Virgin Media O2 Business (VMO2) and the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR) have launched a 5G private network trial at Overbury Farms, located on the border between Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in England.
This groundbreaking initiative aims to demonstrate 5G’s transformative impact on modern agriculture, particularly efficiency, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability across the 1,600-hectare award-winning estate.
By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cameras, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and sensors, the trial seeks to establish the ‘farm of the future.’ This advanced system is designed to streamline operations, enhance environmental sustainability, and increase agricultural productivity.
As part of the UK government’s broader effort to utilize 5G’s potential in rural areas, the River Severn Catchment, where Overbury Farms is located, is one of the ten 5G Innovation Regions selected by the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology (DSIT) to receive funding amounting to £3.75 million.
Key Features of the Trial
The United Kingdom’s private network is projected to reach £528 million by 2030, and the trial represents a critical step towards harnessing the full potential of 5G technology.
The initiative will integrate AI-powered camera traps with real-time data for pest monitoring, enabling early intervention and reduced pesticide use. IoT water quality sensors will measure nitrate levels in local streams, improving fertilizer application and assisting in water level monitoring for livestock and racehorse troughs.
The trial will also include an advanced 5G-powered weather station collecting data on soil moisture, wind, speed, rainfall, and temperature to support farmers in planting and disease management decisions.
Discussing the testing of a variety of sensors gathering data over a private 5G network, Penelope Bossom, owner of Overbury Farms, commented, “The benefits of better information, warnings, and data collation will provide new opportunities for our sector, showing the value of advanced connectivity in the countryside.”
Andres Cruz Gordon, Private Networks Director at VMO2, emphasized, “Building on Virgin Media O2 Business’ expertise in deploying Private Networks, this new project with River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region is a great opportunity to demonstrate the possibilities that advanced connectivity can unlock. From AI-enabled insect traps to weather stations powered by sophisticated weather models, the applications explored at the farm will increase both safety and efficiency on site. This work will serve as an industry demonstration of how 5G can accelerate digital farming plans and benefit the UK economy.”
Commenting on the trial, Matt Smit, RSPAWIR Programme Manager, noted how the project drives a forward-thinking, environmentally conscious, and tech-curious local farm.
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