Advanced 5G mobile connectivity has been provided at the heart of Dorset Innovation Park, a Local Enterprise Zone and advanced-engineering centre which already supports large and small companies that develop innovative connected products and services.
An outdoor testbed network has been built that can be made available to defence and security teams wishing to understand the threats and opportunities for UK plc in exploiting 5G technologies. Covering a large part of the Innovation Park including roads, buildings, uncongested airspace for UAV operations and with the addition of the adjoining the extensive MOD Lulworth ranges in 2022, the site offers users access to secure urban, rural, land, sea and air domains in which to explore the utility and vulnerabilities of the most modern telecommunication networks. Work to extend 5G networks across the entire Lulworth Range has been proposed. This will create a unique ecosystem for the test and evaluation of 5G telecommunication networks. Since it was commissioned in early 2021 the Innovation Park outdoor network has been a valuable addition to the users of this space and the park continues to attract advanced engineering digital defence and security suppliers.
A Vodafone 5G indoor network has also been established on site to complement the Defence Innovation Centre development at the heart of the Dorset Innovation Park. This space can host companies who will collaborate closely with defence, marine and security partners throughout the region, accessing state of the art indoor 5G mobile connectivity technologies that wirelessly enable cutting edge technologies.
All these activities support businesses operating in the county and across the supply chain to test and develop products before deployment in a collaborative and secure way at this strategically important location.
