Member Article

Shovel-ready project investment secured for 5G Hub

Nottinghamshire County Council has announced the successful application to establish a 5G Enabled Digital Centre in North Nottinghamshire.

The bid was put forward by Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) as part of the UK Government’s £900 million Getting Building Fund to deliver jobs, skills and infrastructure across the UK. Government approved the funding after the proposal was assessed and supported by the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (D2N2).

Connectivity specialist FarrPoint, supported the Council to develop the application to establish a Digital Centre in North Nottinghamshire. The Centre will act as a catalyst for developing skills, promoting innovation and showcase ground-breaking 5G related technological developments. The combined effort of FarrPoint’s Consultants and NCC’s Digital Connectivity Team, builds on the long standing relationship provided by FarrPoint including GIS mapping and procurement support for the Nottinghamshire superfast broadband programme.

This latest achievement emphasises the ambitions of the local authority to harness the future potential of 5G, the related technologies it enables and the growth of skills to support these newly emerging sectors which are forming a key element of Digital Strategies.

NCC fully recognises the urgency to develop schemes to stimulate economic activity and crucially support job creation in the context of a post-COVID recovery strategy and identifies the importance of digital skills and infrastructure to bolster economic growth aspirations set out within their Strategic Economic Plan and Local Industrial Strategy.

The Digital Turbine Centre in Worksop- established to attract high value, technology focussed businesses to Nottinghamshire. This builds on the Council’s success in response to the 5G Rural Connected Communities Competition with funding secured to launch a 25-month test bed and trial programme creating the world’s first 5G Connected Forest at the Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre and surrounding area.

Cllr Reg Adair, Deputy Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said, “We are delighted that this project will move towards its next stage thanks to this successful bid.

“Now more than ever, developments like these will help boost post-pandemic economic growth for Nottinghamshire by providing a hub where skills, innovation and businesses can really thrive.”

Dr Andrew Muir, CEO of FarrPoint said “We’re thrilled to have helped our valued client, Nottinghamshire County Council secure funding for its 5G Innovation Hub.

“5G can support so many new use cases both in urban and rural geographies and the journey is only beginning. I hope this hub attracts and develops brilliant talent in the local area and produces some truly game-changing technology advances.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Gregor Cunningham .