Why the Midlands will lead another revolution
Comment
group of SMEs to engage with 5G and guide us in its testing and development.
This could play a key role in supporting us to put in place the kind of digital infrastructure which will make the West Midlands a global leader.
Before SMEs can start to make the most of 5G wireless connectivity and its increased speeds and base stations to support 5G and each station costs up to £150,000.
We also know that the frequency band means that weak signals may be impacted by physical blockages.
But tackling these issues will unlock opportunities for business growth and create enhanced mobile broadband, creating millions of interconnected sensors for smart cities and paving the way for automated manufacturing. The opportunities for SMEs are very real.
A report published in 2017 analysed the impact of the tech and digital industries on the West Midlands economy.
It has found the industry would add £2 billion to the economy, create 14,000 jobs and create a new generation of skilled workers from the region by 2025.
While these figures show how integral the digital industries already are to the West Midlands, the 5G test bed provides us with the opportunity to build on that work and reap even more benefits for our region.
To really make the most of this opportunity, our universities, businesses and politicians must now look at 5G as a potentially transformative moment for our region.
We have already had great news in recent times with the award of the 2022 Commonwealth Games and Coventry’s City of Culture win.
Using this momentum, we must see the opportunities to prepare our economy for future industries and growth.With the level of uncertainty surrounding our ongoing trade relationships post-Brexit, using the developments of 5G to future proof ourselves and to become global technological leaders would be one of the smartest moves we could make.
Of course, it is also important to explain we are already well placed to take this work forward.
Not only because of the number of SMEs, the thriving student community and the demand for new skills across the region, but equally because our researchers are already examining exactly which doors may be opened by the arrival of 5G technology and how best we make use of it.
We can really hit the ground running.
Places like Birmingham City University, Coventry University and the University of Wolverhampton have long histories of research and development in the digital sector and all of our institutions must see the role we can play in harnessing this opportunity for the benefit of our communities.
We have been given a fantastic chance to once again place the West Midlands at the heart of a major shift in technology.
It is now up to us to pull together to make the most of this opportunity.
Mohammad Patwary is professor of telecommunication networks at
Birmingham City University
The industry would add £2 billion to the economy, create 14,000 jobs and create a new generation of skilled workers from the region by 2025