Pinsent Masons advises on 5G Create - the £28m government funded 5G test projects

As the latest funding competition run by the DCMS' 5G Testbeds and Trials programme, 5G Create was run as an open call for 5G use cases, providing successful applicants with public funds to support their testing of 5G technology. Over £28m joint funding from government and industry will be invested across nine different projects, looking at whether 5G can improve construction process monitoring, optimise predictive maintenance of port infrastructure and improve the traceability of goods passing through ports.

Projects will also explore how 5G can support live-streaming by film makers in extreme locations, and provide for a more immersive remote experience of tourist attractions, sports events and the natural world through the use of augmented and virtual reality technology.

Having worked with DCMS on its 5G Testbeds and Trials programme since 2017, Pinsent Masons provided support around funding agreements and compliance with procurement and state aid law. The team was led by Simon Colvin (Partner) and included Justin Chan (Legal Director) and Nick Hutton (Associate).

Minister for Digital Infrastructure, Matt Warman, said:

“5G is about so much more than faster mobile internet speeds so we’re investing millions to help some of Britain’s brightest innovators explore the huge potential of the technology to improve and enrich our lives.

“The projects we’ve selected will demonstrate how the blistering speeds of 5G can put some rocket fuel in our economy and help businesses bounce back from the pandemic.”

Global head of TMT and partner at Pinsent Masons, Simon Colvin said:

"It's clear from the breadth of projects that are receiving government support through the 5G Create competition, just how wide ranging the potential applications of 5G technology are.

"The real value from the trials will be derived through unlocking the commercially sustainable 5G use cases. This will come from putting new ideas like private networks, edge computing and Open RAN to the test in a real world setting. I look forward to seeing the trials develop in the coming months and understanding more around how 5G technology enables them to succeed."