About
What is it?
England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) is a 5G Innovation Region encompassing Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Central Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire. Co-ordinated by Oxfordshire County Council, ECH partners are united in a mission to accelerate advanced wireless adoption, releasing untapped economic, social and environmental benefits.
What is advanced wireless connectivity?
Advanced wireless connectivity refers to cutting-edge technologies and systems that go beyond traditional wireless communication methods. It is a broad term that includes 5G technology, satellite, and long-range communication technologies such as Low Power Wide Area Networks (LP WAN). Advanced wireless connectivity is the foundation for industries, jobs, skills, and services of the future, enabling seamless communication across devices and networks.
Advanced wireless technologies offer advanced, tailor-made connectivity and huge opportunities to innovate, drive productivity and power regional economic growth. But proving the technology works is only part of the story. The challenge today is building a network that turns all that potential into reality – at speed and at scale.
The advanced wireless connectivity market is dynamic and rapidly changing. While some technologies hold great promise, to businesses, their practical value remains uncertain. Navigating the complex market can be challenging, and businesses often don’t know how and where to buy. Advanced wireless suppliers also grapple with uncertain levels of demand and encounter obstacles in effectively engaging with customers.
ECH is here to solve these problems.
How we will drive the adoption of 5G and advanced wireless connectivity
Highly focused, real-world deployments
Our implementation projects – designed to be replicable within the ECH region and across the UK – are focused on two vertical markets: Advanced Manufacturing and Transport. These industries can benefit significantly from advanced wireless connectivity; learn more about the potential for enhanced collaboration, increased productivity, and operational efficiencies here.
We are committed to ensuring we set up secure, robust 5G networks that can be properly maintained and continue to provide value to network users into the future. Each of our projects will therefore generate not only use cases for 5G, but critically, create sustainable business models. This includes identifying common business requirements, exploring revenue opportunities for telcos, and establishing procurement options for businesses. Ensuring telecoms suppliers and network operators can understand business needs and justify ongoing sustained support for this connectivity, while businesses can realise the benefits of 5G for the long term.
Our projects will demonstrate to local businesses the power of 5G, but by creating these and successfully implementing these commercial models, we’re also establishing a blueprint that can readily be replicated across the ECH region and UK-wide.
Innovation Exchange
We connect telecoms providers, businesses and government, providing advice, guidance, and funding opportunities so that telecoms and infrastructure providers can work with businesses more efficiently and effectively. It’s a novel approach, and one we call our Innovation Exchange.
Regional collaboration
Local authorities across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Central Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire are working together, providing suppliers and businesses with one central point for liaison and economies of scale, while also lowering the barriers to entry and sharing learnings.
More from ECH
Our partners
Collaborating for impact: Co-ordinated by Oxfordshire County Council, ECH is a partnership of nine councils 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.
