5G SA can be a useful tool when it comes to economic growth, lining up with the aims of the Government’s new 2025 Industrial Strategy. But tools are no good if businesses don’t know how to use them.
What do Glastonbury festivalgoers, aerospace engineers and wind turbine operators all have in common? As well as sharing an obsession with the weather, they all represent crucial parts of the UK economy that will benefit from £11 billion of investment into a countrywide 5G Standalone (5G SA) network over the next decade.
That’s because they fall under some of the sectors that are full of opportunity and ripe for growth – eight of which are outlined in the Government’s new Industrial Strategy.
This plan and set of priorities for economic growth shows how putting powerful new tools into the hands of businesses and workers is one way to grow the UK’s economy.
And a UK-wide 5G SA network, like the one that will be delivered by the company created from the now-approved merger of Vodafone UK and Three UK, is one such tool.
Here is how three of these sectors could benefit from such a strong, nationwide 5G SA network.
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Creative industries
The creative industries and performing arts can benefit from network slicing, a key feature of 5G SA. With network slicing, different groups in a given area would their own separate parts of the 5G SA network customised for their specific needs.
For creative professionals, the reduced congestion and improved performance that come from having their own slice can benefit everything from live broadcasting and interactive fan experiences to immersive art installations.
An example of this was on show during Glastonbury Festival 2024, although it involved a less glamourous but still vital part of live music, as Vodafone partnered with an on-site drinks vendor to trial the technology.
As a result of reduced competition for bandwidth from more data-hungry activities, such as social media sharing or live streaming, the vendor was able to speed up transaction authorisations on 102 of its tills.
Not only did this improve the customer experience, but it also allowed the business to maximise their capacity, driving a 10% increase in cashless transactions compared to 2023, with tills unaffected by connectivity-related issues.
With the continued development of emerging technologies like virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), the importance of this technology is only set to grow across the creative sector.
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Advanced manufacturing
From creative to creating, advanced manufacturing is another sector set to experience the advantages of a smarter, faster 5G network.
Long considered an industry with innovation at its core, manufacturing has often been held back by the risks associated with operational downtime.
Because, when minutes cost millions, it’s easy to overlook investment in the latest technologies, even if this could eventually lead to greater profits further down the line.
Imagine an aerospace manufacturing plant, for example, with huge production lines of multiple moving parts – all of which require the most precise of processes.
With digital already baked into many of these advanced plants, everything from asset tracking to predictive maintenance relies on fast, reliable wireless connections.
5G can therefore drive considerable productivity gains, by improving real-time data sharing and allowing companies to make faster, smarter decisions.
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Clean energy
The UK has long been at the forefront of environmental action, introducing the Clean Air Act in 1956 and establishing the world’s first coordinated national air pollution monitoring network, the National Survey, in 1961.
As society faces an increasingly dire climate situation, however, this type of legislation must be paired with innovations that can drive tangible change, such as emissions reductions.
5G SA is one such technology. In fact, by harnessing the power of 5G in wind power generation alone, the UK could produce enough additional clean energy to heat 2.4 million UK homes. That’s the equivalent of every single home in Scotland.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is another. Alongside similar smart technologies, IoT can help reduce the energy used by large buildings in the public sector estate. Not only could this cut carbon emissions by up to 15%, but it could also save taxpayers between £264 and £380 million annually.
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A network for the entire nation
This Industrial Strategy, and its ambition for 5G to be rolled out across the UK by 2030, is undoubtedly welcome news. But it must not be squandered if the UK is move from its current position of 22nd out of 25 European countries for 5G availability, with presently the slowest data download speeds in the G7, and avoid falling even further behind its peers.
With a new network on the way, the Government must now focus on how society can get the most out of it. Part of this will involve incentivising businesses and public services to The other part will involve removing any barriers standing between the UK and a successful network rollout.
For instance, widescale planning and property law reforms can help reduce the process’ current length and complexity. A consistent approach to mobile infrastructure deployment across all devolved nations will also be key.
Mobile network operators can help here by consulting on potential connectivity issues, and developers can support by integrating digital infrastructure into all new building plans.
If all of this comes together, then the new nationwide 5G SA network could soon be making a considerable impact on the lives of people in every corner of the country.
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