Vodafone study claims 5G could add £6.3bn manufacturing boost

The study claims that “5G could help factories make better decisions and maximise productivity by facilitating the management and sharing of large quantities of data”, especially in “left behind” areas of the UK such as the North West, North East, East and West Midlands and Wales.

Following publication of the report, Vodafone has called on the UK government to “invest in the creation of 5G test and innovation centres” and make it easier for manufacturers to invest in private 5G networks.

Vodafone’s business director Anne Sheehan said: “5G offers huge potential for the manufacturing sector and beyond.

“To realise this potential, we need to all get behind it, from government and Ofcom creating the right policy and regulatory environment, through to businesses embracing the power of innovation, and of course us as network operators creating this network of the future.”

According to the authors, 5G could also power the wider use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) within manufacturing to improve visualisation and design plans prior to the construction of physical prototypes.