UK Forms Government-Backed 5G Task Force

The UK is stepping up its efforts to be a force in 5G with the creation of the UK5G innovation network, a group of researchers, technology providers, investment, regulators and vertical industry partners aiming to bolster 5G development in the country.

The government-backed group will work together on the development of 5G through test bed and trials funding, policy-making and network support, according to its advisory board chair, Rosalind Singleton, who also chairs UK Broadband, a subsidiary of Three UK. It hopes to serve as an information source for the industry and a central point of collaboration to accelerate the development and take up of 5G.

Other specific goals of the consortium include sharing lessons learned from 5G R&D activities, identifying any challenges and barriers to adoption, serving as an "attractive offer for overseas businesses wishing to understand the advantages of investment into the UK and its test-bed network," supporting inward and outward investment opportunities and hosting member events and working groups to share knowledge.

UK5G's founding partners include Cambridge Wireless, Knowledge Transfer Network and the TM Forum with funding provided by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Digital Catapult and Real Wireless are also listed as associate partners. The full list of advisory board members, which include executives from technology providers and end users of 5G, can be found here.

— Sarah Thomas, Contributing Editor, Telco Transformation