Surrey Heath & IoT

Leading the way with technology innovation

The UK’s first full 5G Shopping Centre

Surrey Heath Borough Council is working with a consortium of innovative research, retail and technology partners to deliver a ground-breaking open data 5G test bed in Camberley town centre. It is centred on The Square shopping centre and other town centre assets in the ownership of the Council.

The Camberley 5G connectivity is unique in the UK and is an opportunity for innovative companies and technologists to collaborate with world leading researchers to trial new ways of using the powerful data connectivity that 5G offers in a real time environment.

The opportunities are extensive and will enable collaborators to develop become the blueprint for modelling true multi-channel, data driven, customer experiences. There is a particular focus on the retail and leisure sectors, but the availability of an open 5G network in the town centre offers opportunities for new innovation across the spectrum that relies on major data consumption.

This project will have significant marketing on a national and international basis to ensure that it is seen as a flagship project for the country and discussions are underway with the Department for International Trade (DIT) to make this a turn-key opportunity for overseas retail and technology businesses.

Ofcom have already identified the test-bed as a potential stand out UK project and assured us of spectrum access. There will be a flexible working space close to the shopping centre which will house SMEs and startups who will be able to use their technologies in the shopping centre and get their solutions to market quicker, and commercial spaces around town will be available for 5G labs, retailers and other companies needing space to conduct their trials.

We are particularly interested in those technologies and experiments that can scale up and can support the levelling of the playing field in the commercial arena in town centres, encouraging the growth of independent businesses and local economic vibrancy.

Contact us:

    ‘Providing the cutting-edge technology for the UK’s first fully 5G-enabled shopping centre, gives Camberley’s retailers a head-start in the race to transform retail for the future’

    Professor Rahim Tafazolli
    Founder of the 5G Innovation Centre
    CALL FOR INVESTING PARTNERS

    Surrey Heath Borough Council and its project cohort are currently looking for new investing partners to join this national first in 5G research and application. If you are looking to understand how full 5G infrastructure will change physical retail and begin to blend online and offline experiences then we would like to hear from you.