Bristol is one of three sites in the UK that are being joined together for the world’s first tests of next generation 5G end-to-end systems.

“The University of Bristol has recently demonstrated pioneering research on 5G technologies and networks”

 

The £16m project will link up the Smart City and Smart Campus test beds in Bristol with the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC) and the 5G lab at Kings College London.

Bristol will also contribute key Software Defined Network technologies for end-to-end 5G services, with public demonstrators targeting media, gaming and transport applications.

“The University of Bristol has an international reputation for research on telecommunications and has recently demonstrated pioneering research on 5G technologies and networks,” said Professor Dimitra Simeonidou (pictured above, far right), director of the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol and Chief Scientific Officer for programmable city project Bristol Is Open. “This will use the University’s plans for investment in Smart City infrastructure and the Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, which aims to create more opportunities for the region’s businesses and citizens.”

The project is led by the £80m 5GIC at Surrey, which also includes Bristol-based companies such as Blu Wireless Technologies. It is developing 5G radio technologies and a fully virtualised mobile core network at 3.5GHz and 700 MHz for enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) and Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) for the Internet of Things. The 5G Tactile Internet Lab at Kings is also working on smart cities, smart transport, performing arts and health.

“We want to be at the head of the field in 5G”

 

“We want to be at the head of the field in 5G,” said UK Minister for Digital Matt Hancock. “This funding will support the pioneering research needed to ensure we can harness the potential of this technology to spark innovation, create new jobs and boost the economy. We know 5G has the potential to bring more reliable, ultrafast mobile connectivity, with quicker reaction times and larger data capabilities, and I’m thrilled to announce King’s College London and the universities of Surrey and Bristol have agreed to collaborate on this project.”

The 5G Hub will be integrated at the system level and connected across the three university sites with initial end-to-end testing early next year. This will be followed by further nationwide test and trials of 5G technologies with connection of external test beds and applications across the UK throughout 2018.

You can find out more about the Smart Internet Lab at www.bristol.ac.uk/engineering/research/smart/

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