New chair appointed to deliver region-wide 5G

Igor Leprince

Igor Leprince, the former President of Nokia Global Services has been appointed Chair of the WM5G Board.

WM5G is the new organisation set up to deliver UK’s first region-wide 5G testbed in the West Midlands and will report to the West Midlands Combined Authority. It is part of the DCMS 5G Test Beds and Trials Programme to ensure the UK can takes early advantage of the productivity and efficiency benefits to the UK from 5G, create new opportunities for UK businesses and encourage inward investment.

Leprince will overseeing the WM5G programme to accelerate the deployment of 5G and fibre networks and trial, prove and scale innovative new 5G services, paving the way for the future roll-out of 5G across the UK.

“I have a real belief that 5G can and will bring significant positive change and opportunities to businesses and society, not just in the West Midlands region but throughout the UK, he said. “I am very excited to be chairing WM5G and look forward to helping drive the 5G agenda.”

Leprince, who previously held the position of President of Nokia Global Services, has extensive experience of working with a variety of network operators, equipment and service providers.

At Nokia, he led a team of 25,000 telecom professionals, was responsible for €6bn of P&L and formed part of the group executive team, which was at the forefront of the development of 5G technology.

Since leaving Nokia, Leprince commenced a new career path as an Angel Investor, Board member and Chairman of several companies in the Technology sector including: Senior Advisor for Bain & Company; Investor and board member for Avanseus, Fil Rouge Capital and InBot and Chair of AWTG Ltd.

WM5G’s initial focus will be on accelerating deployment of the infrastructure required for 5G, and building health, industry and mobility testbeds.

The organisation is working closely with manufacturers, SMEs, universities and hospitals across the region on new digital applications that will help drive economic growth and benefit people’s lives.

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