The government is building a ‘state of the art’ 5G equipment testing facility at the European Space Agency’s premises in Oxfordshire. Scheduled for completion next year, it will allow UK businesses to experiment with the potential of 5G and satellite technology.
Oliver Dowden, the government digital secretary, announced the move as part of a ’diversification strategy’ aimed at finding “homegrown ways to open up the worldwide 5G market”.
The government will inject £250 million into launching the project, which will “plant Global Britain’s flag in the 5G sand”.
The announcement precedes a debate in parliament today over the Telecommunications (Security) Bill which, if passed into law, will give the government the power to dictate which equipment vendors telecoms companies can use.
The government has already identified Huawei as a ‘high-risk’ vendor, leading to Mr Dowden announcing in July that all telecom providers should remove its equipment from the UK’s 5G networks by 2027.
In his latest statement, published in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Dowden said telecoms firms should stop installing Huawei equipment by September 2021. However, without the passage of the Bill, which receives its second reading today, no action can be enforced.
He also announced proposals to impose heavy fines on telecoms provider if they fail to adhere to stringent security requirements.
How will the National Telecoms Lab be used?
The 5G Oxfordshire hub, which is backed by over £3 million in government funding, will be a testing facility for hybrid 5G and satellite communications networks.
The government hopes that techniques worked on in the lab can be rolled out to other businesses across the UK.
Why is 5G connectivity important?
5G technology is expected to enable meteoric developments in the telecommunications industry, on a global scale.
It offers the latest advances in wireless communication, including faster data speeds and less latency across networks.
Space and tech companies are particularly focused on 5G because it allows for a wide variety of applications across industries. This includes the Internet of Things, or smart technology networks, and augmented reality, which have applications in areas such as manufacturing, public safety, enterprise and communications software, and entertainment and gaming.
It could also help with making manufacturing and farming more efficient and assist in connecting remote villages as well as areas hit by natural disasters.
