UK launches £40m fund to drive regional IoT and 5G innovation

The UK is launching a £40m fund to boost digital connectivity and accelerate the development of advanced wireless technologies.

Rural communities across the country will be empowered to build smarter, more connected communities with potential applications ranging from future agriculture to cutting-edge healthcare solutions enabled by IoT and 5G connectivity. You can get

Starting today, local governments can submit applications to secure a portion of a multi-million pound fund aimed at accelerating innovation in areas such as advanced manufacturing, transport, agriculture and public services. became.

The main goal is to establish a 5G innovation region, with funds allocated to areas that show strong potential to promote the adoption and development of 5G and other innovative technologies.

The benefits of IoT technology powered by 5G are immeasurable. By leveraging advanced wireless connectivity, towns, cities and rural communities can open up new economic opportunities, attract commercial investment and improve public service delivery. The potential applications are wide-ranging as it can connect various sensors and devices.

One such application is deploying 5G-enabled drones to scan fields and crops and collect real-time data on weather and environmental conditions, helping farmers turn data into more efficient agriculture. It is about making informed decisions. Additionally, the integration of his 5G sensors to analyze and manage traffic will improve air quality, reduce congestion in city centers and improve overall quality of life.

Research shows that 5G adoption could deliver up to £159 billion in productivity gains by 2035, making investment in cutting-edge wireless technology even more important.

Sir John Whittingdale, Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure, commented:

“The widespread adoption of 5G-powered technology can deliver more efficient public services, new opportunities for residents and businesses, and drive economic growth. will give the UK a chance to be at the forefront of the 5G revolution as the UK leads the world. ”

The creation of 5G Innovation Regions will help break down barriers that may hinder the deployment of advanced wireless technologies at the regional level. This will provide all communities with the opportunity to lead the UK’s world-leading 5G revolution, ensuring a more inclusive and connected society.

Hamish McLeod CEO mobile ukSaid:

“Accelerating 5G adoption is key to realizing the full benefits of this technology, and the government’s new £40m fund to support innovation regions is an important step.

I look forward to the active participation of local governments to better enable communities and businesses to realize the benefits of advanced wireless connectivity.

Advanced wireless technology will also be key in driving the government’s ambition to use the digital transformation to build a more inclusive, competitive and innovative digital economy, creating quality jobs in new and emerging sectors. We help create and provide reliable, high-speed connectivity to residents and residents. business. ”

To complement the 5G innovation area, UK Telecommunications Innovation Network (UKTIN) launches a nationwide campaign to encourage cooperation among companies, telecom providers and vendors interested in deploying 5G services.

The new campaign educates businesses on the benefits of 5G and provides guidance on accessing this transformative technology across sectors such as transportation and manufacturing.

UKTIN Director Nick Johnson said:

“Our recently expanded mandate also includes government adoption programs, and this important initiative is at the forefront of our work. Supporting key industry verticals and locations for installing and deploying wireless connectivity solutions is critical to achieving our mission.

We work with innovation and capability clusters across the UK to understand the challenges, raise awareness and help make communication services and solutions easier to access, now and in the future. What this means for the 5G innovation landscape is to work with successful local authorities to understand and disseminate their work to all regions and decentralized nations, ensuring actionable insights across the UK. It’s about making it accessible.

We will also develop practical and actionable toolkits to support different locations and vertical sectors to address the complexities of when, what and how to deploy solutions. Only by creating demand in this way and helping organizations overcome the hurdles of technology adoption can the true potential of new innovations be realized. ”

Successful bidders in the 5G Innovation Region will receive government support through the DSIT Future Network Program Team and UKTIN until March 2025. This support will enable us to develop a robust digital ecosystem, leverage emerging technologies, and achieve synergies with national initiatives such as Project Gigabit and Investments. Zones and empowerment deals to stimulate digital growth in the region.

application of fund The deadline is September 3, and the winning bidder will be announced later this year.

(photo courtesy Chris Lawton upon unsplash)

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tag: 5g, 5g innovation region, Connectivity, internet of things, IoT, England, British government, Uktin