WM5G
Discover 5G
Connectivity is way more than 5G
5G is the next generation of mobile network. 5G is changing the way we use devices, connectivity and data by opening up a world of exciting possibilities that will impact our day to day lives.
Explore the areas below to learn and find out more about 5G and find practical support to help your organisation embrace its true potential.
Contact us for tailored advice.
What is 5G?
5G is the next revolution in mobile technology. In the same way that 4G and smartphones have transformed the way many of us live over the last decade, 5G is set to do the same in the next decade.
The UK was the fifth country in the world to commercially launch 5G earlier this year – so we’re right at the forefront of this existing new technology – and 5G networks are starting to be rolled out in major cities, such as Birmingham where we are today.
The exciting new features of 5G mean that it has the potential to transform businesses and public services as well as to benefit consumers. Here in the West Midlands we’re testing and proving the benefits of 5G in key sectors in which we have strengths – transport, healthcare and manufacturing.
But this is just the beginning. In addition to these sectors consumers will benefit from faster speeds and new experiences such as AR/VR gaming. And we’re also exploring further opportunities in other sectors.
Why is 5G so exciting?
5G is the next revolution in mobile technology that’s starting to be rolled out in cities in the UK and other leading countries. It is evident that mobile and broadband connectivity is now more important than ever to the way we live and work. 5G will prove fundamental to fulfilling the potential of digital connectivity and it has to be a key player in digital innovation and helping to drive the economy.
5G offers much more than faster speed – it will also enable us to connect many more devices and the ability to guarantee that data arrives without a delay.
This means that 5G offers us the potential to transform private and public sector organisations – for example in time critical areas such as emergency services, transport or manufacturing – as well as to benefit consumers with faster connectivity and new experiences – such as AR/VR gaming.
View our Case Study & Video Library
5G in 5 Days
We’re offering six young people aged 18-24 the opportunity to turn their passion for innovation into a reality by working with industry experts to discover how 5G technology works, the benefits it brings and to explore the real world improvements it can make to our lives.
For those who want to explore 5G and understand how it is changing the way we use devices, connectivity and data this is an invaluable opportunity to gain real-world work experience, all while learning new skills, knowledge and expertise.
Successful applicants will feature in a social media series to educate the wider community on the potential of 5G across the key sectors we are working with, including transport, manufacturing, health & social care.
On top of this, participants will attend the opening and have exclusive access to the brand new 5PRING innovation centres, as well as having the opportunity to meet experts in the industries that are being accelerated by 5G.
Getting 5G Foundations Right
The last year has seen huge successes for the roll-out and uptake of 5G technology across the region.
Our Infrastructure Acceleration (IA) team has enabled the deployment of 5G throughout the West Midlands, with infrastructure delivered 6-12 months ahead of schedule in Birmingham, Dudley and Wolverhampton. This has played a crucial part in the West Midlands being recognised as the most connected region in the UK.
While it is widely accepted that the onset of Covid-19 has hastened the uptake of digital technology, to truly harness the revolutionary benefits of 5G it is vital we get the foundations right. Our ‘Barrier Busting’ approach has been a key driver in ensuring that the region’s seven local authorities were ready, willing and able to support the installation of the vital infrastructure needed to deliver the 5G experience and the potential benefits to the businesses and citizens in their areas.
In his detailed article Director of Infrastructure Acceleration, Rhys Enfield, explains how our ‘Barrier Busting’ approach, the launch of the UK’s first digital connectivity map, plans to launch the country’s first open access small cell solution and how we’re sharing our learning with a national audience are all elements that help ensure that the groundwork is in place for the UK to take full advantage of the huge benefits of 5G.
Increasing speed and efficiency in the Aerospace Industry
One of our key manufacturing projects saw us deploy the UK’s first private 5G network within an SME, as AE Aerospace looked to improve speed and efficiency in their West Midlands manufacturing hub.
Through the trial of a 5G private network the aerospace manufacturer hopes to attain significant benefits, including the ability to maximise machine time, provide more accurate assurance that parts have been machined to specification with increased speed and efficiency, as well as being able to eliminate the need to re-work or replace damaged components impaired in transit. Through these trials, AE Aerospace aspire to set a precedent to bring the SME aerospace sector forward and into line in terms of ‘on time, in full’ delivery.
The benefits of 5G will be trialled through three distinct use cases within the manufacturing business, these include:
- ‘Machine Time Servitization’, which will see high-quality wireless 5G and a range of sensors installed across the factory floor to enable wireless connectivity between machines, allowing high volume data capture.
- ‘Mobile Asset Location and Calibration Tracking’, which will allow AE Aerospace to provide 100% assurance that its parts have been machined and measured to specification.
- ‘Product Quality Assurance’, which will eliminate the need to re-work or replace damaged components.
Discussing the 5G trial and the benefits that this next generation technology could bring to the business AE Aerospace’s Managing Director and Co-Owner, Peter Bruch, told industry publication The Manufacturer that “having access to the technology and expertise through this programme will greatly accelerate our vision for the future.
“The project really started moving in January 2021, and already a lot has been achieved in terms of creating the network, installing the hardware and cabling across our site, integrating it with our existing ERP software and connecting our machines.
“It’s scheduled to run until March 2022 and by then we hope to have fully embedded the infrastructure across every aspect of our operation, then we can start rolling out its various applications.”
Read the full piece of AE Aerospace in The Manufacturer here >
Wolverhampton Digital Toolkit
As part of our ongoing infrastructure acceleration program to boost the rollout of 5G across the West Midlands, we’ve created a digital toolkit to provide information, resources and guidance for businesses, local enterprise, telecoms providers, residents, builders and developers in one of the region’s most connected cities.
Ensuring that Wolverhampton is ready for a 5G connected future, we’ve undergone multiple digital and 5G projects in the city. From creating the UK’s first regional map for a local authority’s assets suitable for digital infrastructure to outlining the benefits of 5G to business and residents, our Wolverhampton Digital Toolkit provides everything those in Wolverhampton need to make the most of revolutionary 5G technology.
Download our digital toolkit, as well as our connected map for Wolverhampton, below.
