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The Government should align its strategy for diversifying the 5G vendor market with its support...

Recommendation
The Government should align its strategy for diversifying the 5G vendor market with its support for rolling out 5G network coverage. Wherever the Government provides funds for expanding 5G coverage, it should look for opportunities to simultaneously support vendor diversification, for example by requiring the use of open standards. The Government should identify opportunities to support new market entrants scale their production by supporting the deployment of novel small-scale 5G deployments. It should provide details of planned measures to support diversification and expand 5G coverage in its Industrial Strategy.
Paragraph Reference
57
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government Acknowledged
The Government’s previously stated ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to 5G by 2027. All four Mobile Network Operators have launched their 5G networks and 5G is now available in 350 towns and cities across the UK. While the vast majority of 5G deployment will be led by the mobile operators, the Government is actively working to facilitate 5G deployment and, through the 5G Testbeds and Trials programme, has set out to bring forward the social and economic benefits that 5G can bring. The Government recognises the importance of scale in facilitating market entry of new suppliers, and is actively pursuing opportunities to ensure that government funded deployments prioritise open-interface technologies and new suppliers. While the Government does not typically lead mobile infrastructure deployment, we will consider opportunities to promote diversification through connectivity and R&D initiatives. Programmes such as the Government funded 5G Testbeds and Trials, aims to accelerate the deployment of 5G networks, maximise the productivity and efficiency benefits from 5G and create new opportunities for UK businesses. Recent projects have included NEC’s neutral host Open RAN testbed, NeutrORAN, and five of the latest 5G Create projects will also test out the technical possibilities of Open RAN. The Government will also look closely at growing demand for mobile private networks and the opportunities these can provide for new scale vendors to enter the market and provide bespoke coverage solutions, as well as diversifying the supply chain.
Addressee Bodies
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology
Timeline
Recommendation age 5.3 yrs
Report published 04 Feb 2021