As the Future Network Programmes conclude, UKTIN is working with DSIT to reflect on the government-funded projects, outlining the key outcomes and the lessons learned to help improve future telecoms initiatives.
The UK government will invest £20.4 billion in research and development this year, reinforcing the government’s commitment to back the UK’s R&D ecosystem to drive economic growth, raise living standards and fund public services. The aim is to position the UK at the forefront of global innovation and progress.
SONIC Labs
Funded by the UK Government, the SmartRAN Open Network Interoperability Centre - commonly known as SONIC Labs - has a mission to develop and operate an interoperability testing platform that can bring together and support existing and the latest network technology suppliers, system integrators, operators and service providers to test and validate interoperability and integration of open networking solutions, starting with Open RAN. Digital Catapult and Ofcom provide technical insight and expertise and help set overall direction and focus, including the government’s approach to telecom standards.
Officially opened in March 2023, SONIC provides different test environments, with the main SONIC test bed in Digital Catapult’s office in London St Pancras, and branches in Brighton and at Ofcom’s Innovation Lab in Riverside House. There are plans to create additional locations elsewhere.
The labs operate at a pre-commercial stage, targeting technology readiness levels before engagements with potential customers or conformance testing. Testing at SONIC demonstrates that a network component from one supplier could be swapped with an equivalent one from another supplier and also includes swapability testing with more mature products to confirm interface capabilities.
Paul Sludden, Director of SONIC Labs, said: “Through our SONIC Labs programme, we're advancing UK development and use of data-driven and open future networks. So far, we have tested 71 Open RAN products in our open network lab facilities, and we're supporting Open RAN vendors from 11 countries across the world to test and bring their products to market in the UK. We also launched the first-ever SONIC Labs Technology Access Programme in July 2024 to address energy efficiency challenges in Open RAN operations.”
UK Telecoms Lab (UKTL)
UKTL is a direct outcome of the 2019 Telecoms Supply Chain Review. The first of its kind in the country, the lab acts as a secure research facility bringing together telecom operators, suppliers and academics to research and test innovative new ways of boosting the security of the UK’s mobile networks.
The facility enables new businesses to enter the UK telecoms market and protects telecoms equipment and software against cyber attacks. Operated by NPL on behalf of DSIT, the facility is available to network operators, network technology vendors, academics, researchers, businesses and end users.
The centre aims to identify national security risks. Experts from NPL can provide testing and advice to vendors, suppliers, and users to enable them to improve their systems before deployment and identify network vulnerabilities.
Bridgette Bigmore, CTO, UKTL said, “UKTL is recognised as a leading centre of excellence in telecoms security, delivering world-class test and evaluation capabilities to protect the UK’s telecoms critical national infrastructure, promote diversification of supply, and ensure secure, resilient communications networks. It is a neutral space to collaborate with industry, share best practices and test on near-representative networks. The testing environment we provide will help to promote secure architecture and resolve security, interoperability and compatibility issues, keeping the UK safer and boosting innovation and the UK’s economy. We are proud of our role in developing vital cyber skills in the region and the UK. UKTL works in collaboration with industry, government and academia to deliver cutting-edge testing, research and insights.”
