The UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN) will be an information point for telecoms firms looking to access funding or testing facilities for R&D opportunities to collaborate on developing new technologies for UK mobile and broadband networks.
The government launched a competition for companies to apply for up to £10 million to establish and run the centre, and the aim will be to support innovators at the right time to scale up, develop their product and gain better access to telecoms markets.
The UKTIN will be run by a consortium of organisations with telecoms expertise and will support knowledge sharing collaboration on open an interoperable network technology like OpenRAN – which allows networks to mix and match telecoms equipment rather than having to rely on a single supplier.
Digital infrastructure minister Julia Lopez said: “The UK Telecoms Innovation Network will be the first port of call for any telecoms company looking to access R&D funding and a matchmaker for firms looking to join forces on cutting-edge projects.
“Ultimately this is about making the UK the best place in the world to develop rapid and seamless new technology for the digital networks that will power our economy well into the 21st century.”
The UKTIN will create an up-to-date database of information on R&D funding in the public and private sector and will also create reports that map out the latest developments and opportunities in UK telecoms.
It’s expected to be up and running by the end of the year with the winning group announced this summer.
