Two new projects from the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab are creating changes to the critical network infrastructure in the West of England which could help to revolutionise manufacturing and advance rural connectivity —
a key objective of the UK Government.
Following on from the successful delivery of the 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme that established University of Bristol’s 5GUK Test Network, the Smart Internet Lab has been awarded UK Government funds from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to deliver two new projects as part of a £65 million funding package for 5G trials.
Dimitra Simeonidou, Smart Internet Lab director, said: “We are very pleased the University of Bristol and Smart Internet Lab are making advances in the region’s critical infrastructure.
“We are transferring knowledge to the manufacturing sector and at the same time we are supporting the roll out of 5G to rural Wales.”
The 5G Enabling Connectivity for Digital Engineering (5G-ENCODE) project is going to transform of the manufacturing sector in the West of England.
5G-ENCODE has been awarded £9 million funding from DCMS making it the UK Government’s biggest investment in 5G for manufacturing to date.
The two-year project will examine new business models for private mobile networks in the manufacturing sector.
It will investigate three key industrial 5G use cases on improvement of productivity and efficiency of composite design and manufacturing; on interactive augmented reality (AR) asset tracking across multiple sites and locations; and on industrial system management.
5G will help industries with new processes to increase precision, quality and safety in manufacturing and the application of future materials will be able to for example, reduce the carbon footprint by reducing fuel consumption.
Meanwhile, the Connecting Communities in the Rural Economy (CoCoRE) project will look at the intervention on rural connectivity in Wales.
It will receive £5 million in UK Government funding to connect rural communities across Monmouthshire and Blaenau Gwent.
The new testbed, located in South East Wales, will demonstrate how 5G technology can have a positive impact and open new opportunities for businesses and individuals.
These advancements could change the way people interact with critical services such as transport while boosting the visitor economy in the region.
The advancement in 5G technology will also add more appeal to tourist attractions by providing engaging and interactive information and experiences.
Enriching visitor experience through 5G will increase visitors, bring in more revenue to remote areas and have a wider global reach.
The aim of the projects is to promote and maximise economic growth across South Wales and the West of England alongside the Western Gateway strategic partnership.
With the ground-breaking research and world-leading expertise in 5G, the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab will work with key partners in the region, including big technology companies and local SMEs to explore innovative ways to connect cross border, urban and rural communities in the UK and revolutionise the manufacturing sector for the future.