Led by Worcestershire County Council, key partners on the network side are Airband and BT who will plan, build and operate the 5G network. Local NHS organisations alongside 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 their expert support across the project.
Airband Community Internet
An alternative broadband provider in rural areas, bringing fast, reliable internet to homes and businesses in Devon, Somerset, Shropshire, Wales and Midlands.
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University of Worcester
The University of Worcester is a public research university, based in Worcester, United Kingdom. Worcester is the only university serving the English counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
Shropshire Council
Shropshire is the second largest inland rural county in England, and one of the most sparsely populated, with just one person per hectare (1.01 persons; 323,136 population). Ensuring our population has equitable access to good digital connectivity and supporting them to use innovative technology as their preferred way to work and transact remains a key objective for the Council.
West Midlands Academic Health Science Network
The WMAHSN leads and catalyses collaboration between academia, industry, health and care providers, commissioners, and citizens to support continuous improvement of the region’s health and wealth. As part of the national AHSN network, funded by NHS England, we seek out, test and accelerate the adoption and spread of innovative ideas and technologies with the potential to transform health and social care in the West Midlands and beyond.
University of Chester
The University of Chester is a public research university, that working in partnership with Shropshire Council and the Marches LEP through the University Centre Shrewsbury, established research centres of Digital Solutions and CREST (Centre for Research into Environmental Science and Technology). These centres, aligned with the LEP’s Growth Plans for its digital and related sectors, provide support through research and specialist advice, helping SMEs to develop innovative ideas and products before bringing them to market.. The University is the fifth oldest higher education establishment in England, with only the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Durham and London outdating it.
TalkoutVR
Talkout VR are a specialist software development company based in the West Midlands. We have 15 staff (3d artists, animators and developers) focusing on the development of highly engaging and interactive virtual and augmented reality products. One of our key sector areas is Healthcare where we have championed products for the NHS such as the UK’s first VR frailty simulator and various Mental Health and wellbeing platforms using Virtual Reality.
BT
BT is one of the world’s leading communications services companies. We serve the needs of customers in the UK and in 180 countries worldwide. Our main activities are the provision of fixed-line services, broadband, mobile and TV products and services as well as networked IT services. We are a leading communications services provider selling products and services to consumers, small and medium-sized enterprises and the public sector.
Worcestershire County Council
Worcestershire has one of the fastest growing economies in the country with an array of highly reputable, fast growing and successful companies from SME’s to large Multi-national Enterprises.
We are aiming to become a financially self-sufficient Council, to achieve this aim we will promote and support businesses in the county, businesses looking to relocate to the county and those businesses we work closely with.
Herefordshire and Worcestershire CCG
NHS bodies in Herefordshire & Worcestershire work together in partnership (as an Integrated Care System) to deliver healthcare and improve health outcomes NHS organisations in Herefordshire & Worcestershire work collaboratively (as an Integrated Care System) to deliver healthcare and improve health outcomes for the population of over 800,000 people across the two counties. This partnership includes NHS Herefordshire & Worcestershire CCG, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust, Herefordshire & Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust, alongside Herefordshire & Worcestershire County Councils and Primary Care providers (GP practices and PCNs). The partnership is already at the forefront in healthcare innovation and we firmly believe that digital initiatives and programmes are key to enabling us to deliver our vision of providing truly integrated care. Ensuring a 21st Century digital infrastructure is a key priority to help us achieve this, which is why being a partner in the West Mercia Rural 5G project is so important to the NHS.
Innovations in technology and improvements in network connectivity offered by 5G, have the potential to transform health and social care and bring efficiencies in how services are delivered. This supports the NHS ‘net zero’ ambition, the decentralisation of healthcare (by providing more services and support away from main health sites) and the NHS Long Term Plan.
Funding Body
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) helps to drive growth, enrich lives and promote Britain abroad. We protect and promote our cultural and artistic heritage and help businesses and communities to grow by investing in innovation and highlighting Britain as a fantastic place to visit. We help to give the UK a unique advantage on the global stage, striving for economic success.
Rural Connected Communities
West Mercia Rural 5G successfully bid for one of the seven Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Rural Connected Communities (RCCs) projects relating to 5G research and development projects in rural areas across the UK investing £30 million over two years: 5G Connected Forest, 5G New Thinking, 5G RuralDorset, 5G Wales Unlocked, Mobile Access North Yorkshire (MANY), Multi Operator Neutral Host (MONeH) and West Mercia Rural 5G. To view the initial press release visit the GOV.UK site.