West Country city to take part in 18-month 5G pilot
B&NES Council has been handed more than three quarters of a million pounds to trial a scheme in Bath to boost mobile connectivity
Last updated 7th Jan 2024
Extra Government cash has been secured in Bath - to boost mobile connectivity.
£773,132 handed to BANES Council will be used to fund an 18-month pilot to test a next-generation 5G mobile network.
The scheme will involve between 200 and 300 volunteers, who will be testing the new 5G network, with the aim of addressing the connectivity and capacity issues people in the city currently face.
If it's successful, B&NES Council say it would then be rolled-out to the wider public in the spring of 2025.
The money comes following a Single Member Decision report, which ruled on whether to approve the local authority's role as a partner to deliver the scheme.
This went before Councillor Paul Roper, cabinet member for Economic and Cultural Sustainable Development, and highlighted a market failure in the sector, with lack of investment from private telecoms companies which is exacerbated by UK Government restricting some international vendors.
As a result, the Department for Science Innovation and Technology has issued a series of Open Network Ecosystem (ONE) funding calls to unlock investment in new next generation open mobile networks that multiple vendors can share.
During a pilot phase, a specific SIM card would be provided for users to test the network, with high-spec handsets provided to volunteers in order to test the network’s resilience and performance in managing high demand in a dense environment.
Two indoor locations, the Roman Baths and Bath Rugby Stadium, have also been identified as options to install additional radio units to test the network.
During the pilot phase a number of test events would also take place where users place high demand on the network at the same time and location, with the potential for more realistic testing to occur during future events such as sports fixtures and the Bath Christmas Market.
Councillor Roper said: “Digital inequalities, due to skills gaps, cost or coverage can impact on whether someone can access services, goods and employment. Surveys carried out by the council show a significant proportion of residents cite connectivity issues as a barrier to accessing services and information online.
"Many of us are familiar with the poor mobile phone reception areas in the City Centre, especially on busy days such as a Saturday match at The Rec. If successful, this pilot will resolve that issue. That has to be great news. Our manifesto commitment is to improve connectivity in the City and wider community and we are delivering. The council has now been offered funding to address this problem. I look forward to receiving the Single Member Decision report on the pilot and will consider carefully the options before me.”
Currently the scope of the initial pilot would, if approved, focus on central Bath, however there would be potential for additional networks to be added to the high streets of Keynsham and Midsomer Norton.