Government visit to Dorset to view 5G trials

From left to right: David Pedley – DCMS Technical Design Authority, Charlie Smurthwaite – Wessex Internet Head of Technology, Matt Dray – Wessex Internet Technical Development Specialist, Andrew Tinsley – PfCO Pilot Hummingbird Technologies, Alan Srbljanin – DCMS Portfolio Manager, June Best – DCMS Project Manager, Colin Wood – 5G RuralDorset Programme Manager, Tim Robertson – 5G RuralDorset Project Manager, Gary Littledyke - 5G RuralDorset Project Manager, Hector Gibson Fleming – Wessex Internet Managing Director

The DCMS (Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) project management team from the 5G Testbeds and trials programme came to visit Wessex Internet on 26th August 2021. A trip to the Kingston Maurward mast site was first up on the agenda. This dairy farm in the heart of the Dorset countryside is one of four locations included in the agriculture and aquaculture 5G trials.

The team saw a demonstration of the CattleEye software platform. Using a camera mounted in the dairy parlour and AI, the technology is able to both identify cattle and give them a health score. David Cotterell, Kingston Maurward Farm Manager, then went on to discuss the benefits of this technology for the farm and college before showing the team some of the other sensors dotted around the site.

Next up was Ranston, the home of Wessex Internet. Hector Gibson Fleming gave an introduction to the trials and explained the opportunities that 5G can offer the farming community. An overview of the software and sensors was given to help understand how 5G can be used to address specific challenges in food production agriculture. Whilst on site the team visited the 5G data centre and the two masts to see the equipment in action.

A quick flight from the 5G connected drone, showing the next generation technology out in the field, ended the day.