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Indiana to Launch First-of-its-Kind 5G Zone to Accelerate Innovation & Related Technologies
Thursday, August 22, 2019

Indiana will launch a new 5G hub this fall to attract business, foster innovation and propel research and development in 5G-enabled advanced technologies. As one of only two metro areas in the U.S. selected for the launch of both AT&T and Verizon 5G broadband networks, and with diverse support and infrastructure assets across the state, Indiana's capital city is positioned to be at the center of global investment and advancements in 5G.

The Indiana 5G Zone, which will be located within educational nonprofit Eleven Fifty Academy’s headquarters at 151 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis, will feature a 3,000-square-foot research lab used to develop and test 5G-supported technologies, products and service applications. With plans to launch this October, businesses, universities and research institutions will be able to lease lab space at the facility and have access to shared spaces for programming and events. Additionally, Eleven Fifty Academy will integrate the 5G infrastructure and testing facilities into the academy’s immersive coding and cybersecurity training programs.

The Indiana 5G Zone is being established by the Indiana 5G Forum, which includes several stakeholders, including AT&T, Verizon, Purdue University, Eleven Fifty Academy, Indiana IoT Lab – Fishers, Battery Innovation Center, Energy Systems Network, Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame. The Indiana 5G Zone is sponsored as part of a strategic initiative established in partnership with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to leverage Indiana’s developing digital infrastructure in order to catalyze innovation and support rapidly-developing companies. The Indiana 5G Forum will have staff and resources on site to provide support to Indiana’s entrepreneurial community.

Thursday's announcement comes on the heels of the 5G Summit, which convened government, industry and academic leaders from across the state to collaborate and grow opportunities in 5G. 5G is the next generation of wireless technology, offering businesses and consumers enhanced connectivity, reliability, data latency, and capacity and coverage among devices and technologies. With speeds up to 100 gigabits per second, more than 20 times faster than current networks, 5G will help companies propel innovation and R&D and improve capabilities in industries ranging from agbiosciences to health care. For example, 5G technology seeks to improve how manufacturers capture, process and transfer data through Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.

Indiana is committed to embracing disruptive technology like 5G to bolster its strategic industries and position the state for long-term global competitiveness and economic growth. With the launch of the Indiana 5G Zone, the state will gain another tool to support innovation and drive tech sector growth and job creation in central Indiana, which grew at more than double the U.S. average during 2016 and 2017, ranking sixth across the U.S. and Canada.

The IEDC will provide matching funds to support company innovation and R&D through the state’s 21st Century Research & Technology Fund, which supports the state’s efforts to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through a variety of programs and initiatives, such as making direct investments into startups and supporting public-private partnerships to advance R&D.



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