22 February 2022

CityFibre, the independent Full Fibre platform, has partnered with BAI Communications (BAI), a global communications infrastructure provider and Sunderland City Council to support the delivery of a new 5G small cell network that will provide a platform for business growth and innovation across the city.

Sunderland City Council awarded a 20-year strategic partnership to BAI in October 2021 to design, build and operate a private 5G small cell network as part of an ambitious plan to create the UK’s most advanced smart city. CityFibre is currently engaged in a £62m project to bring gigabit-speed Full Fibre infrastructure within reach of nearly every home and business in Sunderland, and its new network will provide backhaul connectivity for the council-led venture with BAI.

The new high speed 5G network is expected to go live by Summer 2022 and will enable transformative private 5G digital services for sectors including manufacturing and logistics, education and social care. BAI is complementing the project with other networking technologies that will position Sunderland at the forefront of UK smart city innovation. CityFibre’s city-wide rollout in Sunderland is part of its £4bn nationwide Full Fibre investment programme. The rollout is bringing the UK’s fastest, most reliable digital infrastructure to up to 8 million homes and businesses across 285 cities, towns and villages.

“We’re thrilled to be working with BAI and Sunderland City Council, who have truly embraced the potential of Full Fibre, with a robust plan in place to become a genuine UK leader in smart city technology," said Jason Legget, regional partnership director, CityFibre.