In today’s tourism landscape, seamless digital experiences are no longer a luxury; they are an expectation. From mobile ticketing and digital guides to immersive AR tours and real-time travel updates, visitors depend on fast, secure, and reliable connectivity throughout their journey.
For years, public Wi-Fi has served UK destinations well, providing convenient access for visitors and supporting essential digital services. It remains an important, cost-effective tool for everyday connectivity and for extending coverage in public areas. However, as destinations adopt more data-driven applications and interactive services, maintaining consistent performance and low latency across shared Wi-Fi networks can become challenging.
This is where private 5G networks come in, not to replace Wi-Fi but to enhance it. 5G brings high capacity, ultra-low latency, and secure, predictable performance, making it ideal for critical and high demand use cases. In a balanced architecture, Wi-Fi continues to support general access and non-critical applications, while 5G provides the foundation for intelligent infrastructure and advanced digital services.
At AWTG, we believe this complementary approach represents the future of connected destinations. Our vendor-agnostic private 5G solutions are built using a combination of 5G Standalone Core, Open RAN, and Traditional RAN products, allowing us to tailor deployments to each location’s unique needs. This flexibility ensures seamless integration, scalability, and full control for our clients.
Many of today’s tourism innovations depend on the capabilities that 5G introduces. AR-guided tours and 3D visual experiences rely on low latency for real-time rendering and responsiveness. Autonomous service vehicles and drones used for maintenance or inspections require ultra-reliable communication for safe operation. IoT sensors monitoring crowd flow, lighting, or environmental conditions generate continuous uplink data that must be transmitted securely and efficiently. Even real-time video analytics for security or visitor management demand consistent throughput and guaranteed data integrity. These are areas where 5G excels.
Our role as Key Technology and Delivery Partner in the Borderlands 5G Innovation Region (5GIR) shows how this works in practice. In partnership with local councils and regional stakeholders, AWTG has deployed private 5G networks to connect rural and heritage sites that were previously beyond the reach of high-capacity digital infrastructure. The result is not just faster connectivity but smarter, more resilient destinations that can host immersive digital experiences and optimise operations through real-time insights.
The rapid emergence of 5G-native IoT devices is now accelerating this transformation. As destinations deploy more sensors, cameras, and connected systems, the volume and velocity of data are increasing dramatically. Private 5G provides the high-capacity, real-time platform needed to manage this information and enable digital twins of tourist environments. These virtual models can simulate operations, forecast visitor patterns, and optimise resources. This evolution allows local authorities and operators to make faster, data-driven decisions and deliver richer, more adaptive visitor experiences.
As the UK continues to invest in digital infrastructure through programmes such as 5GIR and DSIT’s Smart Tourism initiatives, AWTG remains at the forefront of designing and delivering intelligent connectivity that enables smarter, safer, and more engaging destinations. With end-to-end private network solutions already in operation, AWTG is helping shape the future of tourism, where Wi-Fi and 5G work together to power the next era of connected visitor experiences.