A complex adoption programme

Working and advising the LCRCA Digital Team to develop an adoption strategy for an LCR-wide advance wireless strategy, we established the Open Access Agreement principles across all six Local Authority areas.

Over an 8-month period we led the team and developed a strategic plan engaging with mobile network infrastructure suppliers, local authority planning teams and LCRCA strategic leads to produce guidance and agreements to help increase 4G/5G connectivity across the City Region.

We provided expertise and knowledge of the emerging 5G advanced connectivity opportunities and the economic advantage this would provide to LCR. We supported the team to develop and communicate guidance cumulating in a detailed briefing to senior stakeholders across the region, advise and support for highways, planning and economic development teams and establishing a baseline open access agreement.

This was shared with Legal teams and forms the basis for future adoption.

CJ Founds Associates

Progress to date

Advance Wireless Programme Delivery

As part of DSIT’s Advanced Wireless Strategy – funding was made available for regions to propose initiatives that would support and enhance Open Range Access Networks (O-RAN) and address demand in areas and during activities of high usage. We helped establish the HDD programme and led on sites selection working with a wider stakeholder team led by the University of Liverpool, and Partners.

We identified and worked with local bodies to secure sites that could act as a testbed to deploy new technologies to avoid “mobile-congestion” during peak times and enhance user experiences. 3-sites were identified as below and site trials undertaken during planned events.

  • Pilot 1 – Salt & Tar, Bootle: Deploying a new Open RAN HDD private network at a vibrant street food and live entertainment venue during a Music Festival, where improved connectivity streamlined payments, ticket downloads, and secure Wi-Fi access for 3,000 attendees.
  • Pilot 2 – ACC Liverpool: Testing the technology in an indoor setting at Comic Con using a Telepresence Robot, demonstrating the network’s reliability and enabling remote interaction for guests unable to attend in person.
  • Pilot 3 – M&S Bank Arena Liverpool: Exploring how Open RAN technology can lower carbon emissions at large-scale events, with live trials during music events and the introduction of greener eSIM technology to reduce plastic and emissions. Data from these trials is shaping future xApps to optimise network energy efficiency.

The Pilots proved a huge success and the infrastructure remains active to support future events and develop more integrated mobile technology.

Can we do the same for you?

Contact the CJ Founds Associates team and see how we can help with your project.