Birmingham New Street becomes UK's first 5G train station

Vodafone has installed its 5G tech at Birmingham New Street Station, making the travel hub the first UK train station to be connected to superfast mobile data and Vodafone the first mobile network to roll out 5G trials in the city.

The city's mayor, Andy Street, tested Vodafone's new connection on the concourse at New Street Station alongside other passengers at the station.

He explained that the project to introduce 5G in Birmingham will not just benefit commuters, but also businesses, hospitals, public transport and universities, helping them stay ahead of the competition.

"We are delighted to bring 5G to the West Midlands, giving businesses, residents and visitors fast and reliable connectivity even in exceptionally busy locations such as train stations and airports," Anne Sheehan, director of Vodafone Business added.

"5G will enable new applications and experiences and support the development of connected cities and smart transport solutions. It will help businesses to implement emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT and robotics."

One of Vodafone's priorities is providing low-latency broadband to the city's residents, allowing them to stream films or download large files without any stutter or lag.

Using the company's multi-billion-pound single optical fibre converged network will provide the best experience possible to those in Birmingham and other 18 areas the mobile network is planning to connect to its 5G services.

"The West Midlands wants to lead the way in 5G and this is an exciting step forward," leader of Birmingham City Council Cllr Ian Ward said. "5G will help us supercharge the West Midlands economy; and the possibilities for businesses, individuals, investors and innovators are huge."