Brighton and Hove’s leading digital entrepreneurs have been invited to test the next generation of mobile and internet technology before it is extended around the country in 2020.
Brighton-based digital innovation group Wired Sussex is set to host the UK’s first non-university 5G testbed and plans to showcase the technology to local business leaders on July 27.
Brighton’s 5G testbed will initially be located within Wireless Sussex’s Fusebox in New England House near Brighton station, but the test area will eventually expand to around 200 square metres.
The 5G testbed has seen Wired Sussex, an organisation dedicated to supporting its members’ growth and innovation in technology, partner with the University of Brighton. However, this testbed is not primarily for university research as others have been.
The partnership is part of Digital Catapult’s national initiative to link businesses and universities, enabling cutting-edge technological innovation. As part of this, Wired Sussex and the University of Brighton are leading a three-year programme of engagement with businesses – which this event seems to be the start of.
5G technology will provide faster, more stable connectivity and will support the development of place-based technologies like driverless cars and connected smart cities.
Wired Sussex said: “5G is an incredibly fast, always-on wireless mobile technology with almost zero latency.
“However, it is not just an evolution of 2G, 3G, 4G – but a revolutionary enabling technology that will support game-changing new digital products and services.”
Wired Sussex added: “At this event we will be exploring what 5G technology is, why it’s a revolutionary step forward compared to previous mobile telecommunication technologies (2G, 3G and 4G), and what the opportunities are for innovators and businesses working in Virtual/Augmented Reality, Internet of Things and telecommunications”.
Local business leaders attending the event will be addressed by experts at the forefront of 5G innovation.
The University of Brighton said in March 2017 when announcing their involvement with the 5G testbed: “The £1.2 million of capital investment to build the testbed is being provided by Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which won the funding from the government’s Local Growth Fund.”
