In a triumphant win, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has secured a £4 million grant aimed at accelerating the integration of 5G technology across the region's vital clusters – manufacturing and smart communities (encompassing social care & housing). This significant funding, obtained through a collaborative bid from WM5G, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), and WMCA's Local Authority partners, is part of the Government's £40 million initiative to drive the transformative impact of advanced connectivity and digital technologies.

Identified as key clusters in the West Midlands Plan for Growth, these sectors serve as catalysts to reignite the regional economy post-Covid, leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies such as 5G, data, and AI. This initiative aims to generate skilled jobs, enhance productivity, revolutionize wellness, and address social disparities. Despite the potential, limited digital adoption persists due to underlying skill gaps, cost issues, and various barriers to awareness, proposition, funding, and delivery.

Being designated as a 5G Innovation Region empowers the West Midlands to surmount these challenges by scaling proven use cases through the UK's inaugural adoption hubs in operational manufacturing and social housing facilities. These hubs will pave the way for widespread organizational benefits through adoption programs, heralding a new era of digital advancement and empowerment.

Minister of Data and Digital Infrastructure Sir John Whittingdale expressed that this new fund will give local areas from across the country the opportunity to be at the forefront of Britain’s world-leading 5G revolution.

Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA Chair Andy Street emphasized on accelerating digital adoption is at the heart of our regional strategy to drive prosperity as we continue to bounce back from the impact of the pandemic.

Steve Prendergast, Digital Operations Director at JLR, highlighted the significance of 5G in JLR's digital transformation, especially in the production of next-gen electric vehicles.

Cllr Saima Suleman of Birmingham City Council stressed the transformative potential of 5G technologies in improving services for residents, staff, and partners.

Cllr Duggins, Leader of Coventry City Council, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the collective regional effort to seize the opportunities presented by 5G-powered technologies.

This substantial grant and regional collaboration herald a new era of digital evolution and empowerment for the West Midlands, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in various sectors.