NEWS
Istres partners with Ericsson, Spie and Unitel to launch Private 5G Network for enhanced urban connectivity
Private 5G networks are increasingly vital for cities aiming to enhance security and operational efficiency through mobile video surveillance and real-time data access. Istres is setting a new standard for resilient urban centres, embracing scalable solutions for public sector applications.
The project supports long-term objectives, including AI integration and smart city expansion, while contributing to sustainability goals such as reducing carbon emissions and decreasing energy consumption.
Ericsson has announced the successful deployment of a private 5G network in the City of Istres, located in the south of France, marking a significant advancement in European urban innovation.
Duncan Hawkins, VP EMEA, Enterprise 5G at Ericsson said,“ The City of Istres is emerging as a pioneer of urban resilience and innovation in Europe. By embracing digital transformation and recognising the limitations of traditional urban planning, Istres has turned to private 5G to deploy a scalable, non-intrusive communications network that supports next-generation public services.”
The collaboration, carried out in partnership with SPIE and Unitel, establishes Istres as one of the first mid-sized European cities to implement a sovereign private 5G infrastructure that supports critical communications, bolsters public safety and enables AI-powered urban solutions.
He added:“ As one of the first mid-sized European cities to adopt this approach, Istres is paving the way for the modernisation of public services and the financial optimisation of municipal operations, offering a valuable model for cities across Europe looking to build on this experience.”
Route 101 awarded contract by the Department for Work and Pensions to transform UK citizen services
Route 101 a leading cloud systems integrator, has announced in collaboration with NiCE, a major contract win with the Department for Work and Pensions( DWP) of the UK government.
This contract will see Route 101 and NiCE collaborate to enable the transformation of citizen experiences with the delivery of a UK-sovereign Citizen Experience Platform( CXP), powered by NiCE’ s CXone Mpower and hosted in a secure, UK-based cloud environment. This initiative will drive service innovation and ensure data sovereignty for one of Europe’ s largest contact centres.
The project will support DWP with the modernisation of its current contact centre operations, supporting over 40,000 agents and transforming both phone and digital services.
The platform has been designed to meet the UK Government’ s demand for sovereign cloud infrastructure, supporting national Digital Transformation ambitions. By partnering with NiCE, Route 101 will lead DWP through a strategic migration from its legacy onpremise infrastructure to a secure, UK-sovereign cloud platform. This transition will enable DWP to modernise its contact centre operations and ensure data sovereignty within a compliant, UKbased environment.
Russell Attwood, Chief Executive Officer, Route 101, said:“ Securing this contract as the primary partner to DWP marks a pivotal moment for Route 101. By combining our deep understanding of government needs with NiCE’ s advanced technology, we are committed to setting a new standard, operational efficiency and data sovereignty across the UK.”
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