AWTG is proud to be at the forefront of digital infrastructure innovation in the UK, with four major projects now shortlisted in various categories at the Connected Britain Awards 2025. In each case, AWTG plays a critical role as key technology provider, delivery partner, or consortium lead highlighting our technical expertise, innovation, and commitment to building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable connectivity.
Borderlands 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) Programme — Access Innovation Award
As Key Technology Provider and Delivery Partner, AWTG helped deliver the Borderlands 5GIR programme, extending high-performance 5G access to remote and tourism-rich areas often underserved in traditional rollouts. Deployments include smart ferry systems, trail monitoring, environmental data collection, and harbour operations, demonstrating how private 5G networks plus edge technologies and local collaboration can unlock real benefits.
CORE HDD (Cambridgeshire Open RAN Ecosystem) — Smart Places Award
Under the CORE HDD consortium, AWTG serves as Technical Lead Partner. The project addresses challenges of urban density and high demand in Cambridgeshire, using Open RAN, AI-powered systems, and smart infrastructure (like poles and streetlight networks) to enhance public services, traffic and air quality monitoring, and connectivity for businesses and schools. This is a strong example of how intelligent connectivity can transform communities.
England’s Connected Heartland (ECH) — Industrial Innovation Award
AWTG is Key Technology Provider and Delivery Partner for this project that seeks to revolutionise connectivity along transport corridors, especially where rural environment and high-speed settings intersect. ECH includes full 5G coverage along the Bicester-Bletchley railway, delivering high throughput and lower latency even during high-speed travel. The project also emphasizes modular small cell infrastructure, energy efficiency, and rural inclusion.
SCONDA (Small Cells ORAN in Dense Areas) — Sustainability Award & Barrier Removal Award
As Consortium Lead Partner on SCONDA, AWTG is being recognised in two categories: Sustainability and Barrier Removal. SCONDA delivered the first Open RAN system integrated into a live MNO brownfield network in central Glasgow. The work breaks down technical, regulatory, and infrastructural barriers in dense urban environments while embedding sustainability in deployment and operations.
AWTG’s leadership across these four shortlisted initiatives demonstrates our ability not only to design and deliver advanced connectivity solutions but to do so in collaboration with public sector bodies, councils, and technology partners in ways that are inclusive, sustainable, and impactful.
We warmly invite you to come see us at Connected Britain 2025, taking place on 24-25 September at ExCeL London. AWTG is a major sponsor and will be at Stand 113, where we’ll be sharing more about these projects, our approach to innovation, and what’s next in enterprise communication and smart networks.