Tests on how 5G technology could be used to enhance everything from remote music events to autonomous lorries are to receive a funding boost as the UK ramps up trials.

Projects in Sunderland, Preston, Liverpool, Manchester, Brighton and Suffolk will receive a share of £30 million in funding, aimed at seeing how high-speed connectivity can improve UK industries.

These include AI-controlled traffic lights in Manchester designed to cut pollution and congestion, as well as the potential for 5G-powered remote music festivals to be trialed at the Brighton Dome.

In Preston, 5G will be tested against robotic assembly processes with the aim of delivering RAF’s Tempest fighter jet at half its current cost.

BT Sport will look into how 5G can transform live sport viewing through virtual reality using Samsung kit, marking the first time the South Korean company has participated in a UK-based 5G trial project.

A private 5G network will also be developed in Liverpool to provide remote NHS video consultations for families unable to afford good connectivity.

The £30 million package includes £16.4 million from the Government, match-funded by private firms and local authorities.

“We are helping innovative thinkers across Britain use their creativity to harness the power of 5G and boost economic productivity, cut pollution and congestion, and develop the next generation of entertainment,” said Matt Warman, Minister for Digital Infrastructure.

“The new funding we are announcing today will help us pioneer new ways to seize the opportunities of 5G and bring tangible benefits for consumers and businesses across the country.”

A second set of projects to receive funding will be announced in the autumn.