By 2030, expect to witness remarkable strides being made in the realm of wireless infrastructure in the UK. With the advent of 5G and the promising potential of 6G on the horizon, we are standing at the precipice of a transformative era for connectivity. Who’s excited because I sure am!
A Glimpse into the Future of Wireless Connectivity
The UK government have launched a new wireless infrastructure strategy which is aimed to deliver 5G connectivity to all populated areas by 2030. So far we have seen the introduction of 5G and its potential unfold; offering lightning-fast speeds, reduced latency and unparalleled capacity, what else could it really offer us?
Well, the strategy includes a 6G plan to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of the next generation of wireless technology. Beat that Apple. To establish this, the government has highlighted it as a national mission (patriotic much?) and has supported initial funding up to £100m.
Key measures in the strategy include;
- The new ambition of nationwide coverage of standalone 5G by 2030
- The government aims to extend 4G coverage by 95%
- Government to provide £40m of funding to establish 8-10 5G ‘Innovation Regions’ across the UK.
This groundbreaking technology will also serve as the backbone for the widespread adoption of the IoT. Fuelling innovation and transforming the way we live, work and interact with the world around us.
Within this exciting new strategy, the government have set out a strategic framework to aid private sector investors enter the world of 5G. Tom Bennett, CTO at Freshwave said;
“Customer demands for services enabled by 5G technology means our industry needs far greater mobile site density, and the shared infrastructure offered by neutral hosts allows us to get this done effectively. This reduces installation costs for providers and helps minimise street clutter and street works in the community”.
So how exactly will this plan unfold?
By promoting private sector investors, the government can drive down deployment costs whilst stimulating demand. They plan to;
- Continue the removal of practical barriers to the deployment of 5G infrastructure
- Confirm the government’s openness to market consolidation
- Ask telecoms regulator, Ofcom to review and set out transparent evidence-based and forward-looking rationale for its approach to spectrum fees
- Maximise the UK’s influence at international spectrum negotiations, with the alignment of international and domestic frameworks where possible.
The new wireless infrastructure plan in the UK heralds an exciting era of connectivity and innovation. With the advent of 5G and the promise of 6G, we are witnessing the transformation of our digital landscape. What will you do with all this 5G and 6G at the tip of your fingertips?
