The launch of 5G could create ‘a Silicon Valley’ in Manchester, say bosses of telecoms giant Vodafone.
Speaking at the launch of Vodafone’s first ‘digital innovation hub’ in MediaCity海角视频, Anne Sheehan, business director at Vodafone 海角视频, said she wanted to “make sure that the next level of creativity comes from the north and that it creates jobs.”
The opening of the hub at The Landing comes as Vodafone prepares for its 5G launch, which will go live in Greater Manchester on July 3, before being rolled out across 19 海角视频 locations over the coming months.
“The whole idea is that we’ll bring people from London and different parts of the country to create here and the more that comes out of here, the bigger and stronger this can get,”she said.
The ‘digital innovation hub’ will aim to provide start-ups and entrepreneurs with access to network experts, 5G, IoT and high-speed fibre and a space to work together and exchange ideas, the network said.
Ms Sheehan said: “There’s a big opportunity to bring traditional businesses to our innovation centre in Manchester, meet the start-ups and listen to the things they’re doing in different areas.
“I think that the world we’re going into it is about co-creation. It’s about working with different organisations and organisations that businesses never thought they would work with and people co-create to actually solve a business problem.”
Ms Sheehan said it was a “no-brainer” to choose Manchester as the first site for it’s innovation hub and to begin the rollout of 5G.
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She said: “You have a real community of people that really believe more can be done for the north and when you’ve got that spirit and you’ve got people who are ambitious then why wouldn’t Vodafone partner with them?”
Scott Petty, chief technology officer at Vodafone 海角视频, told the M.E.N: “Local politicians are incredibly supportive as well. We heard from Paul Dennett and Andy Burnham today.
“We meet a lot of politicians and you don’t often hear from people with that much vision and desire to create an environment where innovation can happen and that will create momentum, so people will want to do things in Manchester because it’s easier.”
He added: “The ecosystem in MediaCity is pretty unique in the country for the size and scale and the support that the government has given to make that happen.
“I think it will bring a lot of customers from all around the country to see what these start-ups are doing.”
City Mayor of Salford Paul Dennett, who spoke at the event, said he was “delighted” Vodafone selected the Salford for its first ‘digital innovation hub’.
He said: “Such investment and commitment from the private sector supports our ambition to make Salford one of the world’s most attractive cities for digital enterprises.
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“It will also boost the local economy and help attract new jobs and opportunities for the people of Salford, Great Manchester and beyond.”
He added: “This commitment also further strengthens Salford’s Innovation Triangle connecting MediaCity海角视频 with the University of Salford and Salford Royal Foundation Trust, our outstanding and leading hospital in the city.”