West Midlands 5G awards accelerators contract
West Midlands 5G (WM5G) has awarded a major contract to a consortium led by Telefonica UK (O2) to build 5G accelerators in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry.
WM5G is the organisation delivering the UK’s first region-wide 5G testbed, backed by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). Other consortium members include Deloitte, Wayra and Digital Catapult.
The three 5G accelerator facilities will have access to private 5G networks – enabling businesses and public sector organisations to experiment with 5G features that aren’t yet commercially released. This will be combined with the latest devices, professional advice and technical support.
WM5G and its consortium members are reviewing the precise nature of how they will launch these 5G accelerator facilities to businesses – including remote access options – in-line with the Government’s advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) and more information will follow shortly.
Unlike 5G R&D facilities, the 5G accelerators will be designed specifically to attract businesses and entrepreneurs to solve major problems and opportunities that can be commercially scaled, when proven.
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “I am delighted that the West Midlands is to be the first region in the UK to launch these cutting edge 5G innovation centres. These new centres will allow thousands of businesses and organisations across the region to experience 5G first-hand, and this will be a great advertisement for the West Midlands as we look to encourage more businesses to relocate here.”
Derek McManus, COO at O2, added: “O2 has championed 5G business innovation for a while now and we are incredibly pleased to have been awarded this contract. Being able to help businesses in the West Midlands realise the potential of 5G is a fantastic opportunity and something we are excited to bring our expertise to. Our own consortium – alongside our collaborators, Deloitte, Wayra and Digital Catapult – worked very hard to win this contract and we look forward to bringing this to life.”
Robert Franks, managing director at WM5G, added: “The West Midlands has a proud heritage leading the previous industrial revolution. Through the 5G accelerators that we’re launching in partnership with O2 and its consortium, our region is in prime position to lead the next industrial revolution.”
Jane Whitlock, practice senior partner for Deloitte in the Midlands, added: “There is a clear market demand from our clients and the business community as a whole to better understand both the short and long-term financial and social benefits of 5G. The 5G accelerators are pivotal to the project’s success and we are excited to be part of the consortium that is leading the way in 5G innovation.”
Jeremy Silver, CEO at Digital Catapult, added: “5G is exciting, transformative and different from everything that has gone before it. Digital Catapult’s work over the last four years, building 5G testbeds and working with start-ups to help refine products to take advantage of all that 5G has to offer, has prepared us well to get to work in the West Midlands. The industrial opportunity to transform existing services and create entirely new ones is an opportunity to accelerate the growth of businesses in the region and develop their global competitiveness. We’re excited to work in the West Midlands with our consortium members to the ultimate benefit of over 2,000 companies.”
Bruno Moraes, country manager at Wayra UK, added: “5G brings unparalleled innovation opportunities for businesses in several different sectors and we are thrilled to play a leading role in its development in the UK. We strongly believe that collaboration is a key driver for innovation and we are very excited to bring our expertise in open innovation to create a world-leading 5G innovation centre in the West Midlands together with such an amazing group of collaborators.”
Law firm Trowers & Hamlins advised West Midlands 5G on the launch.
Amardeep Gill, of Trowers, who led on the project, said: “This is an extremely exciting time for our region to be at the forefront of innovative technology, bringing significant benefit to at least 2,000 businesses and public sector organisations from across the West Midlands. There will be a ripple effect of this project in attracting investment and business development through the use of ground-breaking technology, not only in our region, but across the rest of the UK as this is implemented further. We look forward to the new opportunities this opens up for businesses and communities, notwithstanding the current climate.”
The team was led by Birmingham commercial head Amardeep Gill together with Louis Sebastian, Dan Goddard, Rebecca McGuirk, Paul McDermott, Julian Jarrett, Sonal Dingri and Victoria Pearson.
