The government has disclosed the ten regions across the UK that are set to benefit from its £36m 5G Innovation Regions (5GIRs) programme.
The funding will enable several projects designed to allow local authorities to take full advantage of the benefits afforded by advanced wireless connectivity.
The multi-local authority areas that will receive a share of the £36m pot are:
- Greater Manchester
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- Cumberland
- North Ayrshire
- Oxfordshire
- Sunderland
- Shropshire
- Belfast
- Glasgow
The 5GIRs programme is part of the government’s overall Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which aims to unlock growth, potential and innovation throughout the UK.
It is also looking to stimulate the demand for advanced connectivity, citing research suggesting that widespread adoption of 5G technology could boost productivity to the tune of £159bn by 2035.
To support local areas in these goals, a new advisory group is being launched with representatives from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Fund will support smart energy hubs and tech for the film industry
The ten winning regions will use the funding to support various projects involving 5G and other advanced connectivity technologies.
Belfast City Council, for example, will use part of its £3.8m share to fund ‘5G-in-a-box’ technology, which can be used to provide high-capacity uplinks for production studios and on-location filming.
Other parts of the funding will be used to digitise operations within the city’s port and exploit 5G connectivity on transport routes.
Greater Manchester has been awarded £3m, which will be put into 5G-enabled heat pumps as part of a Smart Energy Grid and a digital road network that aims to reduce emissions and congestion.
Oxfordshire County Council is looking to use its £3.8m to help establish several 5G Science Parks in the region.
These will support research and development in several different areas, including health, space, quantum and energy clusters.
Sussex County Council will spend £3.8m supporting areas such as sustainability and future farming.
Cumberland will use 5G to boost the tourist industry, and Sunderland will enhance its port safety and competitiveness.
Nick Johnson, head of the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN), said that he was delighted to see recipients of the funding located widely across the UK, where they were “helping to boost the adoption of advanced communication technologies across a range of vertical sectors”.
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