Excelerate CEO meets Digital Infrastructure Minister at Dorset’s connected coastline

Excelerate Technology CEO and founder, David Savage, met with the minister for digital infrastructure, Matt Warman MP on July 7, at an event hosted by Dorset Council, following the company’s delivery of 5G RuralDorset’s connected coastline.

Excelerate has led the works package for the 5G RuralDorset connected coastline for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) backed research project since early 2021, which not only includes the development and implementation of a robust and resilient 5G network infrastructure to improve the safety, wellbeing and quality of life for the people and first responder community of Dorset, but also underpins the digital technology and applications across consortium partnerships.

While Excelerate has led the works package, the project would not have been possible without key collaborative partnerships with Satellite Applications Catapult, who provided the 5G core network and developed the hardware and application for footfall counters, Jet Engineering Systems Solutions, who delivered the smart buoys for monitoring sea conditions and Anomaly Interactive who supplied digital signs.

On meeting the minister, David demonstrated a fully connected emergency response vehicle, which included live drone footage transmitted over Excelerate’s 5G network from nearby Durdle Door – a feat not possible in the county prior to the project.

The minister was able to see further developments the funded project is delivering, including Purbeck First responders’ emergency services vehicle, equipped with Excelerate’s ‘Excell’ antenna and portable Linx Hub, and a host of other applications to support partners’ technology.

In addition, the digital signage that alerts the public of sea conditions and tide times via smart buoys out at shore was showcased on the day. Excelerate has been instrumental in delivering these in partnership with Jet Engineering Systems Solutions, where 5G routers paired with sensors acquire real-time data, which is then transferred to the onshore 5G network and easily viewable on the connected digital signs.

David Savage said: “From protecting the coastline and the public to aiding first responders in Dorset, this project is paving the way for what is achievable in areas that have traditionally suffered from poor, or no, connectivity.

“While our 5G network infrastructure on this project has been delivered in around 18 months, it’s actually 20 years in the making and a culmination of everything we have done over the past two decades to connect people’s worlds.

“Robust and resilient connectivity shouldn’t be a privilege; it should be for everyone and every sector regardless of location. This potentially life-saving information, where live updates of sea conditions and even cliff erosion would normally be inaccessible in areas that lack connectivity. It will also help to take some of the strain off ambulance and first responder services, not to mention agencies such as the Coastguard and RNLI.”

Minister Matt Warman said: “5G is about much more than having a faster mobile phone and I've seen some incredible innovation happening across Dorset with the help of government funding.

“Whether it's saving lives at sea, monitoring coastal erosion or helping our dedicated first responders, what we are learning in Dorset about this technology will help us improve lives and create new solutions to age-old problems.”