AMRC showcases UK's first 5G standalone testbed

By Tim Aldred

12 Apr 2023

Amrc 5g Testbed Main

The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) North West has celebrated the close-out of the 5G Factory of the Future programme.

As the UK’s first, fully operational 5G Standalone (5G SA) testbed, it brings UK manufacturers another step closer to creating a more adaptable manufacturing ecosystem. 

The technology has been designed for a world in which rising adoption of digital technology for day-to-day activities has resulted in data volumes scaling up exponentially. 

5G will allow flexible reconfiguration and rapid stand-up of new operational hardware, as well as enabling existing machines or facilities to be retrofitted with digital technologies, increasing our manufacturing efficiency and flexibility.

Delivery of the project, launched in December 2020, was managed by a consortium of industrial and academic leaders from the UK manufacturing and telecommunications sectors. Included was the AMRC as project lead, alongside BAE Systems, Digital Catapult, Fuuse, IBM, aql and MTT. 

The project, which ran at a cost of more than £10m, was part-funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of its £200m investment in its 5G Testbed and Trials programme. It also received match funding from industry. 

Dr Aparajithan Sivanathan, project lead for the 5G Factory of the Future programme and head of digital technology at AMRC North West, said: "The 5G FoF project has successfully delivered the largest manufacturing testbed in the UK, with 5G standalone capability, proven working 5G use cases and developed native 5G devices.

“We have also created a business model that will sustain the testbed beyond the end of the project. 5G is going to be the future and we’re now thinking about the next phase.”

AMRC 5G testbed

A total of 75 people, including businesses, manufacturers and academics, attended a special event to hear the project outcomes and discover first-hand how 5G is making a difference through live, cutting-edge demos. 

Keith Bullock, 5G programme director for digital infrastructure at the Department for Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said: “5G FoF was one of 38 projects in the 5G Testbed and Trials programme and I think we now understand quite a lot around how things do and don’t work. 

“It’s been brilliant to have a British manufacturing organisation like BAE Systems, coupled with some top vendors, some innovative SMEs and a whole package brought together by AMRC North West, that has been built for innovation and sharing information, made this project hugely attracted and this team has shown incredible resourcefulness up to this point.

“We feel hugely positive about the future, and we have learnt how little we know – and that the way to do this from a government point of view is to not over-define, but to leave it open and allow companies and experts like you, to tell us what we should be doing.” 

James Petherbridge at IBM Consulting added: “The 5G Factory-of-the-Future programme has demonstrated the power of putting IBM’s AI into the hands of manufacturing experts, enabling them to build models that automate data-driven algorithms delivering improved shopfloor performance. The combination of 5G connectivity together with the power of hybrid cloud have demonstrated they provide the versatility and flexibility to scale operations securely. 

"This project has also demonstrated the value of ecosystems collaborating to bring diverse capabilities together and deliver outcomes faster across small and large organisations. The widespread adoption of the 5G Factory-of-Future capabilities across the UK will help position manufacturing as a key lever for productivity improvement and global competitiveness.”

Dr Sivanathan said that AMRC North West will continue to work with the project partners in order to see how the 5G technology can be built upon further by seeing how it can be used in a more complicated, critical environment. 

He added: “We already have more work lined up, which includes a project called YORAN and upcoming work with a UK/Turkey strategic project and Celtic-Next Europe. We want to really take on the tough challenge of seeing how far we can push the boundaries of 5G technologies.” 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities Head of Lancaster University's School of Computing and Communications Professor Nigel Davies, Chris Ensor, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Engagement) Professor Sarah Kemp

Lancaster University unveils cutting-edge computing and cyber security facilities

24 Apr 2025

2

Silkstone Finance acquires Northcote hotel Craig Bancroft

Silkstone Finance acquires Northcote hotel

24 Apr 2025

3

Major shareholder makes Inspired takeover bid inspired-500x500.png

Major shareholder makes Inspired takeover bid

23 Apr 2025

4

Nominate your favourite family-run business in Lancashire. Thompsons meeting (1).png.png

Nominate your favourite family-run business in Lancashire.

22 Apr 2025

5

Business academies to continue for an additional year Cllr Mark Smith (r) with Top Gun Tools & Fixings team presenting Blackpool Net Zero Academy certificate

Business academies to continue for an additional year

22 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
24 Apr 2025 - 24 Apr 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: April
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
25 Apr 2025 - 25 Apr 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: April

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

People Power: Exclusive Event Series
Stay ahead in 2025.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
29 Apr 2025 - 29 Apr 2025

People Power: Exclusive Event Series

People's History Museum, Manchester, M3 3ER

17:00 - 21:00

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin