Nine projects to receive funding as part of a £28.3m (€32m) project around 5G and OpenRAN. projects will test out the technical possibilities of Open RAN as an alternative way of building telecoms networks that allows for greater interoperability of radio equipment between vendors. This gives operators more choice and flexibility as they roll out 5G infrastructure. One of these is a 5G logistics project at the port of Bristol that will use OpenRAN and software from Attocore in Cambridge as well as small cell hardware from Airspan. Cellnex Telecom is the operator, and the project inlcudes researchers from the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol and the University of Cardiff in Wales.
Trials will also explore how 5G can support the construction industry, testing 5G-powered cameras, drones and sensors at BAM Nuttall’s construction sites in Kilsyth, Glasgow and Shetland. UK Government is funding 5G innovation trials to help Scottish industry harness the opportunities and possibilities 5G offers. 5G is an exciting technology, with higher connection speeds and capacity having potential to enable the use of innovate technology, transforming industry. Other projects in the £200m 5G Create project for 5G testbed and demonstrators include the use of 5G in tourism and sporting stadia.