The UK has announced new funding for telecommunications technology and joined a global coalition to drive growth in the sector.
The UK government has announced a £70m investment into the Future Telecoms UKRI Technology Missions Fund.
In addition to the pledge, the government has also joined the new Global Coalition on Telecommunications (GCOT), a new global coalition to bolster telecoms security, resilience and innovation. Its members include Australia, Canada, Japan and the US.
The announcement has been described as part of an effort to ensure the UK becomes a global leader in 6G technology, improving the capacity and speeds of data transfer.
“Telecommunications networks are the lifeline of global economies, and safeguarding their resilience and security in an evolving, interconnected world is a top priority for our governments,” said Michelle Donelan, secretary of state for science, innovation and technology.
“By joining forces, the UK and our partners are well-positioned to take the lead in broadening supply chains, nurturing industry knowledge and bolstering security to address emerging challenges.”
The government has stressed that research and development in telecoms will improve internet coverage across the country, reducing energy consumption and enabling the universal roll-out of self-driving cars to be possible.
The projects will be carried out by researchers and businesses across the UK, the government has revealed, such as university-led Future Telecoms Research Hubs.
The coalition is also expected to help protect communications networks from supply chain disruption and cyber attacks.
“The critical telecommunications issues of today are global in scope,” said Alan Davidson, the US Department of Commerce’s assistant secretary for communications. “This groundbreaking coalition will help the US and our partners respond decisively to cross-border opportunities and challenges.”
Derek Mackenzie, CEO of Investigo, part of The IN Group, added: “Telecommunications networks are the lifeblood of economic activity, connecting businesses and driving productivity. However, there is no point in investing millions into this technology if you don’t have the next generation of skilled workers in place who can develop and improve it.
“That’s why these new university-led research hubs will play such a crucial role in equipping graduates with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive, giving the UK a robust talent pipeline for the long term.”
Last month, the UK pledged to invest £88m in research and development projects in the connectivity and telecoms sector to ensure the country is not “overly reliant on any one form of technology”.
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