Airband and Three to build network for West Mercia 5G project

21st February, 2020 | Press release

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Rural telecoms specialist Airband and mobile phone operator Three announced as network partners on winning West Mercia 5G project.

Rural telecoms specialist Airband was delighted to host digital minister Matt Warman and members of the West Mercia 5G consortium at its Worcester headquarters last Thursday [Thurs Feb 20].

West Mercia 5G was one of the successful rural 5G projects, winning £3,285,705 from the UK-wide £65m funding pot for innovative 5G connectivity solutions in rural areas.

Focus of the West Mercia 5G project will be health and social care applications

The minister’s visit and roundtable focused on the best way to create a robust framework integrating 5G tech across health and social care applications within the West Mercia region (specifically the rural area where the counties of Shropshire and Worcestershire meet).

Funding will pay for research and development on pioneering West Mercia 5G project

Led by Worcester County Council, with Worcester-based rural telecoms specialist Airband and mobile operator Three as key partners on the network side, the funding will pay for research and development (R&D) of integrated connectivity solutions that can transform the lives of rural residents and help evolve health and social care operations.

Supporting partners will provide expertise across West Mercia 5G project

Local NHS organisations partnering with Worcestershire County Council and Shropshire Council will work on the health and social care applications. The University of Worcester, University Centre Shrewsbury, and West Midlands Academic Health Science Network are providing expertise across the project.

Ultimately, the aim is to create an infrastructure which uses 5G and other technologies to create solutions that provide much-needed support for remote health and social care workers who are under growing pressure due to the UK’s aging population, and solutions which help to tackle the issue of loneliness particularly among elderly people.

Airband director, Redmond Peel, praises public and private sector collaboration on West Mercia 5G project

Airband director, Redmond Peel, is a telecoms veteran having founded three telecoms businesses including one in South Africa. He said the West Mercia win represented a huge coup for the region:

“It’s a hugely exciting time for Airband as one of the West Mercia 5G partners. With our expertise in both wireless and fibre connectivity and rural broadband, we’re well positioned to integrate 5G technology into a range of networks.

“It’s rare and refreshing to be part of a consortium with both private and public sector working together to achieve connectivity solutions with significant and far-reaching benefits – and the hope is that we will be able to work together to create a framework that can be replicated in other parts of the UK to solve similar issues.”

West Mercia 5G will help rural and under-served communities says chair of Airband Mark Stansfeld

Digital connectivity champion, Mark Stansfeld, chairs the Worcestershire 5G consortium. He has a wealth of telecoms experience and a track record of delivering results in complex environments having helped lead giffgaff to become one of the fastest growing businesses in the UK.

“As a key network partner, Airband will play a key role in working closely with other West Mercia 5G stakeholders to create a more robust digital infrastructure – so that rural and under-served communities can enjoy connectivity solutions that help solve social and healthcare issues and help them to thrive and prosper,” said Mr Stansfeld.