Researchers from the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering are among the founding partners of a new £12 million telecommunications project.

Professor Muhammad Imran is leading the University’s contribution to the ‘Towards Ubiquitous 3D Open Resilient Network’ (TUDOR) initiative, which is UK Government-funded

TUDOR, which is led by a team based at the University of Surrey’s 5/6G Innovation Centre, aims to ensure that the future of the UK’s telecommunication network is secure, is energy efficient, caters to all of society, and boosts the economy.

UofG’s project will research and develop technologies that could be used in a more open, flexible and scalable future mobile network beyond 5G and 6G.

The TUDOR team will also focus on how new tech to enhance telecommunications infrastructure as 5G matures as well as understand how emerging intellectual property could contribute to global standards and skills generation in the UK. Additionally, TUDOR will help design and promote a more diverse telecoms market.

Professor Imran is head of the University of Glasgow’s Autonomous Systems and Connectivity research division and the Communications, Sensing and Imaging research hub, which finds new applications for advanced telecommunications in areas including wireless networks, healthcare, and artificial intelligence.

The University of Glasgow is home to an urban 5G testbed for the communication solutions required for sustainable, attractive, and resilient cities.

Imran said: “I’m pleased to be lending support to the TUDOR project, which brings together a wide range of researchers from academia and industry.

“5G and 6G technologies have the potential to bring transformative benefits to all areas of society, and TUDOR is set to help overcome many of the barriers to widespread uptake, as well as make systems that are more environmentally friendly.

“I’m looking forward to collaborating on the project in the years to come.”

Regius Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Director of the 5G/6G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey, said: “I would like to thank the government for launching this programme, and we are looking forward to working with our strong international TUDOR team to ensure the award-winning Surrey 5G Innovation Centre continues to add to the multiple contributions we’ve already made to telecommunications innovation and technologies.

“I am confident that this project will help ensure that the UK’s critical telecommunications infrastructure keeps up with the blistering pace of innovation that is happening across the globe and that the societal benefits of faster and more reliable communications are delivered in the most sustainable way possible.”

Recommended

• Diversity and inclusion | Young workers call out big tech
• Edinburgh’s Green Bioactives LTD gains £2.6m seed funding
• Uber data breach | What you need to know

TUDOR is part of the UK government’s strategy to reduce the UK’s resilience on a small number of suppliers to build and maintain telecoms networks.

Surrey’s £12m funding is part of a £28m pot shared across three UK Universities, with the investment dedicated to bolstering the UK’s status as a global leader in telecoms research and development.

Digital Secretary Michelle Donelan said: “The technology powering our phone and internet networks is evolving rapidly, and with 6G on the horizon, we must stay ahead of the curve.

“This huge investment will see top universities join forces with industry to build, test and roll out the nuts and bolts underpinning new networks while ensuring our plan for a more diverse and innovative telecoms market is sustained in the future.

“The funding will also turbocharge our work to strengthen telecoms supply chains, so we are no longer reliant on a handful of companies to develop and maintain our 5G networks.”

Get all the latest news from DIGIT direct to your inbox

Our newsletter covers the latest technology and IT news from Scotland and beyond, as well as in-depth features and exclusive interviews with leading figures and rising stars.

To subscribe, click here.