Through our sister organisation, X-Net (FKA Kimcell), we’ve played our part in a ground-breaking project to establish the potential of next-generation 5G technology in rural environments. The R&D project focused on five key areas:
- The Future of Food
- Rural Community Accelerator
- Connected Coast
- Innovation Accelerator
- Coastal Cliff Monitoring
Innovation Accelerator
Our work focused on the aspect of the project that established a 5G testbed at Dorset Innovation Park. It was delivered in partnership with Vodafone and was later extended to Lulworth Ranges, before 5G RuralDorset ended in September 2022.
The result was indoor and outdoor 5G Standalone (SA) test ranges that could be made available to defence and security teams wishing to understand the threats and opportunities that can come from exploiting 5G technologies. This was further supported by the Defence BattleLab – a collaboration space in Dorset Innovation Park – being designated as the national NSTIx Co-creation Space for Defence Innovation during the project.
In April 2022, the outdoor network was transferred our sister organisation, X-Net, and it has since expanded to allow for more R&D work. It lives on through the Telecoms Test Accelerator capability – you can learn more about this via the 5G Experimentation page.
Project Outcomes
After two and a half years, 5G RuralDorset, a Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS)-funded project led by Dorset Council, came to an end with a final value of £9 million. The project played an important role in positioning Dorset as a hub for as innovative 5G experimentation.
Speaking at the project’s conclusion in September 2022, Gordon Fong, a director at X-Net, said: “Dorset now has the UK’s largest expanse of 5G test infrastructure covering land, sea and air, rural and conurbation, as well as a private and secure technology park. This is a great place to do business and is already attracting visitors from around the world.”