The Scotland 5G Centre has made the first of several appointments that will see the team expand in size during the first quarter of 2021, in preparation for delivering its 5G strategy and a network of innovation hubs for Scotland.
Brad McGuire has been appointed as programme manager, tasked with maximising the benefits arising from the flagship 5G projects funded by the centre.
He will also be responsible for the centre’s S5GConnect programme, establishing a series of hubs across Scotland, the first of which is due to open in Alloa next May.
The hubs will support economic growth through the deployment and adoption of 5G services across the country, supported by a £4m investment from the Scottish Government.
McGuire previously led Glasgow City Council's team delivering digital connectivity infrastructure. His experience spans consultancy and operational roles in digital telecoms, infrastructure, business and IT for the private and public sectors.
Recruitment is continuing for a further five roles: head of business development, operations manager, two business engagement managers, marketing assistant and administration assistant.
Paul Coffey, chief executive of the Scotland 5G Centre, said: "We’ve had a tremendous first year, and now we need to expand our team to ramp up our operations and ensure we can deliver critical 5G testbed and infrastructure projects, each of which will bring enormous advantages to businesses and organisations across Scotland, including those in rural areas.”
Funded by the Scottish Government, the centre works at a national level to stimulate economic development and promote the benefits to society of 5G connectivity.
It was set up in October 2019 as a partnership between the University of Strathclyde - which hosts the centre - the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Futures Trust.
Bringing together academia, industry and government bodies, the aim is to increase the adoption of 5G services; accelerate the rollout of 5G infrastructure; and to leverage advances in mobile technology to address the challenges facing rural communities in Scotland.
