Analyst: UK 5G delay ‘economic risks’
October 28, 2020
By Colin Mann
The Government’s own acknowledgement of a likely delay in rolling-out 5G in the UK risks not fully realising £108 billion worth of economic benefit and the creation of 350,000 jobs in regions outside London and the South-East over the next decade, according to an independent report by analyst firm Assembly, who warn that a delay in Britain realising its full 5G potential could condemn some parts of the country to the digital slow lane for years to come,
The report, commissioned by Huawei, whose involvement in the UK’s 5G roll-out has been restricted following security concerns, lays bare the opportunities for levelling up. If 5G were delivered nationwide without delay, three-quarters of its expected economic benefit would likely come in regions outside London and the South-East with the potential to transform connectivity in areas such as the North-East, the North-West and the West Midlands.
As a global leader in 5G, the UK could stand to benefit from more than 600,000 potential new jobs over the next decade, bringing with it the value of more than £6,000 per household on average by 2030. Critically, the jobs at risk are not limited to the tech sector or confined to tech hubs but spread across white-collar and blue-collar workforces.
- In the North-West, the region risks not fully realising an economic uplift of £16.9 billion between 2020-2030 – and 59,000 new jobs
- In London, the region risks not fully realising an economic uplift of £39.7 billion between 2020-2030 – and 139,000 new jobs
- In the West Midlands, the region risks not fully realising an economic uplift of £13.0 billion between 2020-2030 – and 45,500 new jobs
Consumers could be left waiting
The UK mobile industry has already made significant progress in the roll-out of 5G, with more than 300 towns and cities already having some degree of coverage. However, a delayed roll-out would mean consumers across the country would have to wait longer to enjoy the full benefits of next-generation connectivity on their devices – such as virtual reality video streaming, gaming and the delivery of on-demand content.
Industries face losing out on 5G benefits
The report warns that a delay in 5G roll-out threatens to slow advances in everything from next-generation remote healthcare and smart manufacturing, to robotics and at-home schooling. Slowing down advances in high-quality remote learning and healthcare, are potential ‘social equalisers’ ¬– helping to address GP or teacher shortages. Advances in smart manufacturing and robotics would also be under threat. A recent 5G trial in Worcestershire registered a marked rise in productivity after exploring the use of 5G in machinery fault detection and remote training.
“The Government’s own expectation of its restrictions on Huawei is for up to a three-year delay in 5G roll-out,” notes Matthew Howett, Principal Analyst & Founder of Assembly. “The risk of course is that this will be felt by operators being forced to focus their deployments in more profitable urban centres and that would inevitably mean it takes longer to reach, and fully cover, more rural and remote parts of Britain with 5G. If this plays out there is a risk of a widened digital divide.”
“UK government has set ambitious targets for improved connectivity by 2025,” adds Victor Zhang, Vice President of Huawei. This research reveals how a three-year delay in 5G roll-out will have a significant economic impact on every part of the UK, and highlights the consequences of failing to realise Britain’s full potential. Without global 5G leadership, Britain faces relegation to the digital slow lane, a job creation black hole and a wider digital divide.”