The Industrial 5G Accelerator programme aims to produce a series of real-life test cases that prove the potential of 5G and make the case for rapid adoption. It seeks applications from companies providing industrial equipment into manufacturing, logistics, heavy industry and the relevant supply chains, as well as large industrial players.
Jeremy Silver, CEO, Digital Catapult, commented, “The potential for 5G to boost UK productivity and increase efficiency is hugely exciting. 5G is a significant investment for any company so to be able to showcase its value in a real-life environment, through tangible and relevant examples, is absolutely vital to developing a concrete business case. We're excited to work with Ericsson, pairing our deep technical knowledge and agile approach to innovation with their world renowned technical and business excellence, helping to provide the ammunition business leaders need to accelerate adoption of 5G across the country.”
Marielle Lindgren, CEO, Ericsson UK & Ireland said “Technologies like IoT, robotics and AI, are transforming UK businesses, but the lack of consistent, high-quality connectivity is preventing them from realising Industry 4.0’s full potential. With its super-fast data rates, ultra-low latency and vastly increased network capacity, 5G provides the solution to this challenge. Ericsson is a world leader in communications technology, and today in the UK, we are collaborating with mobile network operators, businesses and agencies such as Digital Catapult to ensure Industry 4.0 is capable of delivering on its promise.”
5G is anticipated as being able to improve a wide range of industrial functions, from onsite processes to connected goods, but there are limited real-life examples of this technology in action. Digital Catapult and Ericsson believe experimentation through programmes like this can help reduce industries’ concerns around cellular technologies for in-factory connectivity, including perceived barriers such as cost, interoperability with existing networks and security considerations.
