Supply

Support for Suppliers

At ECH we’re committed to ​​accelerating advanced wireless adoption across our region, releasing untapped potential for innovation and economic growth. We know the technology works and we’re keen to move beyond trials to wide-scale deployment. But we also know that selling 5G is complex, with complicated supply chains and uncertainty from customers around their needs.

Our Innovation Exchange approach is designed to break down some of that complexity, connecting you to buyers, and arming you with a common set of requirements so you can identify and unlock new business opportunities.

Here’s how we can help:

• Creating demand: Our two deployment projects will build specific user demand, while our broader outreach activities will help to educate businesses about the potential of 5G, generating awareness and interest for you to capitalise on.
• Regional collaboration: Our unique alliance of local authorities across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Central Bedfordshire, and Cambridgeshire provides you with one central point for liaison and economies of scale. We’re committed to deploying advanced connectivity across our region and want to smooth your path to delivering that through an open relationship where we share our challenges and experiences, and by working collaboratively with you to deploy infrastructure.
• Expert advice: We work closely with established forums like the UK Telecoms Innovation Network (UKTIN), gathering learnings from across the UK and ensuring we best understand your needs and concerns.
• Creating blueprints: Our projects are designed to create common sets of requirements designed to be replicated by others. Making it easier for you to engage potential users across our region – and beyond – by demonstrating a clear understanding of their needs and how to service them.
• Leveraging Existing Infrastructure: We’ll utilise existing 5G testbeds and hubs, such as Millbrook Proving Ground and the 5G hub at Harwell Science Campus to help you test, develop, and evolve your commercial offerings.
• Connecting you to a marketplace: We’re working closely with users – your potential customers – across the ECH region and our dedicated ecosystem activities are designed to connect you to that market, opening up new business opportunities.
• Grant scheme: Due to launch in Summer 2024, our grants offer match-funding to support both our ECH projects at Harwell and East West Rail, and enable smaller projects to get off the ground across the ECH region. If you’re keen to support a local business or public sector organisation to deploy in our region, we want to help.

Will you join us in our mission to accelerate 5G private network adoption and release untapped potential for innovation and economic growth?