Scotland is rolling out an Infralink toolkit to pave the way for greater 4G and 5G connectivity across the country. According to The Scotland 5G Centre, which is funding the project, this “game-changing” initiative will help identify sites on public buildings and streets for masts and antennas, speeding up installation agreements.
Scottish Futures Trust leads the project and aims to break down barriers to rollout. It’s also expected to enhance deployment and increase investment in technology. The initiative makes Scotland the first part of the U.K. to establish national pricing guidelines for telecommunications.
According to Connectivity Minister Paul Wheelhouse, “The changes in the way we use digital technology to stay connected over the past twelve months have shown how vital reliable digital connectivity is in all of our lives.” He added that removing barriers and enabling collaboration among all parties involved is “essential to Scotland’s social and economic recovery from the pandemic.”
Scottish Futures Trust will also launch a connectivity “marketplace” later this year, allowing the public sector and other land and property owners to break down previous legal obstacles. Infralink will encourage new partnerships between the public and private sectors, making the commercial agreement process easier.
Sarah Eynon, Infralink Program Lead at Scottish Futures Trust, said, “The Infralink program provides the ideal opportunity for forward-thinking local authorities and public sector organizations to reap the huge benefits from improved connectivity without overburdening their current resources.” She added that it’s a “win-win” for the public and private sectors with Scottish citizens and businesses reaping the ultimate rewards.
Reader Interactions