East Yorkshire rural broadband pioneer Quickline Communications will be showcasing the work that has seen it emerge at the forefront of 5G network development this week.
Ministers and industry specialists are gathering at a national event to celebrate success in the technology.
Progress made in government-led testbed programmes feature, with Quickline playing its part.
For the past two years the Hessle team has been leading a £6 million project to boost rural connectivity in North Yorkshire, England’s largest rural county.
Mobile Access North Yorkshire has also been testing how superfast connectivity can help boost tourism, tackle social isolation and act as an early warning system for flooding emergencies. Partners include North Yorkshire County Council, a number of specialist firms and the universities of York and Lancaster.
Ian Smith, Quickline’s new chief technology officer, has spent the last four years as programme director for the 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme in Whitehall. He is now responsible for Quickline’s 5G strategy, including vendor selection, adoption and how the company’s services are deployed to customers.
He said: “This is a great opportunity to hear directly from other 5G projects and fellow programmes involved in the DCMS testbeds around the country as well as to share what we have done as part of the 5G testbed in North Yorkshire.
“We’ll be passing on what we’ve found and implemented, reflecting on our learnings and what this means for 5G as a whole. We will also be looking at how we can implement further innovation to reach even more customers that have been left behind in the digital rollout.”
The UK 5G Showcase is fully supported by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and will feature over 30 5G projects around the UK. It takes place at The East Side Rooms in Birmingham on Tuesday and Wednesday.
It comes during a busy month for broadband on the homefront too.
MS3, a wholesale-only fibre network provider has agreed a long-term partnership with city-based Pure Broadband while also welcoming a new internet service provider, Hull Fibre, bringing more choice to the city.
The company, which like Quickline saw major investment this past year, is seeing more than 1,000 homes in Hull being provided with access to the network footprint each week in 2022, as it rapidly rolls out an expansion of its underground fibre.
David Mitchell, director at Hull Fibre, said: “Having come from 27 years in the communications industry, we are extremely excited to be working alongside MS3 to finally give the people of Hull some choice when it comes to their broadband.”
Tony Jopling, managing director at Pure Broadband, said: “We’re delighted to be working with MS3 Networks to give more households across Hull a choice.
“Increased competition leads to better prices and service for customers, so Pure Broadband’s partnership with MS3’s is brilliant news for local residents.”
Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3, welcomed both.
Of Pure, he said: “They are a great, well-respected ISP in the area and we know that by working together there will be significant benefits for people in these communities, particularly at a time when other household bills are increasing rapidly.”
Turning to Hull Fibre, Mr Miller added: “Iit is an exciting collaboration, and we look forward to working together to bring huge benefits to the residents of Hull as our relationship grows.
“It is always encouraging to see new entrants wanting to enter a market, recognising the need and desire of local residents for choice.”
Alongside incumbent KCom, Connexin is also adding a network in the city.
