FORGING OUR DIGITAL FUTURE WITH 5G: A STRATEGY FOR SCOTLAND Forging Our Digital Future With 5G: 2 A Strategy For Scotland FOREWORD The technological revolution will be more productive and efficient as a To make this happen, the Scottish In this strategy we set out our a significant opportunity for Scotland country and play a vital role in the Government is working with a range commitment and steps to embracing over the coming years. The rollout transition to a zero-carbon economy of organisations and interested the possibilities of 5G and ensuring of 5G is the next wave and will and tackling the climate emergency, parties to ensure the swift national that Scotland is able to seize the potentially see huge social, economic e.g. through reduced emissions. deployment of 5G. prize and become a 5G leader and a and environmental benefits to the forward-looking digital nation. whole country. 5G will be transformational for However, telecommunications businesses, public services and for in the UK is reserved to the Paul Wheelhouse MSP While the UK’s mobile network individual citizens. It is suggested UK Government and mobile Minister for Energy, Connectivity operators are already investing that enhanced 5G capability could network rollout is commercially and the Islands large sums in rolling out 5G, we reduce business start-up costs, led. We continue to press the UK must act collectively to ensure that stimulate exports and increase the Government to give us the powers all of Scotland – including rural use of cost-reducing technologies and resources which would allow us areas – benefits from this revolution. such as cloud computing. It could to reap the significant benefits that The prize is a boost to our nation’s provide easier access to healthcare, we could see from enhanced 5G fortunes, creating better, healthier education and online shopping for provision in Scotland. We cannot and happier lives for everyone. people, wherever they live in the wait any longer, which is why we country. are driving ahead and setting out The Scottish Government’s what action we, with the powers and aspiration is for Scotland to be at It is estimated that by enhancing resources we do have, can take to the forefront of this revolution and, 5G capability, Scotland has the enhance digital connectivity. The ultimately, to establish the whole potential to add £17 billion to GDP Scottish Government is determined country as a leading 5G digital by 2035, create 160,000 new jobs that Scotland will not be left behind. nation. and increase productivity by £1,600 Indeed, we will continue to work with per worker. 5G could play a part in industry, the regulator and others in 5G is so much more than an upgrade creating 3,100 new businesses and a the public sector to make sure we of previous generations of mobile £3.3 billion growth in export volumes. are at the forefront of this revolution. connectivity. It will enable new or enhanced connectivity in the fields of Significantly, 5G also has the transport, artificial intelligence (AI), potential to help sustain remote and robotics and remote monitoring – rural areas, allowing all of Scotland’s the opportunities are endless. This citizens and communities to embrace enhanced connectivity will make us the technology and reap its benefits. Forging Our Digital Future With 5G: 3 A Strategy For Scotland 5G: THE BASICS FIGURE 1 (NOT TO SCALE) 5G is a step up in the quality, capacity and flexibility of mobile wireless communications. 5G has MACRO CELL the potential to offer greater reliability, much faster download and upload speeds, greater capacity to ease congestion and accommodate more FIXED WIRELESS 2 connected devices or sensors. It ACCESS SMALL CELL also brings lower latency allowing SMART OFFICE near instant response with no time lag. All of this can enhance people’s experience of technology and enable new ways of doing things. VENUE But 5G is much more than just an enhanced version of the present 4G mobile broadband services. 5G will be central to the seamless delivery of high quality and reliable wireless SMART connectivity in any urban or rural STREET environment, in transit and on any SMART HOME LIGHTING mode of transport, including trains INDUSTRY 4.0 and planes. Furthermore, 5G will have the ability to integrate with other wireless technologies, such as 4G, Wi-Fi FIBRE and Internet of Things1 (IoT) technologies. SMART CAR 1 The Internet of Things refers to the ever- growing network of physical objects that feature an IP address for internet connectivity, BASE STATION SMALL CELL and the communication that occurs between these objects and other internet-enabled devices and systems. 2 Small cells are low-power, short-range mobile base stations covering a small geographical area or indoor/outdoor applications. Small cells have all the basic functionality of conventional base stations, are capable of handling high data rates, and are small in size (typically up to 30 cm by 30 cm with a depth of 15 cm, weighing up to 3kg). In 5G deployments, small cells can be mounted unobtrusively, on or inside buildings, or on exterior installations such as bus shelters or lamp posts. Forging Our Digital Future With 5G: 4 A Strategy For Scotland 5G: AN ENABLING TECHNOLOGY Different technologies will be able The technical capability of 5G will Wireless networks will transmit Creative industries, including to seamlessly interact on the move satisfy the needs of a wide range data between devices, to the cloud, software, computer games, design, so that a user’s device can decide of innovative so-called ‘use cases’ and back to end-user devices. and animation, is one of the fastest which technology offers the best user – in terms of extended bandwidth, Cloud services are becoming more growing sectors in Scotland. Here experience. As shown in figure 1, reliable ultra-low latency, and/or a ubiquitous, allowing increasingly innovative businesses rely on this will depend on the user’s device high density of connected devices, in integrated data analytics and AI seamless interaction between accessing the different modes of combination with technologies such capabilities. 5G will enable data different technologies and instant wireless connectivity throughout any as cloud computing, IoT, Augmented to be moved rapidly and enable communication across the globe. journey. Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) more devices to be connected The value lies in an ability to as well as advances in robotics and simultaneously. Together these connect and create new products data analytics. technologies allow new use cases and services using immersive to be built on top of wireless technologies and data analytics. The Scottish Government has an connectivity and real-time data, aspiration for Scotland to be among from video analysis, to automated Potential 5G use cases typically the global leaders in IoT and the vehicles, robotic factories and involve one or more of the following adoption of sensor technologies, drones. For the individual, 5G elements as shown in figure 2. which will help drive economic opens up immersive audio-visual growth, transform public services applications which bring to life a THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAS AN and give citizens better and healthier raft of new professional and leisure ASPIRATION FOR SCOTLAND TO BE lives. In collaboration with public activities. AMONG THE GLOBAL LEADERS IN IOT and private sector partners, we are AND THE ADOPTION OF SENSOR investing £2.8 million in infrastructure The Scottish Government will play an active role in developing the ethical TECHNOLOGIES, WHICH WILL HELP to create wider access to IoT and frameworks and infrastructure to DRIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH, are taking forward activity to ensure our businesses, public sector enable the technology to be used TRANSFORM PUBLIC SERVICES and citizens understand why this for the benefit of Scotland’s citizens. AND GIVE CITIZENS BETTER AND technology is crucial to the way we Currently, the Edinburgh and South HEALTHIER LIVES. work and live in the future. East Scotland City Region Deal contains significant Scottish and UK Government investment into data- driven innovation. 5G rollout in the region will benefit this activity. Forging Our Digital Future With 5G: 5 A Strategy For Scotland FIGURE 2 REMOTE MONITORING REMOTE CONTROL AND AUTOMATION Networks of sensors and devices used to monitor Using real-time data, businesses can respond business processes and operations and end-user more quickly, by intervening manually or through usage in real time. automated processes. • Healthcare – patient monitoring through wearables • Healthcare – remote diagnosis, response and in-home sensors and surgery EXAMPLES • Agriculture and aquaculture – soil and water • Transport – traffic management, automated conditions, livestock tracking vehicles • Public services – smart bins, smart parking • Manufacturing – automated production • More efficient and accurate • Efficiency and cost savings BENEFITS • Removes geographic barriers • Environmental benefits from more efficient use of resources • Environmental benefits from reduced travel • Increased safety by removing human error • More frequent and detailed data collected IMMERSIVE CONTENT AI AND ML ANALYTICS Higher bandwidths and lower latency support New uses of data using Artificial Intelligence/ high-fidelity content and lag-free two-way Machine Learning tools. communications using AR and VR. • Media and entertainment – cloud-based gaming, • Public services – video analysis for crime AR and VR multiplayer games detection, accident prevention EXAMPLES • Education – tailored, interactive training • Infrastructure – predictive maintenance • Tourism – immersive content on tourist attractions by using data insights to pre-empt faults • Agriculture – crop spraying using video analysis BENEFITS • New revenue opportunities • Efficiency and cost savings • Removes geographic barriers • Improved safety • Improved user experience and engagement • New insights obtained from data Forging Our Digital Future With 5G: 6 A Strategy For Scotland New use cases enabled by 5G The key industry groups combined Figure 3 summarises the will have profound implications for account for more than a quarter of opportunities in areas aligned with Scotland.