Vodafone uses 5G for landmark holographic call

Telco also announced series of initiatives to drive digital growth in the UK

Vodafone today made the UK's first holographic call, involving the England Women's football captain Steph Houghton communicating from Manchester with a child in Newbury.

Houghton, who was physically in Vodafone's Manchester office, used 5G technology to appear as a live 3D hologram to an assembled audience in the company's Newbury office.

During the call she gave advice and tips to a young football fan.

The comms company also announced that the Lake District and Cornwall would receive 5G technology in 2019, and that the UK would have 1,000 5G sites by 2020.

Next month, seven cities in the UK will take part in Vodafone's 5G trial.

During the live event, Vodafone also announced a series of initiatives to grow digital innovation and growth across the nation.

Nick Jeffery, Vodafone's chief executive, said: "Vodafone has a history of firsts in UK telecoms - we made the nation's first mobile phone call, sent the first text and now we've conducted the UK's first holographic call using 5G.

"We also lead the industry in Internet of Things technology, with the world's largest dedicated global IoT network."

The bundle of initiatives include investing in a new technology centre and "digital incubator" in Manchester, teaming up with the University of Birmingham to provide a programme that combines a computer science degree with a tech apprenticeship at Vodafone, and providing the UK's first "self-optimising tariff" which automatically moves business customers to the most cost-effective tariff for them.

"The initiatives we've launched today are designed to ensure that everyone can benefit from the digital technologies transforming how we live and work," Jeffery said.

"From our customers and employees, to university students, digital entrepreneurs and businesses, we want to help people across the UK get ready for a digital future."