SCOTLAND should become a “5G leader” and harness the “rich potential” of the next generation of mobile internet, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The First Minister was speaking in Glasgow as her government unveiled a new plan to support use of the cutting-edge technology.

Faster and more reliable than the current 4G offering, 5G promises more stable coverage.

A Deloitte report commissioned by the Scottish Futures Trust suggests 5G could enable Scotland to add about £17 billion to GDP by 2035 and create 160,000 jobs.

Under the plan set out, the Government proposes to fund the development of 5G use across the country.

Sturgeon said: “Our 5G plan sets out the actions we believe are needed to ensure as much of Scotland as possible shares in the vast potential growth on offer.

“Our aspiration is to position Scotland as a 5G leader and a forward-looking digital nation.

“5G offers rich potential – opportunities to enhance Scotland’s global competitiveness, achieve economic growth and drive innovation across our public and private sectors.

“There are huge potential gains for the public sector if we embrace technologies such as 5G.

“We believe this will be a catalyst for further public sector transformation, enabling high-quality, user-focused and efficient services that are driven by data.”

Visiting Glasgow University, Sturgeon was shown how 5G can be used to speed up blood test results and aid patient care. The university’s Professor Chris Pearce said the tech could “revolutionise digital communications and create real social impact” from public health to the environment.

He said: “Our researchers, led by Professor Muhammad Imran at the University of Glasgow, are developing 5G technologies to facilitate remote health monitoring without invasive measurements and without the need for wearable sensors.

“They are also working to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions of cellular networks and are developing low-cost pop-up networks.

“These can be deployed quickly and efficiently during large sporting events or disaster scenarios to bring temporary connectivity to the area, strengthening Scotland’s resilience capacity.”

Andrew McRae, of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Scotland, said: “Scotland needs to be in the digital fast lane because the next generation of mobile technologies have the potential to boost growth and drive innovation.

“Three-quarters of Scottish businesses say that digital technologies are important to their plans for future growth. But to deliver on this ambition, firms need access to the right skills and high-quality digital infrastructure.

“For this reason, decision-makers in Scotland need to do everything they can to ensure Scotland is at the forefront of the 5G revolution. This new 5G strategy is a step in the right direction.”