Will 5G Deliver on the 2020 Vision? Insights from the National Physical Laboratory

Britain’s 5G rollout was slated for 2020, and the newly re‑branded National Physical Laboratory (NPL) estimates it could generate £55 billion (€61.40 billion) for the UK economy. The promise is real – if we avoid the mistakes of earlier generations.

3G and 4G networks were launched rapidly, and sub‑optimal standards wasted time, money and energy. A deliberate, measured approach to 5G could reduce power consumption to a tenth of today’s levels while delivering far greater performance, provided the network’s equipment and topology are accurately measured and standards are harmonised, says Nick Booth, former NPL engineer.

Earlier deployments suffered from a lack of reliable infrastructure metrics and agreed standards, leading to inefficiencies, incompatibilities and higher consumer costs. 5G is not just a new generation – it’s a fundamental shift, and the stakes are higher than ever.

Government support is evident: the UK has invested in the NPL to lead an EU‑wide initiative ensuring 5G’s success. Unlike the US, Britain lacked a spectrum strategy for 3G/4G, but the current government has a clear technology impact plan, notes NPL CEO Dr Peter Thompson. The NPL could quietly become a backbone partner for the IoT industry.

If executed correctly by 2020, 5G will provide the promised connectivity, signal strength and network slicing. The Met5G project’s success hinges on the NPL’s ability to develop, test and validate new infrastructure, signal behaviours and real‑world performance challenges.

At the NPL campus in Teddington, South West London, two key testing facilities were showcased. The Anechoic Chamber – a room whose walls absorb electromagnetic reflections – allows researchers to simulate an infinite space, enabling meticulous testing of 3G/4G hardware. The Smart Antenna Test Range features custom‑built antennas that set industry benchmarks.

Recent tests reveal a significant credibility gap between manufacturers’ claimed data rates and actual performance. Kit makers and operators must be scrutinised; consumers deserve reliable, verifiable metrics.

Operators traditionally benchmark performance on their own terms, often relying on limited field tests or selectively installed software. This approach misses a comprehensive view of network performance. In contrast, the startup Tutela broadened its sample by embedding code in 1,500 apps, collecting real‑world data on signal strength, cell power and download speed – a practice that matured only after 4G’s arrival.

With 5G, we expect standards to be imposed sooner, ensuring consistent, transparent performance metrics across the industry.

The author of this blog is Nick Booth, freelance IT and communications writer.