The benefits of a next gen UK 5G rollout out have been laid out in new research by Vodafone.

Data revealed that, despite the obvious benefits of a UK 5G rollout, more must be done to ensure we do not miss out on its full economic benefits.

Vodafone’s Digital Ambition 2030 report found that the overall benefits to sectors such as industry and public services such as hospitals, are enormous.

Additionally, 5G development will provide high-capacity, standalone infrastructure rather than building on top of existing 4G equipment.

However, the report added that significant investment will be required across the UK, warning that the difference between an attractive and an unattractive investment environment will be worth £7 billion a year to Britain’s economy by 2030.

The biggest cities previously saw the fastest 4G roll-out and are now well positioned to attract investment in 5G, but smaller cities and medium-sized towns are at risk of missing out if the changes are not made quickly.

Data also identified 58 local authority areas that would see a high or very high benefit from strong 5G investment. These cover every region in the UK, and include areas such as Swansea, Midlothian, north-east Somerset, and Sheffield.

Vodafone UK CEO Ahmed Essam commented: “The enormous benefits of full 5G are clear. Developing high capacity, standalone infrastructure promises to be a gamechanger for our transport network, for industrial settings such as smart factories, and for public services such as hospitals.”

He continued: “With an investment-friendly environment, the prize for the whole of the country is undoubtedly huge. But the less uplifting reality is that we are not quite there yet. As our report makes clear, the current regulatory and policy environment is simply not going to work for many of our smaller cities and towns. If the UK is to seize the opportunities offered by 5G SA then decision-makers in in Westminster and Whitehall cannot afford to brush aside the findings of this report.”

He added: “The cost of failing to make the UK attractive as a place for investment in future 5G technology is considerable. Our research shows that the difference between an attractive and an unattractive investment environment is worth as much as £7bn a year to the UK economy by 2030.”

A government strategy

Essam said that the Government’s first action should be to publish an “updated 5G strategy” setting out specific ambitions and tactics for the roll-out of full 5G networks.

He added that this should mirror the approach taken to the roll-out of full-fibre broadband across the UK, with financial and legislative support to plug the gaps in semi-urban and rural areas. “The UK cannot afford to sleepwalk into a scenario in which we miss out on the economic benefits,” he added.

The report also called for the government to set planning rules in such a way that they do not stop 5G infrastructure being rolled out where it is needed and wanted. This should include a business rates system that avoids deterring investment in high-value infrastructure.

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The positive impact of 5G has already been discussed in research carried out by Barclays Corporate Banking. The 5G: A transformative Technology report suggested that 5G could boost the Scottish economy by up to £1.12 billion per year by 2025.

However, it also warned that this opportunity could be missed because industry leaders still do not know enough about the benefits of investing in such technology.

In Scotland the rollout of 5G networks has already borne fruit, with organisations such as the Scotland 5G Centre announcing the opening of a series of 5G hubs at the height of the pandemic following a £4m investment from the Scottish Government.

As part of its S5GConnect Programme, the centre will create a series of hubs aimed at delivering the next stage of Holyrood’s 5G Strategy.

In May, the UK Government announced it would cut red tape the push the rollout of 5G in Scotland. Eight projects will receive a share from a £4m Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) to explore how software can help simplify local authority processes.

The projects will research the boosting of mobile connectivity through new tech housed in streetlights, bus shelters and traffic lights as part of a UK Government scheme.

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