The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has announced a funding boost of £30m under the 5G Create competition for six research and development projects aimed at helping the UK take a leading position in 5G technology.
5G Create is an open competition, which will reward projects that are focused on developing new uses for 5G across a range of sectors. It is part of the larger £200m worth 5G Testbeds and Trials programme (5GTT).
The winning projects of the 5G Create competition are 5G FoF (£9.5m), 5G Festival (£3.4m), Smart Junctions 5G (£2.3m), 5G Edge-XR (£2.5m), Liverpool 5G create (£7.1m), and 5G CAVL (£4.8m).
The funding package for the 5G Create competition comprises £16.4m from the UK government, which is match-funded by organisations ranging from large technology companies and telecom firms to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and local authorities.
According to the DCMS, 17 British SMEs are taking part in the projects.
The department said that 5G Edge-XR, 5G Smart Junctions, and Liverpool 5G Create will see UK SMEs piloting the use of open access 5G infrastructure and network solutions.
The 5G FoF (Factory of the Future) project to be taken up in Preston is being led by BAE, Advanced Manufacturing Catapult, and IBM. This winning project of the 5G Create competition will use 5G technology for manufacturing the Tempest fighter jet at half its present cost.
The 5G Festival project will show how 5G can help empower the music industry in organising live festivals and music events to audiences irrespective of their location.
Under the Smart Junctions 5G project, Visionable, Weaver Labs and Transport for Greater Manchester will try to develop artificial intelligence-powered traffic control systems to address congestion and pollution issues.
5G Edge-XR will see BT’s Media and Research teams partnering TheGridFactory, Condense Reality, Bristol University, Dance East, and Salsa Sound to develop virtual and augmented reality experiences for complementing the services of BT Sport.
Liverpool 5G create is being taken up by the University of Liverpool, BluWireless, Broadway Partners for building a 5G network that will benefit local NHS, social care services, and other public bodies in a post-Covid-19 scenario.
On the other hand, 5G CAL will advance the Connected and Automated Logistics (CAL) project by taking 5G enabled solutions out of the testbed into an operational manufacturing environment. This winning project in the 5G Create competition will involve Nissan, the North East Motor Manufacturers Group, Sunderland Council, and Three among others.
UK Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: “We are helping innovative thinkers across Britain use their creativity to harness the power of 5G and boost economic productivity, cut pollution and congestion, and develop the next generation of entertainment.
“The new funding we are announcing today will help us pioneer new ways to seize the opportunities of 5G and bring tangible benefits for consumers and businesses across the country.”
