The Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is a 700-acre science and technology campus in Oxfordshire.
Over 6,000 people work there in over 240 public and private sector organisations, working across sectors including Space, Clean Energy, Health, and Quantum Computing. Whilst there is typically good access to fixed fibre connectivity across the campus, wireless connectivity is limited to partial 4G (public) mobile services.
The ECH project is working to scope, procure, and commission a managed private 5G network across significant parts of Harwell. This will provide a secure, business-grade wireless network, offering external and internal coverage for the resident science laboratories, research organisations and start-ups. Engagement with the businesses at Harwell is underway to capture likely use cases and technical requirements which will inform the infrastructure procurement, and common needs and requirements for replicating across other business and science parks.
Private 5G mobile networks create the means of connecting machines and applications with cloud-based intelligent services, and – unlike public networks – with specifications and security tailored to business needs. Boasting low latency, high bandwidth and the ability to connect a far greater volume of devices than other wireless solutions, the capabilities of 5G private networks are well suited to support and develop the capabilities of many of the science and technology enterprises at Harwell. Advanced wireless connectivity provides a key foundation for enabling the digitalisation of R&D and advanced manufacturing sectors, with the technology solutions it enables, underpinning the ‘fourth wave’ of industrial revolution.
There are already well-proven applications of 5G such as predictive maintenance, asset tracking, Cobots undertaking more complex tasks, AR/VR virtualisation, wireless machine controls, and more. It is anticipated that 5G will also enable existing and new businesses at Harwell to develop new processes which capitalise on advanced wireless availability to improve productivity, agility, and the speed of development.
The project aims to:
- Raise awareness and generate demand for private 5G networks in advanced manufacturing.
- Achieve sustainability: demonstrating over the expected three-year operation of the service that sufficient revenue can be generated from subscribers to continue operation without public funding.
- Capture common business requirements and demonstrate how this commercial model can be applied across the 17 science parks and 47 business parks across the ECH region, and the rest of the UK.
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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.
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