As the only mobile network operator with a 5G Standalone service in the UK, Vodafone has launched 5G Ultra for enterprise organisations and small to medium-sized businesses.
At the latest count, there were more than 5.5 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK. That’s almost one business for every 10 people living here.
More impressive still is that, between one-person operations and larger-scale companies (up to 249 employees), these businesses comprise 99.9% of the entire UK private sector.
SMEs therefore are not only important, but essential, to our entire economy. But what is most important – or essential – for the companies themselves?
UK SMEs missing out on £8.6bn a year due to slow roll-out of 5G Standalone, new Vodafone report finds
Why connectivity is critical for businesses
In today’s always-on, digital-first world, connectivity is increasingly paramount. Everything from hiring new employees to keeping in touch with current ones, sending invoices and receiving payments, relies on a fast and reliable network connection – especially for those with a mobile workforce.
As most UK adults will be aware, 5G plays a major role in these day-to-day connections. In fact, a Vodafone survey recently revealed that more than half (53%) of UK adults already believe 5G has the potential to improve their daily lives.
What some may not aware of, however, is that 5G is undergoing a significant transformation – from the existing 5G service, which relies partly on 4G technology, to a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network. And now, it’s available to UK SMEs.
Known as 5G Ultra, the service combines 5G SA with the existing 5G service that customers are already familiar with, switching seamlessly between 4G, 5G or 5G Ultra, as and when available.
This means 5G Ultra users can experience everything from longer battery life and enhanced security features to greater reliability and lower latency. All of which helps to make a job feel less like hard work.
Having launched the UK’s first 5G SA network in 2023, Vodafone 5G Ultra represents the most technologically advanced network in the UK, giving customers the most reliable connectivity experience available.
5G Ultra: Everything you need to know
Solving the productivity problem
But this is about far more than just a quicker internet connection. It’s also about supporting the success and productivity of UK businesses today, while helping to prepare them for even greater success down the line.
Productivity is an issue that the UK has grappled with for years now, especially since the height of the pandemic and – more broadly – since the 2008-2009 economic crisis.
According to the Office for National Statistics, the latest annual productivity growth estimates remained flat for Q4 of 2023 in terms of output per hour. Meanwhile, the country saw a decrease of 0.6% when it comes to output per worker across 2023, in comparison to the previous year.
In terms of GDP per hour, the UK (77) sits between France (87) and Italy (74) – fourth highest (or lowest, if you’re a ‘glass half empty’ type) of the G7 countries. Of these, the US and Germany are clear leaders, both sitting at 91.
Capitalising on the digital economy may pose a promising and lucrative opportunity to reverse this trend, but it is a fiercely competitive one too.
Because, though the UK may be one of the best places to start a new business now, it risks falling behind European rivals if the 5G SA network rollout becomes too slow. For SMEs in particular, this could equate to £8.6 billion being lost each year in productivity savings.
Big business needs to be better at understanding SMEs | Vodafone report
More than mobile
The other side of this coin is what comes next. Today’s productivity becomes tomorrow’s progress, after all. And, with 5G Ultra, that future comes closer in reach for UK SMEs and wider society, by helping to unlock a host of other technological solutions.
Like in healthcare, for instance, where 5G could contribute to a faster take-up of smart health devices and advanced data capabilities, delivering £1.25 billion of NHS savings each year by 2025.
Or in the manufacturing industry, which could see an increase in Gross Value Added (GVA) across the UK of £3.16 billion per year in 2025, and £6.3 billion in 2030, thanks to greater adoption of 5G.
At Vodafone, we feel strongly that 5G SA will act as the bridge between today and this more connected future. One reason to believe this is the visible impact that its network slicing capabilities are already having.
A new feature introduced with 5G SA, network slicing allows Vodafone to create multiple virtual network lanes, which operate across the same physical network.
With each slice isolated from other network traffic – between sports fans and emergency services, for example – performance is guaranteed, no matter how busy an event.
As was on show recently at huge events like the Coronation of Charles III.
Vodafone helps over a million SMEs enhance their online skills thanks to its business support programme
A new definition of ‘business as usual’
Small and medium-sized businesses are what helps to keep the UK economy afloat and thriving. To support them, 5G Ultra brings greater capacity, lower latency, more advanced security and higher reliability.
Together, that means these businesses can spend less time worrying about how they are going to complete day-to-day tasks while out and about, and more time focused on reaping the rewards of a better connected and more effective operation.
Which is something that I think the whole UK can get behind.
Find out more by reading our press release. And stay up to date with the latest news from Vodafone by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter/X, as well as signing up for News Centre website notifications.
