Local authorities across the UK have been invited to bid for shares of a £40m fund to support their adoption of 5G and other advanced wireless technology.
From today (31 July), councils can apply for funding designed to speed up innovation in sectors such as advanced manufacturing, transport, agriculture and public services.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology said the cash would create ‘5G Innovation Regions’, and funding would be awarded to areas that could demonstrate how they would drive the development and adoption of 5G and other technologies.
Minister for data and digital infrastructure John Whittingdale said: ‘Greater adoption of 5G-powered technologies will help deliver more efficient public services, new opportunities for residents and businesses, and a boost for economic growth – and this new fund will give local areas from across the country the opportunity to be at the forefront of Britain’s world-leading 5G revolution.
‘5G Innovation Regions will be uniquely positioned to benefit from breaking down barriers which hinder the rollout of such technologies at a local level and this initiative offers every community the chance to gain these opportunities.’
