New Body Setup to Support UK Broadband and Mobile Research
The Government has today announced the proposed launch of a new body called the ‘UK Telecoms Innovation Network‘ (UKTIN), which will help to guide mobile network operators and broadband ISPs that seek funding for key telecoms related research and development projects (e.g. OpenRAN technologies).
Over the past few years’, we’ve seen the Government’s Department for Culture, Digital, Media and Sport (DCMS) launch various broadband and mobile pilot projects. Some of these have, for example, been used to research future uses of 5G mobile and to help encourage adoption of Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) technologies.
Today’s announcement suggests that the new Government-funded organisation may be looking to centralise and simplify such things, particularly around their ongoing £250m effort to help diversify the UK telecoms supply chain in order to increase competition and boost innovation (this reflected the earlier decision to ban and remove Huawei’s influence from the UK market).
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The UKTIN itself will be run by a “consortium of organisations with telecoms expertise” and will support knowledge sharing and collaboration on “open and interoperable network technologies”. However, it’s not yet clear which consortium will establish and run the new centre, so the Government has today launched a new competition and offered up to £10m to help find suitable “organisations“.
Julia Lopez, UK Digital Infrastructure Minister, said:
“The UK Telecoms Innovation Network will be the first port of call for any telecoms company looking to access R&D funding and a matchmaker for firms looking to join forces on cutting-edge projects.
Ultimately this is about making the UK the best place in the world to develop rapid and seamless new technology for the digital networks that will power our economy well into the 21st century.”
The UKTIN, which is “expected” to be up and running by the end of 2022, will be tasked with creating an up-to-date database of information on R&D funding in the public and private sector. It will also create an annual report which maps out the latest developments and opportunities in disruptive and innovative telecoms technology in the UK, including OpenRAN.
The deadline for applications is noon on 20th May 2022 and the result is expected to be announced this “summer“. The Government are asking applicants to submit two bids, one for £5m and another for £10m. After that they will determine the bid which represents the most value for money.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Another drain on the public purse.
haha, you couldn’t make this stuff up. the superfarce rocks on.
How so? It’s fairly normal for governments to help fund technology R&D projects.
Mark, I tend to agree with Chris Conder. I’ve recently been involved in a winning consortium within the ongoing FRANC competition – the level of bureaucracy involved is frightening. Such bureaucracy works against smaller companies, where, rather ironically the bright people live.
Cest la vie
Thanks John, that’s a much more useful reply.
Mark,
Another observation if I may (and adding a note of cynicism here) in that I foresee yet another “public” body checking everyone’s homework. If we are to benefit from advances in telecoms equipment, then it follows that any manufacturing must be carried out in the UK (I watched the demise of Marconi with sadness). My model is quite a simple one, which I call “the one ring to rule them all model” i.e. any such body must be made aware of all UK (only) telecoms research and bring the universities, research bodies, all UK manufacturers (if there are any) to stop the incessant re-invention of the wheel. Note that this body will live under BEIS, whereas FRANC (as an example) resides within DCMS. Time to knock some heads together, I think?
John I’m afraid that less ‘bureaucracy’ will only lead to calls from some quarters that there is not enough oversight of how public funds are spent. What’s the correct balance? I suspect the answer to that will differ immensely depending on who you ask. You can’t please everyone, but you can at least try to remain accountable.
I agree re accountability. Notwithstanding my ongoing concerns over Government intervention, I am in agreement with the the views of Telecom TV at https://www.telecomtv.com/content/5g/what-s-up-with-italian-5g-belgian-5g-oneweb-43986/
Unfortunately, you will need to scroll down the page quite a bit though. We should have started such a venture twenty years ago. Cest la vie.