Budget 2017 5G

Budget 2017: Philip Hammond to focus on 5G and driver-less car.

19:58 20 November 2017

Philip Hammond will announce changes to regulations to allow developers to test driverless cars on the UK roads for the first time. He is also expected to announce tens of millions of pounds of investment in 5G mobile networks and artificial intelligence.

 

Such measures are hoped to help realise the Chancellor’s vision of autonomous cars on British roads by 2021 as well as ensure that the UK will become a world leader in the technological revolution.

 

The investment includes £75million for artificial intelligence, £400million for electric car charge points, £100million to boost clean car purchases, £160million for next-generation 5G mobile networks across the UK, £76million to boost digital and construction skills and £100million for an additional 8,000 fully-qualified computer science teachers supported by a new National Centre for Computing.

 

£40million will also be invested in construction training programmes for groundworkers, bricklayers, roofers and plasterers. This is in line with the Government’s drive to build more homes in 2018.