The GM 5G SDN project focuses on how partners across Greater Manchester (GM) will tackle the drivers of climate breakdown at a city region level, accelerating decarbonisation, improving quality of life, and growing the Green Technologies and Services sector.
Total project funding amount: £3,314,083
Project date(s): -
Category: Government Funded
Location(s): Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Status: Open
The Greater Manchester 5G Smart Decarbonisation Network project has been extended by 12-month time extension and awarded £250,000 in additional funding.
Over the past 16 months, the project has focused on addressing climate change at a city-region level, accelerating decarbonisation, improving quality of life, and fostering growth in the Green Technologies and Services sector.
The project has enabled the integration of hundreds of air source heat pumps in social housing, supporting the development of Smart Energy Grids and helping to reduce fuel poverty while advancing Greater Manchester’s net zero ambitions. The project has also piloted a digital road network on the 5G network to reduce congestion and carbon emissions by prioritising public transport flow. Two smart transport junctions are now live, creating advanced wireless “connectivity corridors” that use AI to interpret data via a digital twin model, improving road network management and resident safety.
A place-based model focused on social housing has been developed, combining multiple use cases, including building management, education, mould detection, and health-at-home services. The results are being scaled across Greater Manchester. Insights from resident engagement will inform future scalability and further use cases for IoT and wireless solutions in the region. Partners are already preparing to contribute to scaling and bring new innovation and industry investment to future programmes.
Central to these initiatives is 5G advanced wireless technology, delivered in collaboration with industry and telecoms partners, local fibre networks, academia, and the cyber security sector.
The project has directly supported Greater Manchester’s goals for net zero, growth, Housing First, and Live Well, as well as the government’s missions on growth, environment, and employment, and its strategy to deliver Modern Digital Public Services across the UK.
The next phase of the project will focus on:
- Embedding the GM Connected Homes Inclusive Places (CHIPS) Use Case Framework, using connected solutions to drive strategic outcomes.
- Expanding use case locations in Wigan and Manchester and to new sites.
- Enhancing data collection, processing, and analysis through the 5G Ecosystem to improve decision-making.
- Building the Advanced Wireless Traffic Corridor in Hindley Wigan to assess advanced wireless technologies.
- Refining the Engagement and Technology Adoption Programme (e-TAP) to help tenants access heat pump tariffs.
- Conducting a GM-wide study on advanced wireless IoT practices and establishing a GM Knowledge and Learning Hub.
- Delivering an upskilling programme for transport Network Operations staff to manage data from Smart Transport Corridors, improving network management and safety.
This comprehensive approach aims to accelerate decarbonisation, improve quality of life, and foster innovation and investment across Greater Manchester.