Vodafone pumps Manchester for 5G ecosystem development

In a few weeks’ time, Vodafone will become the second telco in the UK to switch on its ‘5G’ network, but up in Manchester, the team is focusing on ecosystem development.

At an event dubbed ‘Go Beyond’, the Vodafone team launched its Digital Innovation Hub in an attempt to help the next-generation. This is perhaps one of the important facets of 5G which is missed in general discussions; 5G isn’t just about speed, its about offering new tools to innovators to create services which would not be deemed possible on 4G networks.

“The Digital Innovation Hub is an example of how we are empowering today’s start-ups and small businesses with the expertise and technologies to help turn their blueprints into reality,” said Anne Sheehan, Business Director at Vodafone UK. “Our 5G services can help UK start-ups become global leaders in their fields.”

For the telcos, being first to launch 5G offers a competitive edge in the utilitised world of connectivity, and also bragging rights, but there is a bigger win for the economies and societies which drive forward the fastest; the opportunity and ability to get a jump start to create services which will define the technology world of tomorrow.

This would appear to be one of the objectives behind the innovation hub opened here by Vodafone; put the technology in the hands of start-ups and entrepreneurs.

“Such investment and commitment from the private sector supports our ambition to make Salford one of the world’s most attractive cities for digital enterprises,” said Paul Dennett, City Major of Salford.

“It will also boost the local economy and help attract new jobs and opportunities for the people of Salford, Great Manchester and beyond. This commitment also further strengthens Salford’s Innovation Triangle connecting MediaCityUK with the University of Salford and Salford Royal Foundation Trust, our outstanding and leading hospital in the City.”

Think about the impact which 4G had on yesteryear and today. Many of the countries who were the first to launch 4G networks created some of the most influential technology companies in the industry today. Prior to 4G, Uber, Spotify, Tencent, Alibaba or AirBnB didn’t exist (or did but weren’t anywhere near at full scale), but with the new connectivity buzz, new jobs, wealth and segments were carved out.

Arguably the UK missed out on this craze. It was the 28th country to launch 4G networks, and while it maintains a healthy position in the technology standings today, other nations who were quicker to the finish line reaped greater benefits.

5G isn’t just about going faster, it is about having the opportunity to create services which are not conceivable today. But to do that, the networks need to up and running. With all four of the MNOs planning to launch 5G this year, and each taking a slightly different geographical rollout plan, the UK has an opportunity to capture the new revenue created through the upgraded networks.

The UK currently accounts for around 35% of all European unicorns created over the last few years, while the technology sector has outpaced average GDP growth by 4X since the European referendum. The technology sector is on the up in the UK, but 5G launches and scaled deployment are critical to ensure this position is not eclipsed by other nations.