Vertical: Healthcare, Education
Application: Remote patient monitoring, GP consultations, telecare, wound management, anxiety management apps, educational connectivity, care home monitoring, fall prevention
Ecosystem: BluWireless Technology, Telet Research, Docobo, MySense, CGA Simulation, Vitalerter
Private Network: 5G
The Liverpool 5G Create project demonstrated that private 5G networks can serve as the backbone for comprehensive public services across health, social care, and education. This £7.15 million DCMS-funded initiative, built from September 2020 to September 2022, created the largest 5G Stand Alone network at street level in Europe while proving public sector organizations can own and operate their own wireless infrastructure.
The network architecture combines multiple technologies into what the project calls a “network of networks.” The deployment made use of compact 5G SA Small Cell base-stations on street furniture, 60 GHz mmWave back-haul with static mesh paths, private fiber backhaul, and a hybrid 4G/5G Open Source 5G Core. The network provided coverage from 56 active small cells within Kensington and Fairfield, with 101 intermediate mmWave sites on lamp-posts.
Health and social care applications formed the deployment’s core. The MySense system uses AI to monitor nutrition, hydration, independence, and activity via IoT sensors around the home, alerting support networks to changes in behavior. Care homes saw particularly strong results with Vitalerter, a sensor for care home beds that monitors vital signs and notifies staff when residents are about to get out of bed. During monitoring there was a 112% increase in the number of falls, but a 100% reduction in the number of residents hospitalized due to falls.
Educational connectivity addressed digital poverty directly. The project provided free 5G connection to Phoenix Primary School, connecting 49% of pupils previously identified as not being connected, enabling them to access education from home. Students used the Chill Panda anti-anxiety game on Chromebooks provided by Liverpool City Council.
Cost savings emerged across multiple sectors. The Liverpool CCG 5G Wan Pilot for NHS sites reduced connectivity costs by £2,026 per surgery annually. Applied to 86 surgeries in Liverpool, this could save the NHS £174,236 annually. The network eliminated connectivity charges for users, as Liverpool 5G bear the costs of deployment and maintenance – residents will not incur any usage costs.
Technical performance validated the standalone approach. The NHS pilot showed the Liverpool 5G network had increased speed and reliability, with less jitter, lower latency, and lower round-trip time. The network delivered latency below 10ms between end user devices and the Liverpool-based data-center.
The project spurred broader technology development, with 80% of products showing increased TRL levels and 60% reaching their target levels. The initiative attracted additional investment totaling £1,530,232 in R&D spending and £950,000 in third party investment.
