Yesterday, the government unveiled the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. This revised approach to connectivity infrastructure, alongside new funding, aims to “blanket the country with the fastest, most reliable wireless coverage available”.
Jo Bertram, managing director, business and wholesale, Virgin Media O2 Business, commented on the significance of this strategy and highlighted the emphasis on 5G.
She said, “Virgin Media O2 Business welcomes the introduction of the UK government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. The world of business is becoming increasingly connected – whether you’re a global enterprise or a smaller business focused on conquering a local market, access to 5G and broadband networks are now vital for success.
“5G has much to offer on an individual business level and to the UK economy, providing better conditions for organisations of every size and sector to adopt or scale their use. Therefore, it is promising to see the UK Government place greater emphasis on 5G, with the announced £40 million 5G innovation fund.
“We’re already seeing the difference 5G can make through a number of our partnerships, including with South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust to switch on [a] 5G-connected hospital, and our project with Fotokite to support 5G-enhanced emergency services and public safety using drones.”
“Next steps for the strategy are for it to be implemented through a clear action plan and we are keen to play our part to ensure that practical steps are taken to meet the set ambitions and objectives.”
Infrastructure-as-a-service provider Freshwave has also welcomed the strategy, pointing to the role neutral hosts can play in meeting the objectives of the strategy.
Tom Bennett, CTO at Freshwave, said, “We welcome the publication of the Government’s Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, which acknowledges the crucial role neutral hosts play in delivering advanced wireless connectivity. Customer demands for services enabled by 5G technology means our industry needs far greater mobile site density, and the shared infrastructure offered by neutral hosts allows us to get this done effectively.
“This not only reduces installation costs for providers but helps minimise street clutter and street works in the community. This will only increase in importance as smart cities evolve.
“It’s good to see mobile private networks featuring in the government’s strategy, as they will provide huge benefits to both private and public sector organisations. They not only improve productivity and safety in environments like ports and factories, but they open up exciting new use cases in health and social care settings.”
The new strategy is also expected to help remove barriers to adopting new wireless technologies. Alfonso Alvarez, managing director, Cellnex UK, said, “This strategy is a crucial step towards ensuring that the public and businesses across the UK can benefit from high-speed connectivity, and we welcome its commitment to removing barriers to innovation and supporting the deployment of wireless connectivity.
Alvarez explained that the company is ready to help “support the delivery of a 5G-connected country by 2030”. He added, “World-class infrastructure will be integral to success and, as the UK looks ahead to the future, we are committed to working with the government to shape the next generation of telecoms.”