Vodafone has announced it will open a new Innovation Hub and technology incubator at The Landing at MediaCityUK.
The new hub will give UK businesses, start-ups and tech innovators access to 5G, Internet Of Things, high-speed fibre and the best technical resources available.
The telecoms giant said it chose MediaCityUK for its incubator base because of its unique concentration of technology, talent and super connectivity.
As MediaCityUK’s dedicated technology incubator for high-growth technology and digital start-ups, The Landing has a growing international reach and a proven track record of supporting businesses to achieve rapid growth in the digital sector so it is the ideal location for Vodafone’s new innovation hub.
“MediaCityUK is an emerging smart city and one of the most vibrant technology hubs in the UK,” said Paul Dennett, City Mayor of Salford.
“With the arrival of Vodafone, it will be able to go much further and become an exemplar in the UK for how these new networks and interconnections will inform the way we manage future cities and improve the lives of our citizens in areas such as transport, energy and health.”
Jon Corner, chief digital officer for the City of Salford and CEO at The Landing, said he was “delighted” to welcome Vodafone to MediaCityUK.
“The new Vodafone Innovation Hub at The Landing will be a significant centre for companies across Greater Manchester and the North to test, deploy and commercialise new applications,” he said.
“It’s important to acknowledge that new technology – including 5G – is not just about faster mobile handsets. It will change significantly how we organise networks, how we transact and use data, and how we use and consume content.
“It will enable companies working in immersive technologies and artificial intelligence, for example, to develop completely fresh applications to daily interactions.
“We intend to unlock the whole of MediaCityUK to be a living lab for innovators and entrepreneurs working across such technologies.”
Anne Sheehan, enterprise director at Vodafone UK, said: “The hub at The Landing will give UK businesses, start-ups and tech innovators access to 5G, IOT, high-speed fibre and our best technical resources and we plan to roll out these innovation hubs throughout UK cities.”
Stephen Wild, managing director at MediaCityUK, said: “We look forward to the team from Vodafone joining the community of 8,000 people who already call MediaCityUK their home.”