The agreement announced today by the minister for digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman, will see the American wireless technology firm support efficacy tests for 5G-connected robotic farming at the agritech testbed in rural Dorset.
Warman said: "Qualcomm is at the cutting-edge of wireless communications and we are delighted to be working with its technology experts as part of our efforts to seize the full potential of 5G to help the country build back better.
"Alongside the 5G RuralDorset project and backed by our £200m trials scheme, we will explore innovative uses for the 5G mmWave spectrum to revolutionise the agricultural sector."According to security, spectrum and collaboration lead for 5G RuralDorset, Dave Happy, the use of "bleeding-edge technologies" will help accelerate the trials' aim to produce "the world’s first 5G-ready agri robot".
The 5G RuralDorset testbed was launched in March 2020 with the goal of developing an interoperable 5G network "custom-designed for farmers and the particular challenges of rural connectivity".
Last year, Qualcomm teamed up with Ericsson and US Cellular to achieve the farthest-ever extended-range 5G NR data call over mmWave in the United States.
