The UK government has committed £16 million to 5G research to help ensure Britain remains a leader in mobile technology development.
Forecasts suggest that by 2030 5G could contribute up to £173 billion to the UK economy, making the £16 million research investment a relatively small outlay with potentially large returns.
Andrew Jones MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, said the government is prioritising digital innovation. He noted, “We are investing £740 million from the National Productivity Investment Fund to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure, and today’s announcement will help provide people and businesses with the next generation of connections.”
The research will be led by specialists at King’s College London and the Universities of Surrey and Bristol. Their goal is to build an advanced 5G test network designed to accelerate commercial adoption so businesses and consumers can access new services sooner.
Professor Andrew Nix, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Head of the Communication Systems & Networks group at the University of Bristol, highlighted the university’s contributions: “Through our Smart Internet Lab we’ve developed impressive 5G technologies. For example, we hold the world record for spectral efficiency with our 5G Massive MIMO base station, and we’re a global leader in millimetre-wave spectrum and software-defined networking. Working with industrial and academic partners, we aim to showcase the new services that 5G networks will enable.”
The enhanced speed, coverage, and reliability of 5G will unlock fresh applications for mobile technology. It will bolster emerging technologies such as virtual reality and autonomous vehicles, and play a pivotal role in expanding the Internet of Things (IoT) as an ever-growing number of devices and sensors come online.
Matt Hancock, Minister for Digital, said the government wants the UK to be at the forefront of 5G development. “This funding will support pioneering research needed to harness the potential of this technology to drive innovation, create jobs and boost the economy,” he stated. “We know 5G can deliver more reliable, ultra-fast mobile connectivity with lower latency and greater data capacity, and I’m pleased King’s College London and the universities of Surrey and Bristol will collaborate on this project.”
Countries that lead in 5G deployment are poised to capture substantial economic gains, and the UK government intends for Britain to be among them. The funding is aimed at delivering a complete 5G end-to-end trial in early 2018 to demonstrate practical use cases and accelerate adoption.
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