Vodafone to launch 5G on Scilly next year

Vodafone will launch 5G on the Isles of Scilly next year.

The company will trial the next generation mobile network in several cities over the coming months as part of its plan to have 1,000 5G sites by 2020.

It will then roll out the technology to rural holiday destinations in the South West and Lake District in 2019, with the islands the first area to be connected.

Vodafone demonstrated its 5G capability yesterday (September 20th) with the UK's first live holographic call. England and Manchester City Women’s Football Captain Steph Houghton MBE appeared on stage as a live 3D hologram in Newbury, 186 miles away from her actual location in Manchester. Her hologram interacted with an 11-year-old fan who was in Newbury in person.

Holographic video is often cited as one of the new features that 5G will deliver. It also promises more reliable connections and faster download speeds - thought to be 100 times faster than 4G - as well as being important to the success of smart homes and the Internet of Things.

Vodafone claims that surgeons could use 5G to join operating theatres in different cities.