Opportunity

MK:5G Connecting Communities Testbed

We are looking for businesses who want to develop new use cases and innovations with 5G technology.

The MK:5G project is an exciting new testbed in the Milton Keynes area, including the deployment of dedicated 5G infrastructure and the creation of a data hub facility. The consortium is now taking expressions of interest from companies who would like to conduct trials in the testbed.

Milton Keynes 5G: MK5G: 5G; 5G Technology; Innovation; testbed; data; data hub; infrastructure; mobile; wireless; digital
Background

5th generation (5G) mobile wireless technology is emerging onto the market, providing connectivity with vast improvements to bandwidth, latency and reliability, and promising to radically improve the Smart City links between people & infrastructure. This powerful technology will transform a multitude of industries such as transport, manufacturing, health and tourism and will support the growth of new markets, such as immersive technologies (AR/VR).

About MK:5G
Milton Keynes 5G: MK5G: 5G; 5G Technology; Innovation; testbed; data; data hub; infrastructure; mobile; wireless; digital

The MK:5G project is an exciting new testbed in the Milton Keynes area, including the deployment of dedicated 5G infrastructure and the creation of a data hub facility. The 5G mobile network is designed exclusively for research and development purposes and will cover central MK including key sites (such as the Stadium, Bletchley & CMK rail stations, Hospital, Universities), key junctions on the M1 and a number of rural communities.

The testbed will focus on trialling applications across three core themes: Mobility, Health & Wellbeing, and Energy. Several trials are already planned across each theme and extensive datasets will be stored in the data hub.

The project is led by Milton Keynes Council and is funded by the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP), and the consortium partners.

Consortium partners include BTCityFibreTechMahindra, the Open UniversitySatellite Applications Catapult and the Connected Places Catapult, while many additional partners are being engaged to conduct trials across the three core themes. The Connected Places Catapult is acting as the business growth partner within the MK:5G consortium.

Who can apply?

Applications to use the testbed are open to any business, although we are particularly interested in working with businesses based within the South East Midlands area. We are keen to ensure that the process is also open and supportive to SME applications.

Businesses are welcome to apply for development and trials using the testbed infrastructure, for access to the datahub facility, or both. If applicants are interested in finding additional business or academic partners to enhance their development, CPC is happy to facilitate these discussions, please include details in the form below.

How to apply

Registration is currently open and will be ongoing until March 2021.

Please complete this form and return to: SME@ts.catapult.org.uk including MK:5G Registration in the subject line. Applicants will be considered by the consortium partners on a monthly basis.

Milton Keynes 5G: MK5G: 5G; 5G Technology; Innovation; testbed; data; data hub; infrastructure; mobile; wireless; digital
Find out more

The Connected Places Catapult will be hosting a series of events in early 2020 to allow businesses interested in the MK:5G project to meet the consortium partners, learn more about the testbed capabilities and to network.

Registration details will be promoted via our events page and social media channels.

Events

As part of the MK:5G Connecting Communities project the Connected Places Catapult (CPC) held the MK:5G Connecting Communities event at the CPC in Milton Keynes on the 12th February.

Please click here to see the event presentations