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91��Ƭ��County Council’s 2012 Broadband Plan (“Connecting Worcestershire”) set out an ambitious programme to improve digital connectivity across the county by combining public and private investment. Its core aims were to ensure that all homes and businesses could access at least 2Mbps broadband, while delivering superfast speeds of 24Mbps and above to around 90% of premises by 2015 to 2016. The plan recognised the economic and social importance of improved connectivity and focused on using a mix of technologies (such as fibre, wireless and mobile) to reach both urban and rural communities, tackling market failure in hard‑to‑reach areas and supporting growth, inclusion and better access to services. 

The 2013 Community Pathfinder Project was an early pilot scheme led by 91��Ƭ��County Council, designed to explore new ways of delivering broadband to rural and hard to reach areas. Working in partnership with Airband, the project tested whether Fixed Wireless Access technology could provide a practical alternative where traditional physical networks were not yet viable. 

Wireless broadband networks were deployed to areas that previously had limited or no service. The communities that benefited included the parishes of Little Witley, Bockleton, Kyre, Hanley, Rochford, Eastham, Lindridge, Mable, Bayton, Tibberton, Crowle, Hanbury, Stock and Bradley, and Feckenham.

By April 2014, hundreds of homes and businesses had connected to the new service demonstrating the strength of local demand and that wireless technology could play an important role in improving rural connectivity to reduce the rural digital divide.

The Superfast 91��Ƭ��Programme was launched following the County Council’s 2012 Broadband Plan, with delivery beginning in 2013 through a partnership with BT and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). Its aim was to transform broadband access by providing “superfast speeds” of at least 24Mbps to 90% of homes and businesses by 2016, while ensuring all premises could access a basic level of service. The programme was backed by an initial investment of over £20 million (including approximately £8.5 million from the Council, £3 million from BDUK, and around £9 million from BT) and enabled superfast connectivity for around 55,000 additional premises.

The programme successfully met and exceeded its original targets, achieving 90% superfast coverage on schedule and continuing to expand through two later phases, supported by further funding of around £5 million to reach harder to connect areas. By 2020, coverage increased to over 97% of premises across Worcestershire, helping to connect rural communities and demonstrating strong demand for improved services. The programme laid the foundations for subsequent investment in full fibre and gigabit capable broadband, supporting the county’s long term digital connectivity ambitions.
 

Broadband voucher schemes

We have played an important role in extending faster connectivity to some of Worcestershire’s most rural and hard to reach communities. By enabling residents and businesses to claim grants towards the cost of new connections, the schemes have supported the rollout of full fibre (gigabit capable) networks where commercial investment alone would not have been viable. 91��Ƭ��has been one of the top areas nationally for the value of vouchers secured, reflecting strong local demand and proactive engagement with the schemes.

In total, over £7million of voucher funding was secured across the county, along with additional local “top up” funding from the County Council and partners. This investment has helped deliver thousands of improved connections, supported rural businesses, and enabled communities to play a direct role in bringing faster broadband to their areas.

Project Gigabit

Project Gigabit is now helping to bring the next generation of broadband to 91��Ƭ��by targeting the hardest‑to‑reach homes and businesses that are unlikely to be upgraded through commercial investment alone. Through a government‑funded contract with Openreach, the programme will deliver gigabit capable broadband (up to 1,000Mbps) to areas that currently have slower or less reliable connections, transforming digital access for rural communities.

Across Worcestershire, the project involves an investment of over £40 million and is expected to improve connectivity for well over 20,000 premises. This funding forms part of the UK Government’s wider £5 billion Project Gigabit programme that is aiming to achieve gigabit capable broadband coverage for 99% of all premises by 2032.

Delivery is being carried out in phases. Detailed planning and surveys began in 2025, with network build commencing in 2026 and continuing through to around 2030. Locally, the investment will also support Worcestershire’s ambitions to reach 90% gigabit capable coverage by 2027, with further expansion beyond that.

For residents and businesses, this means access to faster, more reliable broadband, supporting activities such as home working, online education, streaming, and digital services. It will also help boost the local economy, enabling businesses to innovate, improve productivity and connect to wider markets, while enhancing quality of life and ensuring rural communities can fully participate in the digital world.

The 91��Ƭ��5G project was a government funded testbed launched in 2018 to explore how 5G could support advanced manufacturing and “Industry 4.0”. It received around £4.8 million in funding and ran through to 2020, positioning the county as a national leader in industrial 5G innovation.

Its core objective was to test how 5G’s high speeds, low latency and reliability could improve productivity and enable new technologies such as robotics, real time data analysis and Augmented Reality in factory environments.

Achievements:
•    delivered the UK’s first live 5G factory trials, including at Worcester Bosch 
•    demonstrated how 5G could support automation, predictive maintenance and remote operations 
•    established a long term legacy through the nexGworx testbed, allowing businesses to continue trialling 5G solutions

The West Mercia Rural 5G project built on this work, running from April 2020 to June 2022 with £3.3 million of government funding. It focused on testing how 5G could be deployed in rural areas and used to improve public services.

Its objective was to understand the practical challenges of rural 5G rollout and explore how the technology could enhance areas such as health and social care.

Achievements:
•    demonstrated how 5G can be deployed in rural and hard to reach areas using innovative approaches
•    trialled healthcare applications, including remote physiotherapy using Extended Reality and connected care home support tools 
•    showed how 5G could improve public service delivery and access to care in rural communities

Together the 5G programmes combined industrial and rural trials, investing over £8 million in total. They demonstrated how 5G can drive business innovation, productivity and smarter public services, leaving a legacy for future digital innovation in the county.

The Network on Wheels project is an innovative initiative led by 91��Ƭ��County Council to improve mobile connectivity in rural and hard‑to‑reach locations. Supported by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, the project began in 2023 with an investment of around £0.5 million to trial new, flexible mobile network solutions that can be rapidly deployed where coverage is limited.

The project uses portable “network on wheels” technology to provide reliable mobile connectivity at temporary sites, particularly outdoor events where traditional infrastructure is not available. Its aim is to support organisers, businesses and visitors by enabling better communication, improving digital services and ensuring that activities such as contactless payments and online engagement can operate smoothly.

Trials throughout 2024 have already demonstrated strong results, with the technology successfully deployed at major events such as the Royal Three Counties Show, the RHS Malvern Spring Festival and the Upton Blues Festival. Feedback from organisers and exhibitors shows that improved connectivity has enhanced visitor experience, increased sales through digital payments, and boosted social media engagement which in turn helps to support the local economy. 

Looking ahead, the project has the potential to be used more widely, including providing temporary communications support for emergency services and critical incidents such as flooding. Overall, Network on Wheels is helping 91��Ƭ��explore new ways to deliver resilient, high‑quality mobile connectivity, ensuring that communities and businesses can stay connected wherever they are.

91��Ƭ��County Council has taken a collaborative, partnership‑led approach to improving mobile connectivity across the county, working with government, telecom providers, industry and research organisations to trial and deploy new technologies.

A key example is the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR), a UK Government funded programme designed to accelerate the use of advanced wireless technologies, including 5G, across the River Severn catchment area, which includes Worcestershire. Launched in 2023 and running through to 2026, the programme brings together local authorities, industry and academic partners to explore how digital connectivity can support economic growth, public services and environmental sustainability. 

The programme has received around £3.75 million of funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with additional investment to extend delivery and maximise its impact. Its focus is on three key sectors—water management, agri tech and public services—where improved connectivity can help organisations adopt smarter, data driven approaches and deliver more efficient, resilient services.

Across the region, RSPAWIR is delivering a range of real world pilot projects and trials, demonstrating how advanced wireless technologies can be applied in practice. This includes investment in innovation projects with universities and businesses, deployment of sensors and remote monitoring systems, and the use of 5G networks to improve productivity, sustainability and service delivery. These activities are helping to generate economic benefits, reduce environmental impacts, and position the region as a leader in digital innovation.

In Worcestershire, the programme has supported several important initiatives. These include a county wide mobile connectivity survey, providing detailed real world data on mobile coverage to inform improvements. In 2026, this new data has supported our work with partners like Wavemobile, Airband, and cellXica to deploy small cell technology in rural communities like Hanley Castle. These mini masts are designed to discreetly solve historical mobile signal blackspots across the village without needing large, intrusive lattice towers. In the case of Hanley Castle, a small cell with wireless backhaul has been successfully integrated into the local church tower to beam coverage across the village.