Belfast 5G Innovation Region
The Belfast 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) programme, led by Belfast City Council’s City Innovation Office, is working with businesses, academia, and the public sector to support the adoption of 5G across the Belfast Region.
5G connectivity is powering digital technologies such as IoT, automation, AI, robotics and immersive technologies which are driving innovation and economic growth across many industries including advanced manufacturing, transport and logistics, creative industries, and public services.
Belfast 5GIR is delivering a range of innovative 5G projects and developing resources and plans to ensure that our local businesses and organisations are well-placed to harness advanced wireless connectivity to help grow the economy.
Events
Belfast 5G Innovation Region Showcase
5 March, 9.30am-2.30pm, Belfast City Hall
Gain insights and learnings from local 5G use cases, better understand the benefits and applications of 5G, get practical advice on how to adopt 5G in your business, find out about support and funding, and connect with the 5G ecosystem.
Belfast 5GIR Use Cases
We are working with partners to deliver a series of commercially focused use cases that leverage 5G’s potential in the transport and logistics, creative industries, construction, and advanced manufacturing industry sectors.
5G Port
Belfast Harbour is harnessing 5G-led innovations to accelerate the digitisation of port operations including automatic bulk freight handling and safety improvements which aligns with their strategic ambition to become the world’s best regional Smart Port.
5G Studio
Ulster University’s Studio Ulster and Advanced Wireless Technologies Lab are unlocking ‘5G-in-a-box’ technology to connect film, television, and screen production teams, filming in remote locations, to production studios in real-time, via a high-capacity 5G private network which will accelerate screen production processes in the industry.
5G Virtual reality
As one of Europe’s fastest growing immersive tech studios, Belfast company Retinize is harnessing 5G to enhance its Animotive virtual reality platform which enables real-time and collaborative 3D animation, performance capture and virtual directing, bringing advanced motion capture technology to educational institutions and production companies
5G Smart freight operations
Leading ferry company Stena Line transports over 500,000 freight units through Belfast Port for customers across the UK and Ireland each year. It will be using 5G connectivity, connected cameras, Push-to-Talk and advanced tracking technologies to deliver more efficient operations at its Belfast Harbour based freight trailer yard by optimising the movement of trailers to and from the ferry.
5G Construction
Queen’s University is harnessing 5G, Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twin technology and AR (Augmented Reality) to support the design and construction of a £100 million, state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre.
5G Transport
NI’s public transport provider, Translink is exploiting advanced wireless connectivity to enable enhanced operations and network planning along its Glider bus routes. This will further improve services, maximise and optimise resources and ensure continued development of high quality, sustainable and attractive Glider services.
5G Intelligent logistics yard
Logistics company Manfreight is using 5G connectivity, connected cameras, machine learning, scanning and Push-to-Talk technology to enhance its chilled distribution hub operations at Belfast Harbour by optimising the movement and storage of lorries, trailers and product across its warehouse facility.
5G Enablement Programme
We are working with Digital Catapult to deliver an Enablement Programme which will foster Northern Ireland’s advanced wireless ecosystem through a range of outreach and engagement activities to attract investment, build skills and capacity, share knowledge, and identify opportunities for economic growth.
This includes:
- creating a 5G Adoption Toolkit to support local businesses and organisations
- developing a Sustainability Plan for the Belfast 5G Innovation Region ecosystem
- disseminating learnings and insights from local 5G use cases as well as from across the UK.
Latest news
5G funding driving Belfast Region’s innovation and economic growth
£270,000 of funding has been awarded by the Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme to Manfreight, Retinize and Stena Line to support them to harness the power of 5G and digital technologies to deliver enhanced operations and business growth.
BT Group brings superfast payments to Belfast Christmas Market with 5G Standalone network slicing trial
During the two-week trial, a dedicated slice of the EE 5G network was partitioned for use at the market. It marks the first time that a business has benefitted from access to a partitioned slice from EE’s public network and live 5G Standalone core.
Augmented Reality and 5G bring magic to Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Council and BT have unveiled a new Augmented Reality experience, enabled by 5G, as part of Belfast City Hall’s popular free visitor exhibition.
5G Funding Competition opens
A new £280,000 funding competition is supporting local businesses and industries in the Belfast region to harness the power of 5G and digital technologies to deliver enhanced operations and solutions.
Belfast region secures £3.8m in wireless innovation funding and becomes 5G Innovation Region
The Belfast region, led by Belfast City Council, has secured £3.8 million wireless innovation funding from the UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to deliver an exciting range of innovative projects powered by 5G.
Funding and partners
The Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme has received £3.8 million of funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of their UK 5G Innovation Regions programme.
Our partners include five other councils in the Belfast Region City Deal area: Antrim and Newtownabbey, Ards and North Down, Lisburn and Castlereagh, Mid and East Antrim, and Newry, Mourne and Down.
More information
Contact us
Get in touch if you would like to find out more about the Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme.
City Innovation Office, Belfast City Council