UK Government releases £40m for further 5G testbed and trial projects

While previous investment in the 5G testbeds and trials programme has driven work in the healthcare, tourism, transport and broadcasting sectors, this latest investment will support similar work in the logistics and manufacturing sectors. The projects will trial ways of boosting these sectors’ productivity and could cover different manufacturing processes as well as across road, air, and sea based freight logistics.

This latest round of investment is through a £200 million project to test 5G. In addition to the funding, the government will consult on proposals to simplify planning processes in England to both support the further roll-out of 4G and aid the faster introduction of 5G.

DCMS expects that a public competition will launch later this year for the next 5G testbed and trials in the UK. It will be open to bids from across the whole of the UK. The funding announcement also mentions that the government has “undertaken a thorough, evidence-based and hard-headed review of the 5G supply chain to ensure the secure and resilient roll-out of 5G. Throughout the review, we have consulted extensively with industry and have been clear from the start on their need to comply with the government’s final decision which will be published in due course.”