WM5G wins £10m tender

West Midlands 5G (WM5G) has won a £10m Government tender to create the UK’s Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN).WM5G, 5G innovation company, won the tender as part of a UK-wide consortium led by Digital Catapult and also including CW (Cambridge Wireless) and the University of Bristol.UKTIN, first announced by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in March, aims to make the UK the easiest place in the world to access and take part in telecoms research, development and innovation.It will guide businesses and researchers looking to access funding or testing facilities in the UK and enable the best use of public and private investment in R&D. It will also ensure that knowledge is effectively and efficiently shared across the telecoms industry.UKTIN is expected to be up and running in September, at which point it will begin to take over from UK5G to help organisations get the most out of what the UK has to offer.Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, said: “Fast and reliable digital connectivity is an important element in delivering Levelling Up here in our region so I’m delighted that WM5G continues to play a vital part in helping us to do just that.”Robert Franks, managing director of WM5G, said: “The UK already invests over £1bn a year in telecoms research, development and innovation. Through UKTIN we will turbo-charge this investment – helping the UK extend its leadership in open networks and vital new technologies such as 5G and 6G – building on the strengths of our regional clusters to create more skilled jobs, attract more investment and deliver economic growth.”