• England’s Connected Heartland has selected Vodafone to build and manage a 5G standalone mobile private network at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus.
• The project will serve as a model for other science parks across the region.
• Work on this high-profile project is expected to commence soon.
• The ECH programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Technology laboratories, startups and research institutions at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, near Didcot in Oxfordshire, are set to benefit from enhanced wireless 5G connectivity as part of a project to boost the adoption of advanced wireless connectivity in the 5G Innovation Region that includes Cambridgeshire. 

On behalf of England’s Connected Heartland (ECH), Oxfordshire County Council has selected Vodafone to build and manage a 5G standalone mobile private network serving the campus following a competitive procurement process. Vodafone will begin work on the project over the coming weeks.

England’s Connected Heartland is a 5G Innovation Region encompassing Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Central Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. Coordinated by Oxfordshire County Council – and funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – it is working to accelerate advanced wireless adoption for economic, social and environmental benefits.

Councillor Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “With Vodafone supporting the new 5G digital infrastructure, we’re poised to explore the untapped potential on this exciting technology at Harwell, helping some of the most innovative businesses in the UK, based on the campus, to continue to thrive.”

The project at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is funded by central government and will showcase how advanced wireless connectivity can benefit advanced manufacturing industry.

The Harwell Science and Innovation Campus is renowned for its cutting edge laboratories, startups and research institutions, such as the European Space Agency’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) facility that hosts a 5G/6G hub. The hub works on setting the standards for integrating satellites with terrestrial networks, as well as drawing technology and product roadmaps, through its space for 5G/6G and sustainable connectivity programme.

The 5G mobile private network (MPN) will provide a highspeed, secure network for businesses and organisations at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. This network enables customisation of performance and characteristics to meet specific connectivity needs.

MPNs facilitate the creation of specialised services that are not feasible on public networks, thereby fostering innovation in sectors such as manufacturing, transport and logistics, energy, and healthcare. This allows for advanced use cases including asset tracking, drone detection, machine-to-machine connectivity, condition monitoring, and augmented and virtual reality, among others.

Claire Harris, Head of Small, Medium and Enterprise Business at Vodafone UK, said: “We’re delighted to partner with Oxfordshire County Council on this project. This initiative will not only boost efficiency and productivity but also foster the development of new use cases. The enhanced connectivity will empower businesses and research institutions to thrive, driving UK economic growth and technological advancement.”

Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director, Innovation Clusters and Harwell Campus at UKRI-STFC, said: “The 5G mobile private network will empower our diverse research and development community. Harwell, as the first science and innovation campus project in the England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) programme, is an ideal fit for this pioneering project. I am particularly excited that this project can serve as a framework for implementing 5G at other science parks across the ECH region, benefitting UK industry.”

Antonio Franchi, Head of Space for 5G/6G, at the European Space Agency (ESA), Harwell Campus, said: “The new network will help advance ESA’s efforts in terrestrial and non-terrestrial network integration. This infrastructure will augment our research into 5G and 6G solutions, aiming to improve productivity and enable applications in transport, autonomous vehicles and energy. We look forward to seeing the people and businesses in Harwell Campus benefit from this advanced connectivity.”

This news was announced by Oxfordshire County Council on 14 January 2025.