Press Release
Sitenna will power four DCMS-backed DCIA projects covering major UK regions, as well as cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Dundee, Newcastle and Sunderland
Sitenna is pleased to announce that it has been selected by four consortia across the UK who have secured funding for projects from the Department of Communications, Media and Sport (DCMS) as part of the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA) programme. The objective of the programme is to accelerate the rollout of wireless connectivity infrastructure, including 5G, by promoting the use of publicly owned real-estate assets.
Sitenna’s SaaS platform will power the DCIA projects led by West Midlands 5G, the West of England Combined Authority, the North of Tyne Combined Authority and the Scottish Futures Trust (Infralink-Exchange, Tay Cities), spanning 24 regional, city and combined authorities across the UK, as well as major cities including Birmingham, Bristol, Dundee, Newcastle and Sunderland. Major wireless infrastructure providers and operators in the UK will gain access to the Sitenna platform as part of the programme, joining the telecoms providers that are already using Sitenna across its existing footprint.
Sitenna’s platform allows wireless network operators and infrastructure providers to quickly identify and assess suitable options for radio-site deployment, and to communicate and transact directly with the asset owners. The platform also enables infrastructure providers to drive co-location on their existing assets. The current process of site acquisition is manual and slow, often taking over 24 months to deploy a new site. Sitenna’s suite of solutions provide the tools to reduce the time of deployment by as much as 75% whilst reducing the costs for all parties.
Making public assets available for wireless networks helps local authorities better serve the digital connectivity needs of local businesses and residents, boosting economic activity, driving digital participation, and supporting the Covid recovery. It also generates incremental income for the local councils. In addition, removing mobile coverage black-spots promotes public safety.
Sitenna’s participation in the DCIA programme builds on the success of its initial launch in the UK market in June 2021, involving 65,000 sites provided by public as well as private landlords. Sitenna works with landlords to undertake rigorous analysis of the sites prior to listing, ensuring wide supply of premium assets to industry, and expects to triage over 1 million assets in the UK during the next 12 months.
Daniel Campion, CEO of Sitenna, says: “We welcome the DCIA programme and the support that it provides to local authorities across the UK to promote the efficient delivery of next generation wireless networks. We are excited to work with our forward-thinking partners Infralink Exchange, North of Tyne, the West of England Combined Authority and with West Midlands 5G to grasp this opportunity and continue to offer premium site options on our platform to the industry”.
Rhys Enfield, Director of Infrastructure at WM5G, says: “It’s always exciting to see two leading technology companies from the West Midlands combining their skills and experience to drive innovation in the region. The programme reinforces the West Midlands as the ideal place for future investment where new technologies can be trialled, tested and developed to further opportunities for the digital economy, and showcase the benefits 5G brings to the region and wider”.
West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “The West of England Combined Authority which I lead will now accelerate the roll-out of wireless networks so more people can get online more easily. This should especially help people living and working in our more rural communities. At the moment some of the most beautiful places to live are let down by poor access to the online world which is vital for success today. This is a great step forward to fix this”.
Henry Kippin, Managing Director at the North of Tyne Combined Authority, says: “We are looking forward to working with Sitenna to bring next generation connectivity to the North East. This DCMS investment is important recognition of our drive to improve digital connectivity for businesses, residents and communities in the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA). Working with our Partners we are building the collaboration that will keep the region at the forefront of 5g and digital innovation. It will add to our own £20m+ investment in ‘NTCA Digital’ – direct investment into the tech-ecosystem here which is driving digital innovation, growth, talent pipeline and inward investment”.
Sarah Eynon, associate director at the Scottish Futures Trust and Infralink project director, says: “Tay Cities participation in the DCIA project is a key step in the realisation of Scottish Government’s digital connectivity objectives, and we look forward to work closely with Sitenna to drive the mobile network deployment in region, and to establish best practices that can be implemented across Scotland”.
