Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Not Addressed
Department needs to better integrate and disseminate its extensive 5G research findings
Conclusion
Since 2017, the Department has spent £400 million in developing possible uses for 5G because it is not yet obvious that consumers will need 5G and the commercial case is not yet clear enough to support industry’s investment.59 The Department’s strategy set out its plans to provide a further £36 million for UK regions to promote growth through investment in 5G, and up to £100 million for research into more advanced technologies such as 6G.60 The Department told us that its research programmes and testbeds have aimed to understand the potential applications that may only be possible using 5G technology and how to grow them to scale. However, the Department acknowledged that, although it has published information on what it has funded and achieved, there is more it can do to draw together the findings of its research.61
Government Response Summary
The government's response, which is identical to another item, fails to address the specific point about drawing together research findings, instead discussing its 5G ambition and general program evaluations.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
7.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2025 7.2 Standalone 5G deployment by the MNOs is funded by commercial investment, with no government subsidy. That is why the department set an ambition for standalone 5G to all populated areas, rather a specific target, through the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. The department monitors progress against its ambition by using the 5G coverage data published in Ofcom’s Connected Nations report. The Strategy also included a comprehensive framework of demand and supply side interventions to support 5G deployment by the MNOs. The department continues to work with industry to understand what further interventions are needed to support 5G investment. 7.3 The 5G Testbeds and Trials programme, completed in 2021, highlighted the benefits of 5G and tested innovative applications and deployment methods. This helped businesses and the public sector understand the benefits of 5G, how to adopt them and accelerated the development and deployment of open interface architectures. The interim evaluation for the programme was published in 2023 and informed the government’s 5G ambitions set out in the Wireless Infrastructure Strategy. 7.4 The Open Networks Programme, which aims to support diversity of supply in the UK’s 5G supply chain, and the 5G Innovation Regions are still in delivery. The 5G Innovation Regions are delivering 5G solutions across the UK, helping the public sector and businesses develop their use cases for 5G while building up local infrastructure. The department will provide an evaluation of these programmes following their conclusion in 2025.