Event roundup: 5G Innovation Regions: lessons learned and what’s next

For this online event, techUK secured representatives from across the UK to share insights into the opportunities and challenges of deploying advanced wireless connectivity at scale as part of the Government’s 5G Innovation Regions programme. The discussion showcased how 5G is already enabling transformation in transport, social care, manufacturing, housing, and tourism, while also highlighting the barriers that must be addressed if projects are to move from pilots to long-term sustainable models.

Borderlands: connectivity for tourism and rural communities 

The Borderlands Partnership, spanning both the North of England and southern Scotland, highlighted the unique challenges of covering a region that spans 10% of the UK’s landmass, welcoming 63 million visitors each year. To meet fluctuating connectivity demands, the team procured a scalable private 5G network. One flagship use case is the Windermere Ferry, where 5G is supporting more reliable payment systems, real-time tracking, and operational data sharing. Lessons learned include the complexities of rural deployment, from securing permissions to powering remote sites, and the importance of engaging local authorities and emergency services early to ensure the network supports critical services. 

Glasgow City Region: smart and connected social places  

Attendees then heard from Glasgow’s innovation region, where the city region is using 5G and IoT to enable smart social places. Projects in social housing have demonstrated how environmental sensors can shift maintenance from reactive to proactive, reducing costs and improving tenant wellbeing. 

In health and social care, voice-activated devices are being trialled as more flexible and user-friendly replacements for traditional telecare systems, reducing unnecessary responder visits and supporting independent living. Mapping regional connectivity has also helped local authorities engage with operators to address coverage gaps. Early deployments are showing strong cost-benefit ratios of between 3 and 5 for deployment.  

England’s Connected Heartland: shared models for transport and science 

Attention then turned to the Heartlands Project, spearheaded by Oxfordshire County Council. This innovation region spans transport and science infrastructure. Along the Bicester–Bletchley rail corridor, a private 5G network is improving passenger services and extending fixed wireless access to nearby farms and homes, while generating revenues through stacked use cases. 

At Harwell Science Campus, a secure shared 5G network allows multiple institutions to “buy in” rather than build separate infrastructure, creating a model that could be replicated across other campuses and public bodies. The region has also benefited from close collaboration with neighbouring counties, though aligning governance across multiple authorities remains a challenge. 

West Midlands: scaling health and manufacturing use cases 

The last presentation covered the work being done within the West Midlands, delivering at scale across two different areas. In technology-enabled care, 700 IoT-enabled care packages have been deployed across three local authorities, reducing hospital admissions and saving on average 1.5 hours of staff time per week per package. ROI is estimated at £2.40 for every £1 invested, with even higher returns in complex cases. 

In manufacturing, Jaguar Land Rover benefited from a rapid three-month private 5G deployment, enabling integration with shop floor systems. While pre-planning accelerated installation, integration with data platforms proved more complex. 

Common themes: procurement, collaboration, and sustainability 

The final discussion brought our speakers to reflect on shared lessons. While the projects span very different geographies and sectors, several common themes emerged that will shape the future of advanced wireless in the UK. 

Collaboration models 

Collaboration has been central to progress, but also one of the hardest elements to get right. Cross-regional working has unlocked economies of scale, pooled resources, and strengthened business cases, while also creating opportunities to learn from neighbouring areas. However, governance structures vary widely between local authorities, and aligning priorities across multiple partners requires time, persistence, and a willingness to compromise. 

Another area covered was the importance of managing stakeholder expectations. Local authorities, emergency services, and community groups often come to the table with different needs, and educating stakeholders on what 5G can and cannot deliver is essential to keeping projects on track. Without structured collaboration models and spaces for shared learning, the risk is that successful innovations remain siloed and fail to scale. 

Procurement and financial barriers 

Procurement and finance were repeatedly cited as some of the biggest blockers to wider adoption. Traditional frameworks are often too rigid to accommodate innovative solutions, particularly when smaller suppliers or SMEs are involved. This not only slows down deployment but can exclude precisely the kind of agile, innovative companies that government wants to support. 

Speakers highlighted the need for supplier-agnostic frameworks that make it easier for multiple providers to plug into a single system, avoiding lock-in and enabling more flexible solutions. Financial models also need to be made more “CFO-friendly”, in other words presented in a way that makes sense to stakeholders who ultimately sign off on budgets. Evidence from across the programmes shows the kind of data that can help secure this buy-in, but not every project currently has the tools to make such a compelling case. 

Scaling and sustainability 

Perhaps the most urgent challenge identified was how to move beyond isolated pilots. There was a strong consensus that longer-term funding and policy frameworks are needed to enable projects to build on proven use cases rather than starting from scratch each time. Initial subsidies and regulatory support can help projects get over the line, but the ultimate goal must be commercial sustainability, supported by flexible governance models that allow regions to adapt as technology and markets evolve. 

Knowledge sharing was also seen as critical. Too often, projects repeat the same proof-of-concept in different local authorities instead of leveraging business cases that have already been tested and validated. Stronger emphasis on structured knowledge exchange, potentially through national platforms, would ensure lessons learned in one region can be scaled rapidly across others. 

Finally, contracting models were highlighted as a key enabler of sustainability. Approaches that force collaboration among suppliers have already demonstrated efficiencies and resilience, creating a template for future procurement. Replicating these models could help regions move away from short-term, project-based approaches and towards systems that are robust, scalable, and future-proof.