Co-investment from government and business will go towards nine projects across the UK to demonstrate the benefits of 5G, with a focus on improving life and supporting business.
The nine projects will seek to show how the country could reap the full benefits of the 5G rollout.
One of the projects will feature naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough appearing in a high-resolution “holographic” video via the AR (augmented reality) app, which will be published alongside the BBC series forthcoming ‘The Green Planet’. It was not specified how the hologram will be created.
The app – developed by EE, Factory 42 immersive content studio, and other companies – will highlight the potential of 5G to a wide audience and show creative and technology companies how well the 5G network can deliver content which is very data intensive, the government said.
“This innovative app, by broadcast legend Sir David Attenborough, is set to be an inspiring example of how new technology can connect us to the natural world while demonstrating the power of 5G to a huge new audience, ”said Digital Infrastructure minister Matt Warman.
“5G is about much more than faster mobile internet speeds so we are investing millions to help some of Britain’s brightest innovators explore the great potential of technology to advance our lives and strengthen. The projects we have selected will show how the 5G inflation speed can put some rocket fuel into our economy and help businesses kick back from the pandemic, ”he said.
Leeds-based production company Candor TV will seek to use 5G to broadcast high-quality live content wirelessly and transfer large video files from remote, extreme and extreme weather locations. If the network holds up, there is hope that 5G could become the standard for the UK film production industry.
In London, Project Vista O2 will explore how it can deliver instant multicore transplants via smartphone at stadium events. At the same time, the MK Stadium in Milton Keynes will be distributing autonomous taxis, luxury parking management, and robots to help the site run more efficiently. In Cornwall, Project Eden will receive funding to explore how 5G and 360 ° video can enhance visitor experiences. On the Isle of Wight, people will be able to try VR yacht racing, in a 5G test for the sports industry.
Some funding will also go towards ports, with 5G-powered yard cranes installed at Port Felixstowe and real-time 5G tracking for freight transfers at Port Bristol. There will also be tests on 5G camera drones, and sensors at the Nuttall BAM construction sites in Kilsyth, Glasgow, and Shetland.
Five of the projects will explore the potential of Open RAN technology: an approach to telecommunications networks that allows interoperability of radio equipment between vendors. This will allow network operators more flexibility while deploying their 5G infrastructure in the context of a government ban on all Huawei devices in the network. The adoption of Open RAN is a key part of the government’s 5G Diversification Strategy.
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