England's Connected Heartland

Releasing untapped economic, social and environmental benefits with advanced wireless connectivity.

England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) brings together local authorities in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Central Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire with a mission to accelerate advanced wireless adoption across the region.

Co-ordinated by Oxfordshire County Council, we’re creating a blueprint that can be adopted throughout ECH and beyond to benefit the whole of the UK.

Projects

Harwell Campus - Didcot

Projects

We’re currently engaged in two significant projects that directly contribute to regional prosperity. First, we’re establishing a framework for 5G Mobile Private Networks at Science and Innovation Campuses, with Harwell leading the way. Second, we’re developing a new commercial model for delivering passenger connectivity, starting on a section of the new track between the Bicester and Bletchley route of The East West Rail project.

An illustration showing a network

Innovation Exchange

ECH is bringing together telecoms experts with potential users, sharing successful use cases of 5G, creating market demand, and helping the supply chain connect with advanced wireless buyers. Visit our Innovation Exchange page to sign up for the newsletter and find out more.

In numbers

Major projects to improve advanced wireless connectivity

Local authorities partnering together as part of the ECH 5G Innovation Region

Years to kick off our initial projects, with vast potential for further investment and projects

ECH News

How to prove a 5G use case that doesn’t exist yet

How to prove a 5G use case that doesn’t exist yet

Many of the people we speak to still don’t fully understand the real benefits of 5G and the differences between public and private 5G. ... Read more

ECH’s first 5G connectivity event at Harwell Campus an overwhelming success 

ECH’s first 5G connectivity event at Harwell Campus an overwhelming success 

The Harwell Campus was buzzing with excitement this Tuesday as we hosted a highly successful drop-in lunch event focused on our 5G ... Read more

ECH and Net CS undertake continuous wave testing of new 5G network at Harwell Campus

ECH and Net CS undertake continuous wave testing of new 5G network at Harwell Campus

Our 5G Science Campus project, which involves building and managing a new 5G Mobile Private Network at the Harwell Science and ... Read more

More from ECH

Our partners

Collaborating for impact: Co-ordinated by Oxfordshire County Council, ECH is a partnership of 10 local authorities in the heartland region. Together, we’re uncovering the benefits advanced wireless connectivity can bring.

 

Benefits of 5G

Private 5G networks offer advanced, tailor-made connectivity and huge opportunities to innovate; but navigating this market can be confusing. Find out more about the vast potential of advanced wireless connectivity for the Advanced Manufacturing and Transport industries.

Skip to content
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.