UK government, mobile companies fund 5G research center
updated 11:19 am EDT, Tue October 9, 2012
Research to create next generation of mobile standards
A research center has been created in the UK to help in the development in 5G networks. The 5G Center is a partnership between the University of Surrey and various mobile companies, which will look into maximizing the use of the limited radio spectrum available, as well as making the future standard “greener” than previous versions.
Huawei, Samsung, Telefonica Europe, Fujitsu and others are supplying around £24 million ($38 million) for the project, which when combined with £11.6 million ($18.6 million) of government money, brings the total funds for the 5G Center to around £35 million ($56 million). The money will be used in developing the center, which the university hopes will attract others to work on the 5G technologies. It is also hoped that the center will aid in economic development in the country, and will bring the UK back into the forefront of cellular standards. The UK had a fairly active role in creating 2G GSM cellular standards, but involvement fell behind in 3G and 4G, to the level that 4G coverage has only recently begun to roll out in major cities.
The UK is not the only country interested in 5G communications. The South Korean government claimed to have started developing 5G access as early as 2008, long before LTE became available in the US. [via BBC News]
