The DONE (Dorset Open Network Ecosystem) Project

Most UK mobile phone network operators currently use equipment provided by only a small number of suppliers.

The number of suppliers has reduced even further after the government removed some manufacturers equipment amid security concerns.

This reduced choice for operators and equipment is likely to drive up costs, making the improvement of connectivity in rural areas even more difficult and expensive.

The possible solutions

The government wants to see a wider choice of equipment across open networks supplied by different manufacturers.

This would have the potential to lower costs, encourage innovation and may make it easier for operators to bring coverage to areas that mobile network operators see as too difficult or expensive.

Getting things DONE

Running until March 2025, the DONE project will carry out advanced research and development into how cutting-edge technology can transform the roll-out of mobile networks in rural areas. It will examine how alternative equipment can provide enhanced performance and power savings. Working with a wider range of suppliers could also make the UK’s telecoms networks more secure, competitive and resilient. The project will also support innovators that want to develop, prototype and test their own ideas.

It is hoped this research will make the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure in remote and hard to reach areas cheaper, faster and more environmentally friendly.

Benefits

The benefits in doing this include:

• enhanced cyber threat detection and analysis
• improved power consumption through more cost effective and environmentally friendly equipment, helping rural areas on the path to Net Zero
• supporting innovation development in the UK
• increasing choice and competition in the mobile telecoms industry amongst equipment manufacturers
• speeding up connectivity rollout in hard to reach areas and providing cost savings
• real world testing with use cases that make a difference to customers