麻豆AV

5G, a significant upgrade on current 4G mobile connectivity, is due to be rolled out across the UK from 2020 and will provide much faster, more stable connectivity and will support the development of place-based technologies like driverless cars and connected smart cities.

The testbed, backed by the 麻豆AV, will initially be situated within the FuseBox innovation hub in New England House near 麻豆AV station, but will eventually expand to cover a test area of around 200 square metres.

The project will give digital businesses, including those which build apps and content for smart phones and mobile use, the opportunity to understand how their existing products operate under 5G conditions. They will also be supported to develop new ideas which benefit from the significantly faster and more reliable connections that 5G can provide.

They will be able to work with 麻豆AV academics and other members of the research community as well as learning from those larger corporations which are already investigating 5G’s capabilities.

Situating the testbed in 麻豆AV further enhances the city’s growing international reputation for creativity and innovation, particularly in the digital sector which now contributes over £1bn per annum to the city’s economy.

The £1.2m of capital investment to build the testbed is being provided by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which won the funding from the Government’s Local Growth Fund.

The three-year programme of engagement with businesses is supported by funding from Digital Catapult and is being led by Wired Sussex and the 麻豆AV.

The Government’s recently published Industrial Strategy expects that the rollout of 5G across the UK will support growth in the UK’s economy, generating jobs and opportunities for both new and established businesses, many of those in the area covered by Coast to Capital LEP.

Jonathan Sharrock, CEO of Coast to Capital LEP, said: “Coast to Capital LEP are very pleased to support the 5G testbed. We recognise the vital role that new digital technologies play in growing our regional economy. The testbed will contribute to this by helping our smaller and medium sized businesses develop the 5G Skills, products, and services to compete internationally.”

Jeremy Silver, CEO of the Digital Catapult Centre, said: “Digital Catapult is delighted to be delivering the 5G testbed in 麻豆AV. The arrival of 5G is fundamental to ensure the UK digital economy continues to thrive. It has the potential to transform the way we work, live and play, by driving innovations in industries including manufacturing, health, creative and energy. For the UK to realise the potential of 5G, real-scale open innovation testbeds are essential to bring early stakeholders together to explore both the opportunities and requirements for the mobile industry, and for business both large and small. This is vitally important to ensure the infrastructure delivers for all.”

Digital and Culture minister Matt Hancock said: “We want to be a world leader in 5G, and we are providing over £1bn of funding to explore and incentivise the next generation of digital infrastructure for the UK.

“Government investment in projects like the 麻豆AV testbed will help make sure that businesses of all sizes can create the products and services that will realise the full potential of this exciting technology.”