Wired UK – September 2019

WIRED PARTNERSHIP | VODAFONE BUSINESS

Eventually, 5G will revolutionise

the way users connect to the internet

• making heavy downloads of films,
  games or large apps essentially
  instantaneous. But it’s potential
  applications go far beyond this

H OW 5 G

I S S E T

T O FA S T-

F O RWA R D

T H E U K’ S

STA RTUPS

Vodafone has switched on its 5G

network in the UK – now it’s helping

businesses and entrepreneurs seize

the new, superfast opportunity

Innovation is coming, and it will be ultra-

fast. This, in essence, is the future heralded

by the launch of Vodafone’s new Digi-

tal Innovation Hub (DIH) at MediaCityUK,

in Salford, Greater Manchester.

Inaugurated on June 19, the DIH is the

first of several locations geared towards

startups which Vodafone is planning to

launch – and part of the company’s long-

term plan to transform Salford into one of

the UK’s most high-tech regions.

The DIH is going to be an incubator and

centre of activity where entrepreneurs,

professionals and local startup founders

can congregate, collaborate and exchange

ideas, meet experts, acquire new skills

and experiment with the latest emerging

technologies including Internet of Things,

high-speed fibre, and – importantly – 5G.

The DIH opening came just days before

Vodafone switched on its superfast, highly

responsive 5G network in seven cities

across the UK: Birmingham, Bristol, Car-

diff, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool and

London. Vodafone was the first UK opera-

tor to give an official switch-on date for the

new technology, and, by the end of 2019, it is

planning to roll out 5G in 19 towns and cities

across Britain. It will also be the first UK

provider to make 5G roaming available in

four European countries.

Vodafone’s grand switch-on event in

London, on July 3, featured Formula 1 Five-

Time World Champion Lewis Hamilton

• not only a British sport icon, but a fit-
  ting embodiment of the very idea of speed
  itself – and showcased some of the most
  anticipated cutting-edge uses of 5G tech.
  One of the most compelling demonstra-
  tions of 5G’s potential was a remote rugby
  training session – complete with tackles –
  enabled by the new technology. Two play-

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