United Kingdom: The UK government to commit an additional $51 million for 5G

The British government has committed $51 million to nationwide 5G innovation. The government announced on July 31 that funding applications are now being accepted. According to the government, the investment is intended to accelerate innovation in industries such as advanced manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and public services.

The government will establish 5G Innovation Regions by granting funding to sectors that are able to show how they will promote the development and implementation of 5G and other technologies in the UK's urban, suburban, and rural areas.

The government noted in its statement that the extra money being allocated for 5G could facilitate applications in the public sector, such as boosting air quality, regulating traffic, agriculture, and gathering weather and environmental data. The governing body will support the 5G Innovation Regions program through the DSIT Future Network Programmes team and UKTIN until March 2025.

The application period will end on September 10, 2023, and the successful candidates will be announced later this year. The latest government funding follows an April announcement of $127 million for 6G development and research and a plan to deliver Standalone 5G (SA 5G) to all populated regions of the country by the end of the decade.