On Wednesday 31st July 2024, the England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) team hosted an exciting event at the Steeple Claydon Village Hall for local farmers interested in advanced wireless connectivity, particularly 5G technology.
The collaborative effort involved ECH partners from Buckinghamshire Council and Oxfordshire County Council, along with Spirit Public Sector, National Farmers Union (NFU), and Village Networks, all coming together to share the benefits of the 5G Rail Project with the local farming community.
The purpose of the event was to introduce nearby farmers to the transformative potential of a 5G Mobile Private Network for their agri-businesses, as ECH is embarking on a 5G project along the East West Rail corridor between Bicester and Bletchley. Attendees had the opportunity to openly discuss their connectivity needs and meet the team behind the ECH programme in a casual, drop-in setting.
Representatives from each organising partner were readily available to discuss the project, generating valuable conversations about the rail project and its potential benefits. With participation from representatives of several different farms, including meat and dairy farmers, as well as those managing multi-use land spaces, the event gathered a diverse group of stakeholders. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, but also revealed a need for better understanding of how to fully utilise the improved connectivity offered by the 5G network.
The event was an excellent opportunity to showcase of the potential of 5G to revolutionise the agricultural sector in the region. Looking ahead, plans are underway for a more formal event at one of Buckinghamshire’s offices. This future event aims to invite more technologically active suppliers from the agri-tech sector and local councillors to further explore the benefits and applications of 5G in agriculture.
For more information on how 5G and other forms of advanced wireless connectivity can benefit the agriculture industry, please visit https://uktin.net/how-to-deploy-5G/agriculture
If you are farming near the East West Rail corridor between Bicester and Bletchley and would like to get in touch with our team or register your interest for an upcoming event, please visit our contact page.
