Strategic Partner for the Sunderland Smart City 5G Neutral Host

Descriptions

Sunderland City Council (SCC) is seeking a private sector partner (PSP) to co-invest in and form a Joint Venture (JV) to design, build and operate a 5G Neutral Host across the SCC boundary area and adjacent areas. The contract term will be for a period of 20 years. The PSP/JV will be required to recruit customers including Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to use the Neutral Host and stimulate demand for the use cases and their development. A range of street and network assets will be made available by SCC to the JV to deliver the scheme. SCC provides free public Wi-Fi in certain areas of the City Centre and Roker as well as a series of road sensors. SCC will require the JV to continue to provide and enhance this service. SCC will be able to buy back data services from the JV during the contract term and there will be opportunities for the JV to offer the provision of private networks to industry, 3rd parties and SCC. Continues in II.2.4 below.