The Borderlands Partnership is a collaboration between the counties which make up the English and Scottish border. Rural tourism is a key part of the Borderlands economy: the region has fewer than 1 million residents but welcomed more than 63 million visits in 2019.
Total project funding amount: £3,800,000
Project date(s): -
Category: Government Funded
Location(s): Cumberland Council - Borderlands Partnership
Status: Open
Advanced wireless technology can enhance how the region tells its story of Borderlands communities; build the tourist economy; protect the environment and local businesses; improve the delivery of rural services and the process to collect information to support future investment. The region will prove commercial delivery of this new technology at:
- Windermere 5G Ferry
- Kielder Castle and Forest
- Stranraer Marina
- The Sill @ Hadrian’s Wall
- Destination Tweed
These projects have been chosen because they can be delivered and replicated. The project will design into these use cases a range of options to ensure sustainability and encourage further commercialisation during delivery. Learnings from these projects, especially with respect to commercial sustainability, will be used to demonstrate the benefits of the technology and support the project’s strategy to roll out to more sites as part of the renewed Digital Infrastructure Strategy.
The Borderlands project has been awarded a 12-month time extension.
Initial use cases, including deployments at Stranraer Marina, Hadrian’s Wall, Kielder Castle, Destination Tweed, and the Windermere Ferry, are demonstrating how 5G can improve tourism experiences, operational efficiency, and support local businesses.
During the extension period, Borderlands will expand its use cases, collect detailed data on user engagement, and report on the social, economic, and environmental benefits of the deployments.
The project will also validate the commercial sustainability model, testing the viability of a range of innovative connectivity services[WJ1] . [WJ2] These initiatives aim to establish a scalable approach to rural 5G adoption and ensure its long-term viability.
By March 2026, the project aims to provide valuable insights into the benefits of rural 5G innovation. Findings from the extension will offer a replicable model for other regions to adopt sustainable connectivity solutions.