OpenAsset Loc8tor will create a platform that will collate, index and visualise all available public sector asset data, market them to mobile network operators and, automate the site acquisition process. This will help accelerate commercial investment and help improve coverage in poorly served areas.
OpenAsset Loc8tor brings together neutral host Freshwave, software provider Metricell, and West Sussex County Council local authority partners Adur and Worthing Councils, Arun District Council, Chichester District Council, Crawley Borough Council, Horsham District Council and Mid-Sussex District Council.
The project is part of the Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator (DCIA), a government initiative which allowed local authorities to bid for funding to develop and implement digital asset management solutions.
West Sussex County Council was chosen as one of eight pilots nationwide to develop and trial the digital asset management platform, which aims to assist local authorities and the mobile telecommunications market in working alongside one another, in order to make public sector assets more readily available.
Tom Staniland, managing director, Metricell, said, “We are delighted to be involved with the new digital asset management platform pilot. Working alongside West Sussex County Council on this digital innovation is not only exciting, but really important to us and our core ethos of being better connected within our local communities.”
The project go-ahead and £498k funding has been provided by DCMS, with the project scheduled to run from February 2022 to March 2023.