East Yorkshire rural broadband pioneer Quickline Communications will be showcasing the work that has seen it emerge at the forefront of 5G network development this week.

Ministers and industry specialists are gathering at a national event to celebrate success in the technology.

Progress made in government-led testbed programmes feature, with Quickline playing its part.

Read more: Quickline claims first 5G tech title as rural village milestone clocked up on 拢6.1m government contract

For the past two years the Hessle team has been leading a 拢6 million project to boost rural connectivity in North Yorkshire, England鈥檚 largest rural county.

Mobile Access North Yorkshire has also been testing how superfast connectivity can help boost tourism, tackle social isolation and act as an early warning system for flooding emergencies. Partners include North Yorkshire County Council, a number of specialist firms and the universities of York and Lancaster.

Ian Smith, Quickline鈥檚 new chief technology officer, has spent the last four years as programme director for the 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme in Whitehall. He is now responsible for Quickline鈥檚 5G strategy, including vendor selection, adoption and how the company鈥檚 services are deployed to customers.

He said: 鈥淭his is a great opportunity to hear directly from other 5G projects and fellow programmes involved in the DCMS testbeds around the country as well as to share what we have done as part of the 5G testbed in North Yorkshire.

Ian Smith, chief technology officer at Quickline Communications.
Ian Smith, chief technology officer at Quickline Communications.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be passing on what we鈥檝e found and implemented, reflecting on our learnings and what this means for 5G as a whole. We will also be looking at how we can implement further innovation to reach even more customers that have been left behind in the digital rollout.鈥

The 海角视频 5G Showcase is fully supported by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and will feature over 30 5G projects around the 海角视频. It takes place at The East Side Rooms in Birmingham on Tuesday and Wednesday.

It comes during a busy month for broadband on the homefront too.

MS3, a wholesale-only fibre network provider has agreed a long-term partnership with city-based Pure Broadband while also welcoming a new internet service provider, Hull Fibre, bringing more choice to the city.

The company, which like Quickline saw major investment this past year, is seeing more than 1,000 homes in Hull being provided with access to the network footprint each week in 2022, as it rapidly rolls out an expansion of its underground fibre.

David Mitchell, director at Hull Fibre, said: 鈥淗aving come from 27 years in the communications industry, we are extremely excited to be working alongside MS3 to finally give the people of Hull some choice when it comes to their broadband.鈥

Tony Jopling, , said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e delighted to be working with MS3 Networks to give more households across Hull a choice.

鈥淚ncreased competition leads to better prices and service for customers, so Pure Broadband鈥檚 partnership with MS3鈥檚 is brilliant news for local residents.鈥

Guy Miller, chief executive of MS3, welcomed both.

Of Pure, he said: 鈥淭hey are a great, well-respected ISP in the area and we know that by working together there will be significant benefits for people in these communities, particularly at a time when other household bills are increasing rapidly.鈥

Turning to Hull Fibre, Mr Miller added: 鈥淚it is an exciting collaboration, and we look forward to working together to bring huge benefits to the residents of Hull as our relationship grows.

鈥淚t is always encouraging to see new entrants wanting to enter a market, recognising the need and desire of local residents for choice.鈥

Alongside incumbent KCom, Connexin is also adding a network in the city.