5G Opportunity in Bournemouth

Bournemouth Borough Council is moving quickly in its ambition to be one of the first locations internationally to deploy a mmWave ‘Real’ 5G mobile network.

We are the only UK local authority known to currently hold a non-commercial license to operate in the 26.5-27.5 GHz band.

Along with this ambition we are also seeking to build up a wider digital ecosystem that will enable the Internet of Things and underpin our Smart City objectives.

We have produced a prospectus outlining what we have achieved to date and what we are seeking to achieve. This prospectus is in the form of a non-binding ‘Expression of Interest’ (attached) which gives organisations the opportunity to set out whether they would like to be involved in this project and what they would be able to offer the project.

If your organisation is interested, please complete the attached Expression of Interest and return it as soon as possible and preferably by 8th December 2017, either to me, adrian.hale@bournemouth.gov.uk or my colleague Ruth Spencer, ruth.spencer@bournemouth.gov.uk .

DCMS 5G Testbed & Trials Competition

Whilst we are seeking to work with longer term partners, there is an immediate opportunity for businesses and organisations to become involve in DCMS’s Testbed & Trials Competition:-
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/5g-testbed-and-trials-programme-phase-1-competition-guidance/5g-testbed-and-trials-programme-phase-1-competition-guidance

This competition is open to any business.

Due to the competition ‘rules’ we are currently seeking to co-ordinate a bid with the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership acting as the ‘Project Lead’. Other organisations can become involved as follows: -

1. Key project partners – these are partners who will need to work in collaboration and are critical to the delivery of the project. They may or may not receive DCMS project grant funding. (Due to state aid rules small businesses can claim 60% of grant funding towards their eligible project costs; medium sized businesses 50%; and large businesses 40%)

2. Project partners – are any other organisations not receiving DCMS grant funding but who will undertake important activities during project delivery.

3. Project participants – these are any other organisations not receiving DCMS grant funding but who will be involved in project delivery.

If you would like to become involved in this DCMS Testbed & Trials programme along with the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Bournemouth Borough Council, please make this clear within your Expression of Interest, including what ‘partner’ role your company would wish to fulfil from the above categories.

If you have any questions, please contact Adrian Hale adrian.hale@bournemouth.gov.uk 01202 451349 or Ruth Spencer ruth.spencer@bournemouth.gov.uk .