UK university touts 5G innovation center

The University of Surrey announced on May 26 that it will be "the first in the world to demonstrate a 5G network in a moving vehicle in technical trials" in a test spanning the campus.

The announcement was made by the director of the school's 5G Innovation Center, Rahim Tafazolli, at a news conference in Beijing one day before the university's first graduation celebration in China.

"The center is the United Kingdom's only large-scale test bed for 5G communications, and is used to prove advanced technological solutions," Tafazolli said. "Our students and researchers use the test bed for their research projects, thereby equipping them with a deep understanding of the entire system."

The center built a large "ecosystem of partners", he said, "including mobile operators, vendors and regulators. And we have, end-to-end, all aspects of the 5G society, from a programmable network to advanced video technology."

The 5G Innovation Center opened in 2015. It now houses more than 170 researchers and has attracted more than ￡70 million ($90 million; 80 million euros) of investment, including ??5 million from Huawei, China's largest telecom equipment maker. Huawei is the largest funding member from outside the UK.

Currently, the center's applications focus on digital gaming, digital health, automotive and virtual reality on the move.

G.Q. Max Lu, president and vice-chancellor of the university, says the pioneering research in 5G wireless telecommunication technologies is the highlight of the institution, and he expects to cooperate with more Chinese academics and industrial partners.

"Collaborating with China is a significant strategic priority for the university," Lu says. "Our vision is to enhance Surrey's links with leading Chinese academic institutions and major companies."

It is also the first time the university has offered alumni from China the opportunity to attend the special graduation in Beijing, as part of Surrey's 50th anniversary celebration.

"This year we have almost 500 Chinese graduates, and they celebrated their achievements at a British-style ceremony in Beijing," Lu says. "The first-ever graduation ceremony in China is a testament to our ambition to position the institution as a world-class university."

Surrey has strong Chinese connections. It currently has around 1,400 Chinese students, accounting for almost 10 percent of its students.

Lu, a nanotechnologist, is the first Chinese-born scholar to lead a top UK university in the history of the UK.

He was born and grew up in Dongying, a small city in Shandong province. He was appointed in 2016, as the university's fifth president and vice-chancellor.

Surrey is one of the UK's top institutions of higher education and was recognized as University of the Year in The Times (London) and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2016.

With 125 years of academic heritage since its founding in Battersea, and 50 years of world-class teaching and research in Guildford, the University of Surrey is the intellectual home of more than 15,200 students, 100,000 alumni and 2,800 staff members.

lijing2009@chinadaily.com.cn