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5G Innovation Regions: successful regions (updated 17 April 2026)

Updated 17 April 2026

Belfast City Council - Belfast City Region

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 this project was extended by 12 months and awarded £1,300,000 of additional funding.

The Belfast 5G Innovation Region programme has delivered 5 anchor projects, a 5G Grant Scheme and a 5G Enablement Programme to support the adoption of 5G in the Belfast City Region. Work is underway to develop a successor programme to build on the progress made through Belfast 5GIR. 

In total, the programme delivered 15 use cases and 5 private 5G networks across key sectors. Project leads are now planning to scale up, replicate and add further use cases. 

In transport and logistics, private 5G is supporting Belfast Harbour and its tenants, including Stena Line and Manfreight, to improve port operations. This includes bulk freight handling, in-vehicle connectivity for port operations, air quality monitoring, smart warehouse logistics and smart trailer yard operations. 

Woodside Distribution Ltd deployed private 5G at its logistics warehouse to support AI cameras and remote access, enabling full-site monitoring and improving operational efficiency. 

Northern Ireland’s public transport provider, Translink, used public 5G to improve operations and network planning on 34 Glider buses and along bus routes in Belfast. This includes real-time telematics, CCTV, diagnostics, passenger Wi-Fi and AI-enabled insights. 

In the creative industries, Ulster University’s Studio Ulster used a high-capacity private 5G network to connect film, television and screen production teams working in remote locations with production studios in real time. This has helped to speed up screen production processes. 

Immersive studio Retinize used 5G to enhance its Animotive virtual reality platform and support faster remote virtual production. 

In construction and building management, Queen’s University Belfast used private 5G, Building Information Modelling, digital twin technology and robotics to support the design and construction of its new Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre. 

Belfast City Council also used 5G, smart energy meters and IoT sensors to reduce energy consumption and utility costs and to improve building management. 

In public services, emergency search and rescue organisation Sky Watch NI deployed a 5G-enabled, vehicle-mounted video sharing and communications platform, with satellite connectivity as a fallback, to support drone operations for emergency services. 

Advanced Care NI used 5G-enabled tablet devices, sensors and smart plugs to support remote monitoring, virtual engagement and hybrid home care services, helping to increase productivity and support more people safely at home. 

Belfast City Council’s Safer Neighbourhood Officers are also using 5G push-to-talk radio devices to improve communication and support more efficient operations across the city.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,800,000
• Sectors: creative industries, transport and logistics, advanced manufacturing
• Project name: The Belfast 5G Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

The Belfast Region is contributing to Northern Ireland’s innovation economy by making targeted investments in initiatives that will accelerate the adoption and commercialisation of advanced wireless technologies. The Belfast 5G Innovation Region will deliver across high-growth sectors including creative industries, advanced manufacturing, and transport and logistics.

The initiatives are:

• Ulster University’s Studio Ulster is unlocking ‘5G-in-a-box’ technology to provide real-time, high-capacity uplinks between on-location filming and production studios
• Belfast Harbour is harnessing 5G-led innovations to accelerate the digitisation of port operations including automatic bulk freight handling and safety improvements
• NI’s public transport provider, Translink, is exploiting advanced wireless connectivity to enable enhanced operations and network planning along its Glider bus routes and drive modal shift for a cleaner, healthier city
• Queen’s University is harnessing 5G, Building Information Modelling, Digital Twin technology and Augmented Reality to support the design and construction of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, a £100 million Factory of the Future
• a 5G grant scheme will support local SMEs to develop 5G use cases and harness advanced wireless digital connectivity to grow their business
• a 5G Enablement Programme will foster NI’s advanced wireless ecosystem by building skills, sharing knowledge, identifying opportunities for economic growth, and attracting investment

West Midlands Combined Authority

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 project was extended by 12 months and awarded £1,056,236 of additional funding.

The West Midlands 5G Innovation Region has continued to demonstrate how advanced connectivity and digital technologies can improve public services and industrial productivity. Over the past year, the programme has made progress across 2 main workstreams: Technology-Enabled Care (TEC) and private 5G in automotive manufacturing. 

In Technology-Enabled Care, deployment has now reached significant scale, with more than 960 referrals, 740 citizens supported and more than 4,000 pieces of equipment deployed. Programme analysis indicates that every £1 spent on TEC generated £2 in adult social care budget savings. This reflects reduced care costs, delayed escalation of need and avoided commissioned care. On an annualised basis, this equates to £3,414 net savings per person. 

The programme has also reported positive outcomes for citizens. Evidence shows that 84% feel more independent, 64% report an improved quality of life and 60% feel less socially isolated as a result of TEC. 

Confidence among staff is also improving. More than half of social workers reported that they feel able to make appropriate referrals, supported by digital navigators, improved referral pathways and ongoing training. 

TEC is also delivering wider system benefits, including reductions in hospital admissions, more efficient care visits and a shift from reactive to proactive care. Case studies show how real-time monitoring can safely reduce care hours, prevent unnecessary escalation and give families greater reassurance. 

The next phase of the programme will focus on scaling adoption, strengthening the role of care providers, embedding TEC into core practice and expanding proactive and preventative care models. Partners across the programme continue to show strong commitment to building on this progress through collaboration between technologists, care providers, NHS partners and policymakers. 

In automotive manufacturing, the programme delivered a private 5G mobile network at Jaguar Land Rover, one of the UK’s most complex automotive manufacturing environments. The deployment has demonstrated financial and operational benefits, including lower capital and operational costs than traditional network alternatives, reduced production losses through improved availability and a strong evidence base for future investment decisions. 

The network provides reliable wireless coverage in a challenging industrial environment, reduces reliance on extensive cabling and offers a future-proof platform for additional Industry 4.0 use cases. It also demonstrates the viability of private 5G in live automotive manufacturing, provides a blueprint for wider rollout across the sector and strengthens the region’s capability in advanced industrial connectivity.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,800,000
• Sectors: advanced manufacturing, smart communities
• Project name: The West Midlands 5G Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

By becoming a 5G Innovation Region, West Midlands will transform productivity, create skilled jobs, improve health and wellbeing, and reduce emissions in 2 of the region’s most important sectors, advanced manufacturing and smart communities, which covers social care, social housing, and other related local services.

The project is led by some of the UK’s largest businesses and public sector organisations, including one of the UK’s largest advanced manufacturers and one of the country’s biggest R&D investors, and the 7 local authorities .

To make this happen the region will scale proven use cases through the UK’s first ‘adoption hubs’ in live operational environments and then support other organisations to benefit through adoption programmes.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025, the Greater Manchester 5G Smart Decarbonisation Network (GM 5G SD) 5GIR project was extended by 12 months and awarded £250,000 in additional funding.

The project has now been extended to the end of June 2026 to complete its final round of projects and monitor the ongoing impact of its activities. 

Greater Manchester continued to deliver and scale its 5G Innovation Regions programme over the past year, embedding delivery, building the evidence base and preparing connected solutions for wider adoption. 

Activity focused on damp and mould prevention, connected care solutions, advanced wireless transport operations and the development of shared capability to support adoption beyond the funded period. The programme moved beyond early testing to show how advanced wireless connectivity can be integrated into housing, care and transport services. 

In social housing, the programme delivered a connected damp and mould use case in partnership with Southway Housing and Onward Homes, with installations progressing ahead of full mobilisation. 

A shared baseline approach was developed using housing condition data, maintenance records and costs to support consistent measurement of benefits. Key risks, benefits and delivery artefacts were also agreed to support end-of-project reporting and future replication, with housing partners engaged in sustaining the approach beyond the funded period. 

In connected care, the programme delivered a workstream in partnership with Stockport Homes Group focused on digital telecare for residents. 

Grant funding, contracting and installation activity progressed, with active management of resident eligibility to support appropriate and responsible deployment. Benefits, risks and data requirements were also developed alongside delivery to support evidence-based assessment and future scaling. 

In transport and network operations, Transport for Greater Manchester deployed Drone in a Box technology to improve monitoring of transport assets and network condition. This activity is informing a wider regional strategy for Drone in a Box deployment, supporting public sector use cases across combined authority and local authority partners. It is also building experience and evidence to support progression towards beyond visual line of sight operations in a complex urban environment. 

The programme has also used advanced wireless connectivity to enable real-time data capture, improving situational awareness and supporting operational decision-making. Data generated by these sensors is being consolidated into a region-wide transport digital twin, creating a single view of the transport network and enabling new insights through near real-time AI-enabled simulation and modelling. 

Learning from this work is being used to support operational integration and the safe and effective adoption of emerging technologies into day-to-day transport and highway operations. This includes reviewing and designing inter-organisational processes and structures needed to make use of sensor-generated outputs, alongside upskilling operational control centres to use the data and insight produced. This work supports more resilient, seamless and reliable operation of the Bee Network across Greater Manchester. 

The programme also started development of a Connected Homes Innovation Hub to provide a focus for collaboration, learning and adoption across housing, technology and public sector partners. 

The Hub will be used to share practical learning from delivery, support engagement with housing providers and explore how connected solutions can be replicated and scaled. This capability supports Greater Manchester’s Connected Homes, Inclusive Places approach and provides a foundation for future programmes and investment. 

As the programme concludes in March 2026, the achievements of the Greater Manchester 5GIR programme have been embedded within the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Connected Homes, Inclusive Places programme of work.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,064,083
• Sectors: energy, housing, transport
• Project name: The Greater Manchester 5G SMART Decarbonisation Network (GM 5G SDN)

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

The GM 5G SDN project focuses on how partners across Greater Manchester (GM) will tackle the drivers of climate breakdown at a city region level, accelerating decarbonisation, improving quality of life, and growing the Green Technologies and Services sector.

The project intends to enable hundreds of existing air source heat pumps across social housing. This will accelerate the creation of Smart Energy Grids and bring forward benefits for residents, industry and public services, aligning with GM’s Local Area Energy Plan, which will be scaled across GM.

Co-located on the same 5G network, a digital road network environment will be piloted aiming to reduce congestion and carbon emissions and prioritise traffic flow such as public transport in a quicker, efficient way.

A social housing focused place-based model will also be created where multiple use cases can be stacked including building management, education, mould detection, and health-at-home, whilst the results from the initial projects are scaled across GM.

Central to these is 5G advanced wireless technology wrapped within an ecosystem delivered by industry and telecoms partners. To deliver this we will utilise industry expertise, GM’s local full fibre network, academia, and cyber security sector.

Oxfordshire County Council - Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) project was extended by 12 months and awarded £140,000 of additional funding.

The project has now been extended to the end of June 2026, to allow further time for completion of key activities, in support of realising its longer-term benefits and outcomes.

England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) is a regional programme led by Oxfordshire County Council in partnership with neighbouring local authorities across Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The programme is focused on accelerating the adoption of advanced 5G connectivity to support economic growth, innovation and digital inclusion.

ECH aims to enable wider uptake of 5G technology and demonstrate its value in real-world settings. The programme is centred on 2 standalone 5G mobile private network infrastructure deployments designed to create replicable models that can be scaled across the wider region and beyond.

The first deployment focuses on advanced manufacturing and research and development at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. Harwell is a globally significant hub for organisations working in areas including space, quantum technologies, energy and health sciences.

The 5G deployment at Harwell is intended to provide a blueprint for other innovation campuses across the ECH region, demonstrating how advanced wireless connectivity can support business productivity, innovation and collaboration. The use cases developed there will help demonstrate the practical benefits of 5G for research-intensive and high-tech environments.

At the time of this update, all campus surveys had been completed and the new network was due to be built shortly. By February 2026, the high-level and low-level designs and the final location plan had been completed, using 13 lighting columns.

The second deployment focuses on rail connectivity along the East West Rail route, initially between Bicester and Bletchley. This will improve onboard Wi-Fi for passengers and create a more modern and connected travel experience. The infrastructure will also extend connectivity into the surrounding area, benefiting trackside communities including farms and homes.

Following delivery of the first section, there is strong interest in extending enhanced connectivity further along the East West Rail corridor so that passengers can receive uninterrupted, high-quality connectivity along the full route.

Across the region, participating local authorities already have established digital infrastructure teams and have made significant progress independently. Building on that experience, ECH is focusing on the adoption of advanced wireless connectivity across the region in support of the government’s economic growth ambitions through next-generation digital infrastructure.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,800,000
• Sectors: rail transport, advanced engineering
• Project name: England’s Connected Heartland (ECH)

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

ECH will aim to increase adoption of 5G connectivity focusing on regional strengths in R&D, advanced engineering/manufacturing and education whilst aligning with other common regional dimensions such as rurality and improving public transport, particularly East to West (EW).

Each of the Local Authority participants in the Region have experienced digital infrastructure teams that have made huge inroads to improving fixed broadband connectivity. Whilst this remains an important regional focus, they are now working to extend the reach of advanced wireless connectivity by way of enabling wider adoption of the technology as a means of improving business productivity, further innovation, and improving public service delivery.

ECH will deploy resources from each of the participating authorities to develop joint opportunities with the wireless telecoms supply chain and the sectors to create an Advanced Wireless ecosystem. The project will do this by stacking use cases as vertical propositions that can then be lifted into other applications more widely across the region.

The project plans to deploy 2 physical 5G infrastructure builds (Harwell and EW Rail) to develop this methodology.

Glasgow City Council - Glasgow City Region

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 the project was extended by 12 months and awarded £1,997,369 of additional funding.

The programme has expanded live trials in smart social housing and social care.

This includes connected sensors to monitor damp, mould and heating in social homes.

It also includes digital technologies, such as smart speakers, to support care and wellbeing services for vulnerable people and to improve digital inclusion.

Original funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,231,868
• Sectors: social housing, health and social care
• Project name: The Glasgow 5G Innovation Region

Project summary

Glasgow City Region will utilise existing Internet of Things (IoT) deployments and smart city applications to identify, deliver and propagate use cases for utilising advanced wireless technologies and driving improvements in public and private sector service delivery. It will focus on 4 projects initially:

• Asset Monitoring and Maintenance
• Net Zero Social Housing
• Data Aggregation
• Health and Social Care Monitoring

These projects will build upon a strong existing base to prove business models and scalability that will drive more efficient and effective services whilst also helping further grow regional economic specialisms.

The Council of the City Of Sunderland - North East Combined Authority

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 the project was extended by 12 months and awarded £1,911,143 of additional funding.

The North East 5G Innovation Regions programme has demonstrated how advanced connectivity can support innovation across sectors including transport, ports, culture, agriculture and smart cities. Delivered through collaboration between local and regional authorities, universities, industry partners and technology providers, the programme has positioned the North East as a leading testbed for practical 5G innovation. 

The programme successfully delivered five sector pilots across connected transport, smart ports, creative industries, agritech and smart cities. 

Evidence from the connected transport pilot showed that Connected Intelligent Transport System green light priority for buses and emergency services was most effective during peak periods. A business case was also developed for green light priority on the strategic logistics route between Nissan and the Port of Tyne. 

At the Port of Tyne, the 5G network has enabled improvements in productivity, worker safety, site security and air quality through AI-enabled road condition monitoring, vehicle environmental tracking, personal protective equipment compliance monitoring and autonomous drones for security patrols and infrastructure inspection. 

In Sunderland, two large-scale 5G-enabled digital installations in Keel Square contributed to a 31% increase in footfall and a 20% increase in discretionary entertainment spending during major city centre events enhanced by the installations. 

The programme also established two rural digital observatories at Newcastle University research farms, using advanced wireless networks to support methane and soil sensors in real-world agricultural environments. 

In addition, 11 next-generation 5G-enabled CCTV cameras were deployed in Sunderland city centre to improve public safety between the city centre and the Stadium of Light. A business case has also been developed for wider deployment of 5G-enabled CCTV across the North East. 

The programme leveraged £145,000 of additional investment through programme activity. 

Key projects included agritech innovation through the deployment of connected sensors across research farms in Northumberland to monitor soil conditions and methane emissions in support of sustainable farming research.  

Connected transport trials tested Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems, including green traffic light priority for buses, and developed a business case for a connected logistics corridor between Nissan and the Port of Tyne. 

The smart port project at the Port of Tyne expanded the port’s private 5G network to support AI-powered technologies for road infrastructure inspection, environmental sensing and safety compliance. 

In creative and cultural innovation, large-scale digital screen and interactive installations in Sunderland’s Keel Square and Keel Edge supported live broadcasts, digital art and major event screenings, including international sporting events. 

The smart city infrastructure project deployed 5G-enabled CCTV cameras and analytics in Sunderland to improve public safety monitoring, crowd management and city centre data insights, alongside development of a business case for roll-out to other local authorities in the North East. 

The programme has created lasting infrastructure, partnerships and knowledge that will continue to support innovation across the region. The networks and connected devices installed through the programme are continuing to generate value, data and research insights and will remain in operation beyond the end of 5GIR funding. 

The pilots have demonstrated the practical value of advanced connectivity and established a foundation for future smart city, digital infrastructure and research activity. 

The North East 5G Innovation Regions programme has been delivered with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, alongside support from the North East Combined Authority and a wide range of partners across local government, industry, academia and the technology sector.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,795,826
• Sectors: transport and logistics, creative industries, rural industries: Agritech
• Project name: The North East 5G Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

In a visionary move towards a digitally empowered future, the 7 North East local authorities (LA7) are positioning the region at the forefront of advanced wireless connectivity.

Shaping the region’s digital landscape and leveraging the power of 5G, these projects use connectivity as catalyst for a sustainable, thriving future:

• 5G-Enabled Port Operations: Aiming to enhance port competitiveness and safety whilst reducing environmental impact
• Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems: Improving road transport efficiency within cities and between strategically vital industrial locations (such as Nissan and the Port of Tyne), this project will redefine regional transportation dynamics
• 5G-Enabled Event Production and 360º Live Broadcasting: Acknowledging the region’s flourishing creative sector, this project will grow the North East’s pioneering reputation, and enhance its standing as a tourism and inward investment magnet
• Advanced Wireless Sensor Technology on Farms: Driving automation, increasing efficiency and improving environmental sustainability, this technology will empower farmers with real data collected from a network of on-farm crop, soil, livestock and environmental sensors

Underpinning the North East as a national centre of excellence for terrestrial and non-terrestrial 5G use-case development and adoption, projects will accelerate economic, social and wellbeing impacts of advanced digital connectivity through rapid adoption and scale-up across key sectors.

North Ayrshire Council - Ayrshire Growth Deal Region

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 the project was extended by 6 months and awarded £175,000 of additional funding.

The Ayrshire 5G Innovation Region project has delivered a positive impact across the region. 

At the outset, digital activity across Ayrshire was fragmented and lacked coordination. Through structured collaboration, shared governance and alignment across public, private and academic partners, the programme has moved the region from isolated digital initiatives to a more coordinated and strategic approach. Advanced wireless is now embedded within sector development, business support and skills planning, creating the conditions for sustained digital adoption and transformation at regional scale. 

The programme has established Regional Strategic Wireless Innovation Hubs linked to key Ayrshire Growth Deal sites. These hubs are intended to accelerate the adoption of digital and wireless technologies and support the transformation of traditional production facilities into Digital Wireless Factories. 

A range of businesses have been supported through the programme and have described the introduction of 5G technology as game changing in improving performance and processes. These Digital Champions provide peer-led evidence that digital investment can deliver tangible returns, helping to reduce perceived risk and encourage wider adoption across the regional business base. 

Connectivity improvements have been supported by structured business engagement, workforce upskilling and match funding from the private sector. This integrated approach has strengthened the region’s capacity to absorb and scale innovation. 

The framework and partnership structure are now firmly in place. This was strengthened further at the conclusion of the project when partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting out their joint commitment to creating a thriving Ayrshire Digital Economy Ecosystem. 

This partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting the Ayrshire Regional Economic Strategy through innovation, skills development, funding sustainability, strategic alignment and long-term collaboration beyond the current grant period for the Ayrshire Digital Economy Ecosystem (ADEE). 

The Ayrshire 5G Innovation Region has moved beyond delivering individual projects and has established a coordinated model of digital transformation. Its legacy is not only infrastructure, but a scalable and collaborative ecosystem capable of sustaining region-wide digital adoption and long-term economic renewal.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,791,000
• Sectors: advanced manufacturing, aerospace, life sciences, tourism, creative industries and public sector
• Project name: The Ayrshire 5G Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

The Ayrshire 5G vision is to become the UK’s premier manufacturing-focused 5G hub, driven by 5 transformative principles: technological excellence, a thriving innovation ecosystem, sustainable economic growth, skills and talent development, and influential investment strategies.

By establishing ‘Regional Strategic Wireless Innovation Hubs’, anchored to key Ayrshire Growth Deal sites, the region is creating a dynamic ecosystem that integrates 5G, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and edge computing into advanced manufacturing and critical sectors. These hubs are central to accelerating the adoption of digital and wireless technologies, transforming traditional production facilities into state-of-the-art Digital Wireless Factories.

This initiative promises a collaborative ecosystem, uniting startups, industry, and academia, with sustainability and Net Zero at its core. Developing a workforce ready for the digital era is vital. The region’s investment strategy will reinforce Ayrshire’s role as a manufacturing innovation hub and a significant 5G technology influencer.

Strategic partnerships with The Scotland 5G Centre, National Manufacturing Institute Scotland, University of the West of Scotland, Ayrshire College, and other key institutions underscore the initiative. Ayrshire’s dedication to shaping the future of 5G will not only elevate the regional standing but also establish new benchmarks in the global manufacturing landscape.

Cumberland Council - Borderlands Partnership

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 the project was extended by 12 months.

The Borderlands 5G Innovation Region programme has continued to make strong progress, and will continue beyond the period of DSIT funding, with £2 million available from Connecting Cumbria. Further investment is also expected from Borderlands partners and from commercial revenues generated through programme activity. 

The programme is demonstrating how advanced wireless connectivity can unlock economic, environmental and operational benefits for rural tourism across the Borderlands region. 

During 2025 and early 2026, the project focused on deploying and testing 5G-enabled solutions across 4 priority venues selected for their potential to support commercial sustainability and replication. Installations at Stranraer Marina, Kielder, Destination Tweed and Windermere will provide practical evidence of how improved digital connectivity can enhance visitor experiences and support local services. 

The Windermere Ferry use case is already delivering operational benefits, and further benefits are expected across the other venues as their use cases go live in the coming months. 

Work at The Sill at Hadrian’s Wall is being re-evaluated following stakeholder feedback, and investment at that site will be reconsidered subject to partner funding. 

Connecting Cumbria has also earmarked funding for one or more additional venues, with ambitions to explore new visitor experiences such as augmented reality trails to help tell the story of the Borderlands. 

The Windermere Ferry deployment has shown how reliable, high-bandwidth connectivity can improve operations and safety while also supporting new digital visitor experiences on board. 

At Kielder Castle and Forest, 5G connectivity will support environmental monitoring and new approaches to storytelling within the visitor centre and across the wider landscape as the use cases are implemented. 

Destination Tweed and Stranraer Marina will also introduce tourism applications intended to encourage longer stays and increased visitor spending. 

Over the past year, the programme has placed strong emphasis on testing commercial models that could sustain 5G use in rural areas. This includes exploring partnerships with tourism operators, local enterprises and technology providers to widen market adoption. Lessons from this work will inform future investment decisions and help identify routes for scaling the technology across additional sites. 

The Borderlands 5G Innovation Region programme will continue to demonstrate how advanced wireless technologies can strengthen rural economies, protect natural and cultural assets, and improve service delivery in remote areas.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,800,000
• Sectors: tourism
• Project name: The Borderlands 5G Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

The Borderlands Partnership is a collaboration between the counties which make up the English and Scottish border. Rural tourism is a key part of the Borderlands economy: the region has fewer than 1 million residents but welcomed more than 63 million visits in 2019. Advanced wireless technology can enhance how the region tells its story of Borderlands communities; build the tourist economy; protect the environment and local businesses; improve the delivery of rural services and the process to collect information to support future investment. The region will prove commercial delivery of this new technology at:

• Windermere 5G Ferry
• Kielder Castle and Forest
• Stranraer Marina
• The Sill @ Hadrian’s Wall
• Destination Tweed

These projects have been chosen because they can be delivered and replicated. The project will design into these use cases a range of options to ensure sustainability and encourage further commercialisation during delivery. Learnings from these projects, especially with respect to commercial sustainability, will be used to demonstrate the benefits of the technology and support the project’s strategy to roll out to more sites as part of the renewed Digital Infrastructure Strategy.

West Sussex County Council - Sussex (East and West)

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 this project was extended by 12 months and awarded £715,034 of additional funding.

Growing Sussex is developing and demonstrating use cases using 5G, IoT and AI in partnership with telecoms and technology suppliers, education providers and commercial producers. 

To date, the programme has deployed more than 550 connected devices across 11 use cases at four locations, including commercial producers and land-based colleges. These devices are providing data to support operational decision-making in areas such as yield and quality improvement, carbon reduction and efficient energy use. 

Large-scale data collection is being delivered by multiple suppliers across advanced wireless networks using 5G and LoRaWAN technology. The data is collected and brought together through a single dashboard for analysis and insight. 

The programme will continue to support innovation and the expansion of use cases in order to generate further insight and demonstrate to both the sector and telecoms suppliers the need for replicable and affordable wireless connectivity. Project partners will work together to develop a business case showing the potential for scalable growth and return on investment. 

Collaboration with agritech suppliers has also supported product development to address sector-specific challenges. This has delivered practical benefits for suppliers and strategic value for growers through collaborative API development, a shared data experience and a move towards more open data ecosystems. 

Growing Sussex has also placed education at the centre of its approach to help ensure that the future workforce is ready to use technology in the workplace, creating continued demand for investment across the sector. Land-based colleges are in the process of updating and developing their curricula based on the data and advanced wireless solutions introduced through the programme. 

The programme has also established a strong national profile through conference appearances, a dedicated website, film releases and press coverage. It will continue to demonstrate how advanced wireless technologies can support more sustainable food, drink and plant production, strengthen the economy, build digital skills and support a more skilled local workforce.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,799,641
• Sectors: rural industries (Agritech and food production)
• Project name: The Growing Sussex 5G Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

The food and wine growing region of Sussex presents fertile ground for growers and education centres to adopt foundational technologies in the sustainable intensification of their products, helping to achieve food security, reduce carbon and use energy efficiently. Sussex Councils are actively working with Growers and Education stakeholders, conducting research, understanding sector ambitions and current connectivity constraints.

Growing Sussex 5G Innovation Region will co-develop foundational technology use cases with telecoms and technology partners, education centres and commercial producers to develop future farming and growing practices that increase sustainable food and drink productivity; provide a qualified, digitally skilled workforce; develop sector-supporting products and services; foster a 5G ecosystem through innovation and data sharing at education centres with suppliers and adopters; create demand for scalable expansion of 5G/ wireless infrastructure and explore the commercial models to enable more food and drink producers to invest in digital connectivity.

Putting education at the centre of their approach will ensure the workforce is expectant of using technology in their workplace, generating a cyclical demand within the sector for investment. With complementary test and trial opportunities in ‘real world’ commercial growing sites, they will show telecoms suppliers the compelling need to provide replicable, affordable wireless connectivity.

Shropshire Council - River Severn Partnership

Project summary update (March 2026)

In March 2025 this project was extended by 6 months to complete the original scope and awarded £269,743 in additional funding.

The project has now been extended to the end of June 2026 to complete its final round of projects and monitor the ongoing impact of its activities. 

The programme is demonstrating the application of advanced wireless technologies, including 5G, across a wide range of projects in the water sector and rural industries. 

These projects include agritech, biodiversity mapping, water quality monitoring, smart abstraction, smart controlled water butts, community flood warning systems, airborne ammonia tracking and gully monitoring. 

The region has also undertaken a range of enabling activity, including mobile signal mapping and signal boosting, local authority capacity building and collaboration, and the provision of advanced wireless networks.

Funding details (published 16 November 2023)

• Government funding: £3,754,960
• Sectors: rural industries, water, public sector
• Project name: The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region

Project summary (published 16 November 2023)

Formed in 2019, the River Severn Partnership (RSP) brings together significant partners (26) across 8 counties. RSP covers more than 6,000 sq miles spanning both England and Wales. It is home to 2.6 million people and is projected to increase by 15% over the next 20 years to 2.9 million, equivalent to Greater Manchester.

With the river network at its heart, the Partnership is invested in a shared plan supporting people, businesses, and the environment to be resilient to the impacts of climate change and in so doing stimulate growth.

Becoming an Innovation Region consolidates RSP’s Innovation Programme by embedding Advanced Wireless Connectivity (AWC) technology at the heart of technological innovation across their priority sectors comprising rural industries, water management and public services, where RSP’s partners are both regional and national leaders.

The River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region will demonstrate, prove, and drive implementation and adoption of new digital products and services that support public service delivery, whilst enabling key enterprise in water management and rural industries to explore and exploit digital innovation.

The project’s extensive partner network enables dissemination work, driving benefit at local, national, and regional level, further developing the wider UKTIN ecosystem with specific sector expertise.