Sunderland City Council has awarded a 20-year strategic partnership to BAI Communications to design, build, and operate the city’s digital infrastructure, including a private 5G small cell network.
The project has been backed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership and the government’s Getting Building Fund and aims to bring high speed 5G coverage benefits to businesses, schools, and public services in the city.
The project follows Sunderland winning the ‘UK Smart City of the Year 2020’ title, thanks to their Our Smart City programme.
Patrick Melia, chief executive at Sunderland City Council, said: “This is an incredibly significant milestone in the development and future of Sunderland ‘Our Smart City’.
“We are very much looking forward to our 20-year strategic partnership with BAI, as its team helps us realise our ambitions and make our goals a reality.
“We are confident the benefits of this partnership will reach every resident, organisation and business within our city and indeed the wider area.”
Billy D’Arcy, CEO of BAI Communications UK, said: “Our long-term strategic partnership with Sunderland City Council will completely transform the city, accelerating Sunderland’s ambitions to become one of the UK’s most advanced smart cities, connecting people, communities and businesses.
“We will leverage the power of 5G and the Internet of Things to establish a network of connectivity which will enhance employment opportunities, business efficiency and growth, helping to secure its prosperous future.
“Our extensive credentials delivering large-scale connected infrastructure and networking solutions position us perfectly to capitalise on the fast-growing commercial appeal of 5G enterprise solutions and smart city applications.”
The 5G announcement follows recent successes in the city in beginning the regeneration of the former Vaux brewery site, and a commitment by Nissan and battery partner Envision AESC to build and power a new electric vehicle from their Sunderland plants.
Image credit: Neil Mitchell/Shutterstock
Read next: Kebony raises £25m to aid rollout of “superior” sustainable wood
Are you a building professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.
