Upgrading the UK’s mobile infrastructure to 5G could add as much as £158bn to the economy over the next ten years, according to a new report from Vodafone UK.
The report, Levelling up: How 5G Can Boost Productivity across the UK, says that investment in 5G could lead to benefits ranging from increased productivity to improved provision of public services.
For instance, high quality digital infrastructure will enable people to continue to work remotely, helping to make towns and villages across the country more attractive places to live and work, and 5G private networks will enable manufacturers to dramatically increase efficiency.
In hospitals, the technology will help surgeons work with more precision than ever, while people in remote communities will have access to the kind of care that would once have required hours of travel. In schools, teachers will be able to share rich virtual experiences with their classes. And in towns and cities, 5G could help to revolutionise traffic and congestion management, reducing delays and allowing quicker access for emergency services.
In the five years to 2025 the cumulative benefits to UK output are estimated at more than £38bn, and for the five years to 2030 they stand at more than £120bn.
“5G will play a vital role as the economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK CEO. “It is crucial to recognise the role that fast and reliable connectivity will play in unlocking the digital potential that exists in every nation and region across the UK. 5G will provide new and exciting opportunities for businesses of all shapes and sizes and across all sectors.”
The report, authored by WPI Economics, urges the UK Government to make digital central to its economic recovery plan and create the policy, procurement and investment environment to support faster 5G rollout.
Read more about how superfast, always on, ubiquitous connectivity will transform key sectors of the UK economy by downloading your free copy of our Next-generation connectivity report.
Tags: 5G, mobile infrastucture
