A new research and testing hub for the telecoms industry is set to open in Solihull. In what the Government is calling a UK first, the so-called 'UK Telecoms Lab' will act as a secure research facility and bring together telecom operators, suppliers and academics.
They will work together to research and test innovative new ways of boosting the security, resilience and performance of the UK's mobile networks.
The Government said it hoped the centre would help to close the digital skills gap locally and nationally by creating dozens of specialised jobs in telecoms and cyber security.
The news will be formally announced today by Damian Collins, Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, at an event during Birmingham Tech Week which is taking place across the city. The exact location of the new lab and the number of jobs set to be created will be announced at a later date.
Mr Collins said: "After this summer's stunning Commonwealth Games, it is great to feel the buzz in the city yet again in Birmingham Tech Week.
"Fast-growing firms are cementing Birmingham's status as a tech powerhouse, boosting jobs and spreading economic growth right across the West Midlands.
"As a result, there is no better home for the new UK Telecoms Lab which will turn the region into a centre for expertise and innovation in the security of next-generation mobile networks."
The core aims of the lab are to enable telecom companies and suppliers to test their equipment, such as radio network infrastructure and the software which underpins it, in a realistic environment.
It is hoped UK Telecoms Lab will help to get faster mobile technology rolled out more quickly and ensure people can continue to have full confidence in UK networks by identifying security risks and ensuring equipment and software are protected against cyber attacks.
The lab will also help new businesses enter the UK telecoms market by testing to ensure equipment is fully 'interoperable', meaning it can connect to kit supplied by different manufacturers.
The Government said this was increasingly important to its £250 million strategy to diversify the UK 5G telecoms market.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: "Tech is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sectors in our region. This fantastic announcement that Solihull will be the home of the new UK Telecoms Lab yet again underlines the strength of this important sector for us here in the West Midlands.
"The lab will bring a wide range of stakeholders together to drive innovation and create high-quality new jobs for local people. As we mark Birmingham Tech Week, it's a great time to remember that we are at the cutting edge and - with our tech sector already valued at over £15 billion - we have an exciting future ahead of us."
In a separate announcement, research published today by job search engine Adzuna for the UK's Digital Economy Council suggests there has been a 21.3 per cent increase in tech jobs in Birmingham in the first seven months of this year, rising to 31 per cent across the West Midlands.
Published to coincide with Birmingham Tech Week, it said there were now more than 144,000 people employed in tech startups and scaleups across the West Midlands, with over 56,000 in Birmingham alone.
The boost to hiring follows a sharp increase in the value of West Midlands tech companies, with the region's tech ecosystem now valued at £15.3 billion, up from £11.5 billion in 2021, according to new data from Dealroom.
The West Midlands is now home to more than 2,300 startups and scaleups across cities and towns including Birmingham, Coventry and Royal Leamington Spa, the research also said.
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