5G lab opens in Newcastle’s Eldon Square Shopping Center

A £700,000 laboratory to help businesses develop 5G technology is to open in a shopping center in the city.

The 5G Immersive Lab is based within Newcastle’s Eldon Square and aims to showcase how businesses can use technology more effectively.

5G networks allow more devices to operate at faster internet speeds through wireless technology.

Alex Cook, from Digital Catapult, which runs the lab, said the site’s aim is to show how technology can solve real-world problems that businesses face.

The lab will also display virtual reality and augmented reality hardware to showcase how 5G can be used.

Businesses can attend hands-on workshops to learn how 5G works and how it can benefit their companies.

Digital Catapult is an industry association focused on accelerating the use of advanced technologies.

The lab will run sessions dedicated to how 5G can benefit specific sectors such as manufacturing and creative industries.

Located in the former Kirin Restaurant unit in Eldon Square, it will include co-working space, meeting rooms and event space.

The North of Tyne Combined Authority has provided £700,000 of funding for the Immersive Lab.

“The full capabilities of 5G are still unknown and will mean different things to different industries,” Mayor Jamie Driscoll said.

“That’s why this lab is so exciting because it will provide companies with the right environment and tools to test in a low-cost, low-risk way.”

5G is already being used by businesses across the North East of England. The Port of Tyne is using this technology to better track the many cargoes that pass through the port.

Agriculture companies are also using 5G to connect multiple crop monitoring devices into one network.

Sunderland City Council is installing a public 5G network and looking at how it can be used for creative events.

The first event at Immersive Lab will be held on May 8th.