Ten multi-local authority areas across the United Kingdom will share £36 million in funding after being designated as 5G Innovation Regions (5GIRs). The programme is designed to accelerate the development and adoption of 5G and related advanced wireless technologies, improving connectivity for urban, suburban and rural communities and supporting new digitally enabled services.
Glasgow City Region is among the successful areas and will receive more than £3 million to deliver a healthcare-focused programme that combines 5G with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Planned initiatives include remote monitoring of public assets, environmentally sustainable social housing solutions, and enhanced health and social care monitoring services to improve outcomes and efficiency.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority will also be awarded in excess of £3 million to 5G-enable hundreds of air-source heat pumps within social housing. This project aims to speed the development of smart energy grids, enable more effective monitoring and management of energy use, and deliver tangible cost savings for residents, businesses and public services.
These investments form part of the government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy and the 5G Innovation Regions programme, which seeks to stimulate innovation across a wide range of sectors including advanced manufacturing, transport, agriculture, the creative industries and public services. By seeding local projects, the programme intends to demonstrate how 5G and digital technologies can create better-connected places and unlock new economic and social opportunities.
Minister John Whittingdale said the funding “will reshape public services, drive economic growth and boost innovation,” highlighting that 5G’s impact will extend far beyond mobile phones to transform multiple sectors.
The announcement also coincides with the formation of a new advisory board representing all parts of the UK. This group will help local areas prepare recommendations for government on how to achieve national digital connectivity objectives, attract investment and encourage local adoption of advanced connectivity projects.
Each 5G Innovation Region will address its own mix of challenges and opportunities, providing real-world testbeds for projects that can be scaled and replicated elsewhere. The programme will therefore inform delivery approaches that prioritise practicality and sustainability while demonstrating measurable benefits.
The £36 million will be allocated across the ten winning regions to fund a diverse set of projects, from digitising port operations to establishing 5G Science Parks that support research and development in areas such as quantum technologies, space, health and energy clusters.
Beyond the designated regions, the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) will play a role in promoting nationwide adoption of 5G and other advanced communications technologies. UKTIN aims to provide practical guidance and resources that help organisations and local authorities plan and deliver connectivity projects with confidence.
Nick Johnson, Head of UKTIN, commented that the support for 5G Innovation Regions is part of a broader adoption programme intended to offer pragmatic guidance so public and private sector organisations can deploy and utilise advanced connectivity solutions at scale. He emphasised that maximising the societal benefits of technologies like 5G depends on coordinated deployment, adoption and long-term utilisation across sectors.
(Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash)
See also: 5G‑Advanced poised for enterprise success, but challenges persist