Opportunity
Superfast ‘5G’ mobile internet is the fifth-generation of mobile internet connectivity, which promises much faster data download and upload speeds, as well as more stable connections and wider coverage than ever before.
As we continue to consume more data every year, particularly as video and music streaming increases, existing spectrum bands are becoming more congested and less reliable, which leads to breakdowns in service.
5G enables far more devices to access the mobile internet at the same time whilst offering download speeds 10 to 20 times faster than we have now.
Communicating wirelessly with each other over 5G networks offers numerous benefits from glitch-free mobile videos, to clearer video calls with less delays and greater social connectivity for otherwise isolated individuals and remotely located businesses.
Solution
A 5G Project for Sunderland is well underway and designed to deliver superfast internet connectivity to schools, community rooms and numerous areas across the city as we continue to build our reputation as a digitally connected city.
This high-level 5G project will deliver Superfast internet connectivity circa 1Gbps to:
- Learning environments, starting with a Primary School
- Two Gentoo tower block community rooms
- Hedworth Court
- Dock St with Church St North also able to utilise vis shared building access
- City Centre, on High Street West encompassing the area from Union Street up to Keel Square
- Event Space, Keel Square
Impact
The difference this will make to the lives of individuals across the city as well as companies doing business here is immeasurable.
Everything we do now with smart devices will be better and faster, plus exciting innovations such as AR (augmented reality) and mobile virtual reality, can become a physical existence via faster connections and higher quality outputs.
For people living here, the benefits of 5G internet connectivity bring efficiencies and savings to schools and community rooms, enabling more children and adults to get online faster and with more reliable connections.
This means greater learning opportunities for all, including improved access to universal credits online, as well as via partners such as Gentoo, adults can also access digital skills training and equipment in their community rooms to boost confidence and knowledge.
Our ‘digital city centre’ with superfast public WiFi opens doors to exciting 5G-enabled events such as gaming events – bringing individuals closer together, both physically and virtually.
With heightened access to a speedy, reliable network to maximise connectivity and global business opportunities; organisations will be equipped to compete on a worldwide scale from right here in Sunderland.
Similarly, our 5G-equipped smart city will be crucial for autonomous vehicles to communicate with each other and read live map and traffic data, ensuring we maximise and leverage opportunities for Sunderland’s residents and business investors alike.
All of this makes our city smarter, to satisfy our growing needs as well as building the foundations for exciting new services and applications that are yet to be built; equipping Sunderland to excel well into the future.