Consortium wins 3.5 million to bring 5G broadband connectivity to socially and economically deprived areas

An innovative Liverpool partnership, The Liverpool 5G Testbed, has been awarded £3.5 million by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports (DCMS) 5G Testbeds and Trials programme 

Sensor City, the joint venture project between the University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, will lead a consortium made up of public sector health suppliers, the NHS, university researchers, local SMEs and a leading UK 5G technology vendor.

The unique partnership, one of only six across the UK to successfully secure the funding, will employ cutting edge technologies such as low-cost open source 5G broadband, artificial intelligence, virtual reality and the Internet of Things (IoT), to improve patient monitoring and support, and communication between hospitals and the community.

Professor Robin Leatherbarrow, LJMU Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Scholarship, Research & Knowledge Transfer, said:  “This fantastic project shows the power of research and enterprise to drive transformation across social, cultural and economic boundaries. It also demonstrates the benefits of sharing expertise, and of people coming together with a common purpose, to improve lives in the Liverpool City Region.”

Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries said: "One year on from the Digital Strategy, we are delivering on our commitments to create a Britain fit for the future, with a thriving digital economy that works for everyone. The ground-breaking projects we're funding in Liverpool and across the UK will help to unlock 5G and ensure the benefits of this new technology are felt across the economy and wider society."

Alison Mitchell, executive director, Sensor City, who are leading the project, said: “The Liverpool 5G test-bed will enable us to explore new models of service provision which will improve quality of life, reduce care costs and create new opportunities for SMEs providing digital social care and health content.”

The money will be used to set up trials of 5G broadband in parts of the city, facilitating health and welfare applications with measurable social benefits. The funding is part of the UK’s 5G technology strategy government’s 5G strategy

For further information, please visit http://www.sensorcity.co.uk/news/sensor-city-leads-the-5g-race-with-3-5m-grant/