West Midlands 5G pilot ‘welcome step’ towards successful national rollout

Published: 4 Sep 2018

By: NIC

Tagged:

Bullring Shopping Centre Design- Birmingham, UK

Ministers today confirmed that the West Midlands is to become the UK’s first-ever multi-city testbed for 5G mobile technology – matching a key recommendation from the National Infrastructure Commission to support its nationwide rollout.

Digital Minister Margot James announced plans for an initial £25million towards the pilot, to be matched by the West Midlands Combined Authority. The pilot will support trials across Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton, and will see the rollout of “connected ambulances” so paramedics can access expert advice while on the scene, online GP consultations and CCTV on public transport enabled through artificial intelligence technology.

The announcement comes after the publication of the National Infrastructure Commission’s Connected Future report in December 2016. The report set out how the UK could become a world leader in 5G technology, which would help to improve the country’s international competitiveness and support a whole new way of communicating and doing business in the future. The need to establish 5G pilot programmes to inform timely and successful nationwide 5G rollout was among the report’s key recommendations.

Responding to today’s announcement a National Infrastructure Commission spokesperson said:

“Mobile connectivity is a necessity wherever we live, work and travel. The rollout of 5G will be crucial in unlocking the UK’s full economic potential and today’s announcement marks a welcome step towards making this a reality.

“As our Connected Future report showed, the lessons learnt from local projects will be vital to inform the timely rollout of 5G nationwide in the future.

“We look forward to seeing the benefits of innovative 5G technologies brought to life across the West Midlands.”

Share this article

<

Recent Articles

Coming up in 2024
Thumbtack pins in calendar concept for busy, appointment and meeting reminder

Coming up in 2024

This page shows a calendar reflecting the latest expected dates for Commission reports, publications and events. You can also sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter by entering your email address in the box at the foot of each website page.

1 Feb 2024 By
Winser: NAO call for robust plan to boost low carbon heating “absolutely right”
picture of a heat pump by a wall

Winser: NAO call for robust plan to boost low carbon heating “absolutely right”

A National Audit Office report out today (18 March 2024) says heat pump installations are falling well below the level needed to meet the government’s targets of 600,000 units installed each year by 2028. The NAO says in response that a more robust plan from government and greater clarity on the future role if any...

18 Mar 2024 By
Government response on surface water flooding risk “does not meet scale of challenge”
A car splashes through a flooded Farringdon Lane in central London after a day of heavy rain.

Government response on surface water flooding risk “does not meet scale of challenge”

The government has today (13 March 2024) responded to the Commission’s study on reducing the risks of surface water flooding, published in November 2022. While it accepts the principles behind a number of the Commission’s recommendations, the government’s response – in the Commission’s view – makes few new commitments on steps to manage surface water...

13 Mar 2024 By
James Heath: urgent planning reform needed to remove “binding constraint” on UK’s economic future
A modern bridge over a dual carriageway cutting through British farmland

James Heath: urgent planning reform needed to remove “binding constraint” on UK’s economic future

James Heath, chief executive of the National Infrastructure Commission, spoke at the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects Forum in London yesterday (6 March). James offered the Commission’s view on the vital importance of speeding up the planning regime for major projects, given the need for pace in delivering tens of billions of pounds’ worth of schemes...

7 Mar 2024 By

Evidence_Icon_Turquoise Created with Sketch.

Explore data used in the Commission's research, and gain insights from across UK infrastructure

Join our team of professionals supporting the Commission to provide evidence based and forward thinking advice on infrastructure strategy.