Vodafone has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology to almost 90% of Scotland by 2034 as a result of its proposed merger with Three UK.
The pledge was made as part of a reception held recently at the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood. The reception was attended by Scottish Members of Parliament, as well as representatives from relevant industry bodies, think tanks and the media. Attendees heard that Scotland is expected to gain £9 billion in productivity gains by 2030 through the introduction of 5GSA technology. 5GSA technology is a next-generation mobile network that uses cutting-edge infrastructure to provide faster connectivity compared to non-standalone 5G technology.
At the event, attendees also heard from Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, and Rachel Hamilton MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural and Islands. They discussed the value of his national 5G rollout to Scotland.
The initiative builds on Vodafone UK research which found 91% of rural Scotland is non-5G, compared to just 20% of urban areas. Vodafone also revealed that regional disparities were significant, with rural areas in Scotland being 62% more likely to have no 5G installed at all compared to rural areas in England. is.
There are several potential benefits to deploying 5G SA in rural Scotland.
In healthcare, it will provide the ability to proactively prevent and respond to health emergencies, saving around £1 billion across the UK health and social care sector. Vodafone’s commitment to deploy 5G SA in all hospitals by 2030 will ensure the latest technology touches almost every part of healthcare, from remotely assisted surgery to drones transporting transplanted organs and medicines between hospitals. It will be introduced. People will also be able to enjoy service solutions such as his GP appointments in remote locations, which could eliminate the need for long-distance travel and reduce waiting times.
In agriculture, farmers will be able to take advantage of new innovations such as soil sensors, as well as increase productivity, reduce environmental impact, and foster rural economic growth. Vodafone’s previous research found that 5G-enabled sensors can reduce chemical use on farms by 30% and increase efficiency by 15%. The same study also highlighted that tools such as 5G-connected weather stations could help farmers plan irrigation schedules, ultimately reducing water consumption on farms by about 30%.
In education, technology has the potential to advance virtual classroom applications and provide young people with access to professional instruction.
In the energy sector, research has found that 5G SA has the potential to generate enough wind power to heat an additional 2.4 million homes by 2035. This is enough to heat every home in Scotland.
Rachel Hamilton, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands
I was delighted to sponsor Vodafone UK’s Digital Society event at the Scottish Parliament. Sadly, there is a digital divide between urban and rural areas in Scotland, with 42% of rural properties not being spotted on 5G. I was therefore pleased to hear about Vodafone UK’s plans to roll out its 5G network across Scotland. This will bring huge benefits and opportunities to people, communities and businesses in rural areas, such as my constituency in the Borders.
Richard Lochhead, Scottish Government Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade
Improving Scotland’s digital infrastructure and driving the uptake of technology across the economy and public sector is an ambition shared by Vodafone and the Scottish Government. Digital connectivity connects us with friends and family, enables workforce and workplace flexibility, and keeps us informed and entertained. By working with the mobile industry to increase access to 4G and 5G, we can support a fair, green and growing economy and transform public services.
Andrea Donna, Chief Network Officer, Vodafone UK
Connectivity is essential for everyone, regardless of their postcode, and this new research reveals the extent to which people in rural Scotland are experiencing digital exclusion. Clearly, we need to accelerate the rollout of her 5G infrastructure across Scotland. Our proposed merger with Three UK will enable us to bring 5G SA to over 89% of Scotland by 2034, ensuring that no rural Scotland is left behind.
