Businesses in Bordon can now access ultrafast 5G internet powered by low carbon technologies as part of a £1.16m investment by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership in collaboration with the University of Surrey.
This industry-leading technology located at BASE Bordon Innovation Centre brings a step change in connectivity for the many creative, digital and high-tech businesses resident on the site. It will offer one of the fastest download speeds available, allowing quick access to data and easy testing of new, online technologies.
Uniquely, the new 5G capabilities are powered by low carbon technology developed by one of the businesses based at the Innovation Centre, powerQuad, whose technology stores and releases energy, reducing both the carbon footprint and electricity bills by up to 40%.
Rob Dunford, Enterprise M3’s Director – Business Delivery said:
“This is not only a real game changer for digital connectivity in Bordon, it also demonstrates the business opportunities for companies helping us move towards a lower carbon economy and society.
EM3 has provided multi-faceted support for this project, from the re-development of Whitehill and Bordon to the funding of the 5G technology and a range of business support for powerQuad.
This is a fantastic demonstration of the power of LEPs and how interventions at multiple levels can bring about industry-leading innovation and outcomes.”
Duncan Gill, manager of BASE Bordon said:
The benefits to the creative and digital businesses in our centre will be huge. They will be able to work faster and smarter as well as having massive bandwidth to test new technologies and download huge amounts of data.”
Gil Statchell of powerQuad said:
Our unique technology stores and releases energy allowing reductions in carbon footprint and electricity bills by around 40%. If this technology was scaled up across other work places, labs and offices then this adds up to big reductions. “But it is not only the green credentials that make this an industry changing power system – it also offers security of supply (as it never turns off) and mobility (as units can be charged and moved.) Each powerQuad is about the size of a carry on suitcase so can be transported with ease.”
£180,000 of Local Government Funding was invested by EM3 to provide the 5G service at BASE Bordon as part of an overall £1.16m which has also seen 5G enablement at other sites such as the Aldershot Games Hub.
Where
Address:
Broxhead House, 60 Barbados Rd
Bordon
GU35 0FX
United Kingdom
Map:
From 1 April 2024, the responsibility for LEP functions across the Enterprise M3 LEP region has transferred to Hampshire County Council and Surrey County Council.
The Enterprise M3 Board met for the last time in March 2024 and Enterprise M3 LEP is no longer operating as an organisation.
For any enquiries relating to economic development across the counties of Hampshire and Surrey, please visit the Hampshire County Council website and Business Surrey respectively.
Please note that Enterprise M3 LEP staff have transferred to Hampshire County Council to continue to deliver services and activities in Hampshire, including the Growth Hub, the Careers Hub, work on key business sectors, and trade and investment.
They can be contacted at economic.development@hants.gov.uk.
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