Scotland needs to get up to 5G speed
Renfrewshire South MSP Tom Arthur has welcomed a plan that will put Scotland at the forefront of the 5G technological revolution.
5G is the next generation of mobile internet, offering faster speeds and enhanced connectivity that could transform transport, education, healthcare and agriculture among other sectors.
The plan sets out how the Scottish Government will work with industry, the regulator and other public sector bodies to make sure all of Scotland – including rural areas – benefits from the technology.
The report claims 5G could enable Scotland to add £17 billion to GDP by 2035, creating 160,000 jobs and increasing productivity by £1,600 a worker in just over 15 years.
Tom Arthur MSP said: “The Scottish Government’s new 5G plan sets out aspirations to ensure Scotland is a forward-looking digital nation.
“5G offers rich potential – opportunities to enhance Scotland’s global competitiveness, achieve economic growth and drive innovation across our public and private sectors.
“There are huge potential gains for the public sector if we embrace technologies such as 5G. This strategy will be a catalyst for further public sector transformation, enabling high quality, user-focused and efficient services that are driven by data.
“While the UK’s mobile network operators are already investing large sums in rolling out 5G, we must act collectively to ensure that Renfrewshire South and all of Scotland – including rural areas –
benefit from this revolution.”