England’s Connected Heartland is delighted to share that our 5G Railway Project, with delivery partners AWTG, has been shortlisted for the Industrial Innovation Award at the Connected Britain Awards 2025.
The Connected Britain Awards celebrate the UK’s most exceptional digital infrastructure projects, recognising organisations that are shaping the country’s connected future. The Industrial Innovation category honours projects that use advanced technologies such as 5G and IoT to deliver transformative outcomes in industries like transport, manufacturing, and energy. The ECH 5G Railway Project fits this vision precisely, delivering full 5G coverage along the Bicester–Bletchley railway to boost passenger experience, improve railway operations, and promote rural digital inclusion.
The ECH project showcases the power of modular, energy-efficient small cell infrastructure to deliver scalable, private 5G connectivity in high-speed and rural environments. The team has successfully tested and validated the solution at Millbrook Proving Ground, recording throughput of over 500 Mbps at 100mph during high-speed trials. These achievements signal a leap forward in what’s possible for future-ready, low-latency connectivity in real-world industrial use cases.
The project is made possible through the valued support of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), AWTG, and council partners; whose trust and commitment to digital innovation continue to inspire. Their backing ensures that ECH not only delivers technological excellence but also aligns with broader goals of equity, inclusion, and regional growth.
We warmly invite everyone to join us at Connected Britain 2025, taking place on 24–25 September at ExCeL London. Our Director of the ECH Programme will be speaking on the Local Authority Showcase panel on 24th September at 13:30. Additionally, our partners at AWTG, who are sponsoring the event, will be exhibiting at Stand 113. If you’re attending, make sure to visit their stand to discuss the exciting 5G Railway Project!
Find out more about the 5G Railway Project here.