Chancellor George Osborne has set out initiatives to encourage research into networking technologies, including 5G mobile network services and the Internet of Things.
Osborne released a list of new announcements regarding networking to coincide with a report released by DCMS; setting out the government’s Digital Communications Infrastructure Strategy.
The government said it would set aside £100m for R&D into intelligent mobility, focusing on driverless car technology in particular, as well as £40m for demonstrator programs, including research hubs to encourage IoT applications in health, social care and smart cities.
In its budget book the government said: “Smart City technology could prove transformative, as well as providing significant opportunities for supporting jobs and growth.
“To ensure that the UK can take advantage of this technology, local areas will need to be empowered to make decisions, and collaborations will need to be built between cities, universities and business.
“The government will support a competition to fund a Smart Cities demonstrator as part of the internet of things programme to trial and showcase these new technologies.”
Drawing on the recommendations of last year’s review of the IoT by government chief scientific advisor Mark Walport, the government said it would work with experts to develop a formal roadmap for the UK’s IoT infrastructure in order to prevent fragmented and vulnerable networks.
Walport said: “We will only get the best from these technologies if researchers, business leaders and government work together to ensure they deliver the greatest possible benefit to the public.”
Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “From making our transport network more efficient to improving how we monitor our health, investing in the internet of things has enormous potential to transform the way we live and work for the better, while generating jobs and growth right across the UK.”
The government will begin work on shaping future standards around the IoT and looks to establish a public-private sector advisory board that will oversee and coordinate IoT development, and, where appropriate, offer views on the development of 5G networks.