Accelerating 5G Innovation & Adoption Across the UK

The 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme (5GTT), part-funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), looks to harness areas where the UK has a competitive advantage – such as in scientific research, engineering talent and our rich variety of technology businesses - to enable us to take a leading role in 5G development.

The Programme explores the benefits and challenges of deploying 5G technologies in line with the following key objectives:

• Accelerate the deployment of 5G networks and ensure the UK can take early advantage of the applications those networks can enable
• Maximise the productivity and efficiency benefits to the UK from 5G
• Create new opportunities for UK businesses at home and abroad, and encourage inward investment

Across the Programme, over 30 projects are operating in 34 counties across 13 regions across the UK, with around 200 project partners.  These projects are exploring 140+ 5G use cases accelerating 5G adoption in targeted sectors (including agriculture, utilities, automotive, transport and logistics).

In addition to adoption projects, the programme has supported 15+ projects testing new access technologies and equipment vendors in a range of trials to help broaden and secure the UK’s telecom supply chain in line with the government’s diversification strategy.