UK businesses deserve a 5G networked nation

Staying ahead

To stay ahead of other nations and stay at the cutting edge of connectivity, the UK must address the serious concerns that remain around the business case, the value chain, health matters and collaboration between mobile operators, enterprises and local councils by taking three important steps.

First, we need to increase awareness with business and consumers. From enabling VR/AR experiences and next-generation video streaming to driverless cars, the potential is endless. The tech sector needs to send a unified, positive message about the value of high bandwidth and low latency, to ensure society fully understands the benefits.

Second, we need to incentivise mobile operators to realise the value of 5G. After all, it is through them that most businesses will have access to advanced connectivity. However, between the cost to operators of purchasing space in the spectrum and the fact that few have the business models to generate profits from the technology, most won’t see the benefits of investing for a long time.

In contrast to London, Beijing offers spectrum licences for free to Chinese operators and the US pledged to make 5G airwaves among the most accessible in the world.

The industry must promote these benefits to operators, showing them that 5G will open the door to expand their businesses and develop new products based on the internet of things, machine learning and on-demand content, to address the needs of both businesses and consumers in a connected era. The private sector has a role to play in demanding 5G and championing the value to the networks.

Finally, we must seek greater collaboration between the public and private sectors. The complex blend of stakeholders – mobile operators, businesses, land owners, local and national government – must work together to ensure the successful and swift deployment of 5G across the country.

Although a key challenge will be equity of coverage across the UK, traditionally connected regions such as London will have their own problems with managing an array of boroughs each with their own strategy, priorities and infrastructural considerations.

Much of the scepticism around the 5G roll-out has revolved around technical factors, but there is a great deal more to be done. While it will be crucial to define areas such as privacy policy so that companies are able to access or monetise the data, it is also the communication between and education of the various stakeholders which must accelerate so that all of them understand and show support.

Ultimately, for UK businesses to not only compete on the international stage, but thrive at the forefront of innovation, the 5G roll-out must be a priority in the eyes of the government and the tech industry.

The UK is truly becoming a tech nation in terms of its talent and the new, dynamic businesses it is creating. Our future as a world-leading digital economy relies on the speedy implementation of 5G networks.