation test equipment, making sure our field teams have the best tools for the job.

Leading the network automation strategy. You'll design APIs for integrating various network data sources to create a 'self-optimising network' framework, driving efficiency and reducing manual errors.

AWS Wavelength / Azure for Operators / Google Anthos (Cloud & Edge Platforms) Expert

Architecting the operator's strategy for edge computing and private 5G networks, selecting cloud partners and integration methodologies. You'll decide how we use cloud to enhance our 5G offerings.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Network Architecture & Design Standards Follows established design guidelines and templates. Adapts standard approaches for specific project needs; proposes minor improvements. Designs and implements new architectural components; makes technical decisions within project scope.
Budget Allocation & Vendor Selection No authority; escalates all purchasing needs. Recommends tools or minor purchases to manager. Recommends vendors for specific project tools (up to £5K); consults on larger purchases.
Team Hiring & Development No involvement beyond interviewing for peer roles. Participates in interviews; provides feedback on candidates. Mentors junior engineers; provides input on team structure.
Critical Network Outage Response Executes defined troubleshooting steps under supervision. Independently troubleshoots routine issues; escalates complex ones. Leads troubleshooting for complex, cross-domain issues; makes technical fixes.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

Network TCO Reduction
Reducing the overall cost of owning and operating our radio access network.
Target · Achieve a 5-10% year-over-year reduction in RAN TCO.

Identifying and implementing a new software feature that reduces power consumption across 500 cell sites, saving £500K annually, or optimising vendor contracts for a 7% saving.

New Technology Introduction & Scaling
Successfully bringing new 5G technologies (like Open RAN or mmWave) from pilot to full deployment.
Target · Successfully introduce and scale at least one major new 5G technology or architecture on time and within budget each year.

Leading the successful deployment of Open RAN across 100 sites, meeting all performance KPIs and budget targets by Q4.

Competitive Network Performance Ranking
Our network's standing against competitors in independent performance benchmarks.
Target · Consistently rank in the top 2 of major independent network benchmark reports (e.g., RootMetrics, Ookla) for 5G speed and reliability.

Maintaining our #1 or #2 position for average 5G download speeds in key urban areas for four consecutive quarters, as verified by independent testing.

Team Productivity & Efficiency
How effectively your team delivers projects and resolves complex issues.
Target · Improve average project delivery time by 15% and reduce mean time to resolve (MTTR) for critical network issues by 20% year-over-year.

Implementing new automation tools that cut the time needed for network parameter audits by 30%, freeing up engineers for more strategic work, or seeing a complex VoNR issue resolved in 4 hours instead of 5.

Strategic Influence & Thought Leadership
Being seen as the definitive expert and a strategic voice within the organisation and with key vendors.
  • You're regularly consulted by senior leadership on future network strategy. Your team's proposals are frequently adopted. You're asked to represent the company in industry forums or vendor strategy sessions. People actively seek your opinion on complex architectural decisions, not just your team's output.
Team Development & Mentorship
The growth and success of your direct reports and the broader engineering team.
  • At least one of your direct reports is promoted or takes on significantly expanded responsibilities each year. Your team members consistently report high levels of job satisfaction and professional growth in internal surveys. You're known for creating a supportive environment where engineers can learn and thrive, and your mentees actively seek your guidance.
Vendor Relationship Management
How effectively you manage our relationships with key 5G technology providers.
  • You consistently secure favourable terms, feature roadmaps, and support levels from our vendors. Vendors proactively come to you with new solutions and listen to your feedback. You're able to hold vendors accountable to SLAs and drive resolution on complex issues without constant escalation from your Director.
Architectural Soundness & Future-Proofing
Ensuring our 5G network architecture is robust, scalable, and ready for future demands.
  • Our network experiences fewer major architectural bottlenecks or performance surprises. New services can be deployed smoothly without significant re-architecture. Your designs are praised for their foresight and adaptability to evolving 3GPP standards and market demands. You've successfully anticipated future capacity needs before they become critical.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Shaping the Future of the Network

You'll spend time researching emerging 3GPP standards, evaluating new vendor technologies, and designing architectural blueprints for the next 3-5 years of our 5G evolution. It's about seeing your vision for the network come to life.

Leading the technical evaluation and eventual rollout strategy for a new spectrum band, knowing your decisions will impact millions of users for years to come.

Solving the Hardest Technical Puzzles

When a complex, intermittent network issue arises that no one else can crack, you're the one who dives in, often orchestrating cross-functional teams to find the elusive root cause. You thrive on the intellectual challenge of debugging at an architectural level.

Diagnosing a subtle interaction between a new 5G feature and an older core network element that's causing sporadic service degradation, then designing a robust fix.

Developing and Mentoring Talent

You'll spend a significant portion of your week coaching junior and senior engineers, reviewing their designs, providing technical guidance, and helping them navigate their career paths. Seeing your team grow and succeed is a huge driver for you.

Mentoring a Senior 5G Specialist who then successfully leads a major network upgrade project, demonstrating significant growth in their technical and leadership abilities.

What frustrates people
  • Being caught in the middle of multi-vendor blame games during critical outages.
  • The slow pace of change when trying to implement innovative architectural shifts due to legacy infrastructure.
  • Having to repeatedly explain fundamental RF principles to senior management who demand unrealistic 'quick fixes'.
  • Dealing with outdated documentation or inaccurate site data that complicates troubleshooting and planning.
  • The constant pressure to reduce costs while simultaneously improving network performance and introducing new features.
What this role does not give you
  • A purely hands-on, individual contributor role without any team management or strategic oversight.
  • A static technical environment where the core technology rarely changes.
  • A role where every single one of your brilliant technical ideas gets immediate, full funding and deployment.
  • Complete autonomy over all decisions without any need for stakeholder alignment or budget approvals.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts our network's Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), customer satisfaction, and our ability to launch new 5G-enabled services. Your decisions here affect everything from our market position to our operational efficiency and, ultimately, our profitability. It's a big deal, honestly.

Inside the business
  • Director of Radio Network Engineering
  • Core Network Architecture Team
  • Product Development & Innovation
  • Field Operations & Maintenance
  • Finance Department (for budget reviews)
Outside the business
  • Key 5G Network Vendors (e.g., Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei)
  • Industry Standards Bodies (e.g., 3GPP)
  • External Consultants & Technology Partners

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • At least 12 years of progressive experience in 5G/LTE network design, optimisation, and operations, with a significant portion focused on 5G NR.
  • Proven experience in leading and managing a team of highly technical engineers, including performance management and career development.
  • Demonstrable experience in defining technical strategy and architectural blueprints for large-scale mobile networks.
  • A track record of successfully managing significant budgets (e.g., £500K+) and delivering projects on time and within financial constraints.
  • Expert-level understanding of the entire 5G end-to-end network architecture, from UE to core, including cloud-native principles.
  • Strong experience in vendor management, including contract negotiation, performance oversight, and roadmap influence.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of explaining complex technical concepts to non-technical executive audiences.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Quantum-Safe Cryptography in 5G

The advent of quantum computing poses a significant threat to current cryptographic standards. Future 5G networks will need to integrate quantum-safe algorithms to protect sensitive data and communications, requiring architects to understand and implement these new security paradigms.

Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Algorithms · Hybrid Cryptography · Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) Integration · Supply Chain Security for PQC

  • This quarter: Read introductory papers on quantum computing and its impact on current encryption methods.
  • Next 6 months: Research NIST's PQC standardisation process and the leading algorithms.
  • Next 12 months: Engage with our security and core network teams to understand current cryptographic implementations and future needs.
  • Ongoing: Monitor vendor roadmaps for quantum-safe 5G solutions and participate in relevant industry discussions.

Quick win: Identify one critical 5G interface where a quantum attack would be most devastating and begin researching potential PQC solutions for it.

Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) Integration

5G is expanding beyond terrestrial networks to include satellite and high-altitude platform stations (HAPS). Integrating NTN will extend 5G coverage to remote areas, enable new use cases (e.g., IoT in remote regions), and provide resilience, but it brings unique technical challenges.

3GPP NTN Standards · Link Budgeting for Satellite Communications · Handover & Mobility Management in NTN · Regulatory & Spectrum Considerations for NTN

  • This quarter: Research current NTN deployments and trials by other operators and vendors.
  • Next 6 months: Take an online course or read up on satellite communication fundamentals and 3GPP NTN specifications.
  • Next 12 months: Evaluate potential use cases for NTN within our network strategy (e.g., rural coverage, disaster recovery).
  • Ongoing: Build relationships with satellite operators and NTN technology providers.

Quick win: Identify a specific geographic area where terrestrial 5G coverage is challenging and explore how NTN could provide a viable solution, even if it's just a theoretical exercise.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Regularly attending industry conferences and workshops (e.g., Mobile World Congress, 5G World) to stay abreast of the latest technologies and trends.
  • Actively participating in industry working groups or standards bodies (e.g., O-RAN Alliance, 3GPP) to influence future network evolution.
  • Publishing technical papers or presenting at industry events, positioning yourself and the company as thought leaders.
  • Engaging in continuous learning through online courses, advanced degrees, or specialised training in areas like AI/ML for telecoms, quantum computing, or advanced network security.
  • Mentoring junior engineers and actively contributing to internal knowledge sharing initiatives.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Open RAN Ecosystem Management & Integration

Open RAN is fundamentally changing how we build and deploy mobile networks, offering greater flexibility and vendor diversity. However, it also introduces new complexities in integration, interoperability, and performance optimisation across multiple vendors. Your ability to navigate this multi-vendor landscape will be crucial.

  • O-RAN Alliance Specifications
  • Multi-Vendor Integration Challenges
  • RIC (RAN Intelligent Controller) Application Development
  • Security in Disaggregated RAN

AI/ML for Advanced Network Autonomy (Self-Optimising Networks)

As 5G networks become more complex, manual optimisation and troubleshooting are unsustainable. AI/ML will move beyond simple automation to enable truly self-optimising and self-healing networks, requiring architects to design for autonomy rather than just react to issues.

  • Reinforcement Learning in RAN
  • Predictive Analytics for Network Faults
  • AI-driven Network Slicing Orchestration
  • Data Governance for AI Training

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Strategic 5G NR Air Interface Optimisation & Standardisation
  • End-to-End (E2E) Call Flow Architecture & Troubleshooting
  • Advanced RF Propagation Modelling & Network Design
  • Network Slicing & QoS Architectural Implementation
  • Interference Management & Mitigation Policy
  • RAN Virtualization (vRAN/Open RAN) Strategy & Integration

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Senior 5G Specialist / Senior RF Engineer

    5-8 years of experience, then 3-5 years in this senior role.

    Skills to master

    • Leading complex optimisation projects, mentoring junior engineers, making technical decisions within project scope, and developing strong problem-solving skills for non-routine situations.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently delivering measurable improvements in network KPIs for major projects.
    • Being the go-to expert for tough technical challenges within your domain.
    • Successfully mentoring 2-3 junior engineers who show significant growth.
    • Proactively identifying and proposing solutions for systemic network issues.
  2. 2

    Lead 5G Engineer / Staff RF Design Engineer

    8-12 years of experience, then 2-4 years in this lead role.

    Skills to master

    • Architecting network solutions for new venues or technologies, managing multiple workstreams, influencing senior stakeholders, and potentially leading a small team or a significant programme.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully designing and implementing a major new network feature or solution (e.g., private 5G network, new spectrum band deployment).
    • Demonstrating strong influence over technical direction and resource allocation.
    • Consistently anticipating and mitigating potential network issues before they become critical.
    • Building and leading a small, high-performing project team.
  3. 3

    Technical Programme Manager (with 5G specialisation)

    10-14 years of experience, with 3-5 years managing complex technical programmes.

    Skills to master

    • End-to-end programme management, cross-functional stakeholder management, budget oversight for large technical initiatives, and a deep understanding of 5G deployment lifecycle.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Successfully delivering large-scale 5G deployment or upgrade programmes on time and within budget.
    • Expertise in managing risks and dependencies across multiple technical teams and vendors.
    • Strong ability to communicate programme status and technical challenges to executive leadership.
    • Demonstrating a blend of technical depth and strong project execution.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This role can lead to strategic positions such as Director of Network Strategy, senior technical roles such as Chief Network Architect, or executive positions such as Chief Network Officer.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager is actually changing.

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Network Design and Administration, worked against Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager.

Network Design and Administration Level 5

Applied to your work in Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager

This unit aims to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of network design principles and administration practices. Upon completion, learners will be able to configure LANs and VLANs, and administer networks effectively, including user management, security protocols, and resource allocation.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager
  • Strategic 5G NR Air Interface Optimisation & Standardisation
  • End-to-End (E2E) Call Flow Architecture & Troubleshooting
  • Advanced RF Propagation Modelling & Network Design
  • Network Slicing & QoS Architectural Implementation
  • Interference Management & Mitigation Policy
  • RAN Virtualization (vRAN/Open RAN) Strategy & Integration
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Director of Radio Network Engineering

    Roughly 3-5 years in the Principal/Manager role.

    This is a significant jump to a Level 6 role, overseeing a larger department and multi-year strategic initiatives.

    • Defining multi-year technology strategy for the entire RAN business unit.
    • Leading major vendor contract negotiations at an executive level.
    • Driving innovation and R&D initiatives for next-generation mobile technologies.
    • Shaping go-to-market strategies for new 5G services.
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, as a Principal Architect or Manager, your time is precious. You should be focused on strategic thinking, team development, and solving the really tough architectural problems, not getting bogged down in routine analysis or report generation. That's where AI comes in. We're embedding AI tools across our technical operations to help you and your team work smarter, not just harder.

Imagine having a co-pilot that handles the grunt work, allowing you to dedicate more brainpower to innovation and leadership. Our AI Productivity Hub isn't just a buzzword; it's a suite of practical tools tailored for 5G specialists that can transform your daily workflow, freeing you up to truly move the needle on network performance and strategy.

AI-Driven Root Cause Analysis for Team Oversight

Instead of manually reviewing every log from a major network incident, AI automatically parses terabytes of gNB logs, correlating events across thousands of cells. It'll give your team a prioritised list of probable root causes in minutes, not days, allowing you to quickly validate and direct their efforts towards strategic fixes. This means less time chasing ghosts and more time implementing solutions.

Predictive Network Optimisation for Strategic Planning

AI analyses historical traffic, RF data, and even external events to predict congestion hotspots or performance degradations before they happen. It then recommends proactive parameter changes or capacity upgrades, giving you the data to justify strategic investments and avoid customer-impacting issues. You'll be able to make data-backed decisions on where to focus your team's optimisation efforts.

Intelligent Interference Prioritisation & Mitigation

AI/ML algorithms continuously analyse spectral data, automatically classifying and locating sources of RF interference (PIM, external jammers). This generates a prioritised 'hit list' for your field teams, ensuring they're always working on the most impactful interference issues, rather than chasing low-priority signals. You'll see a measurable impact on network quality and reduced field costs.

Automated KPI Anomaly Reporting & Executive Summaries

AI monitors thousands of KPIs in real-time. When it detects a significant deviation, it auto-generates a preliminary incident report, complete with charts, impact analysis, and probable causes. This doesn't just help your team start solving faster; it can also draft executive summaries for you, saving you hours of report writing and allowing you to focus on the strategic implications rather than the formatting.

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager?

Common routes in include Senior 5G Specialist / Senior RF Engineer (5-8 years of experience, then 3-5 years in this senior role.), Lead 5G Engineer / Staff RF Design Engineer (8-12 years of experience, then 2-4 years in this lead role.) and Technical Programme Manager (with 5G specialisation) (10-14 years of experience, with 3-5 years managing complex technical programmes.). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager progress to?

This role can lead on to Director of Radio Network Engineering (Roughly 3-5 years in the Principal/Manager role.), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Principal 5G Architect / RF Engineering Manager?

Increasingly, Open RAN Ecosystem Management & Integration and AI/ML for Advanced Network Autonomy (Self-Optimising Networks). These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 6

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

More jobs in technology and data

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.

If you leave this industry

The skills built in this role, including 5G expertise, strategic planning, team leadership and complex system architecture, apply beyond one network. They can lead to roles at network equipment vendors, consultancy work for other operators, or work in private networking, IoT or satellite communications.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my plan, free What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.