UK5G appoints new North East digital leader

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Patrick Melia, Chief Executive at Sunderland City Council, has joined a national network of experts as he is appointed to the UK5G Advisory Board.

Patrick Melia, Chief Executive at Sunderland City Council, has joined a national network of experts as he is appointed to the UK5G Advisory Board.
(Image credit: Patrick Melia.)

Sunderland, in the UK, has become one of the nation’s most forward-thinking cities when it comes to 5G use cases, having already set up a 20-year tender (worth an estimated £70-80 million),  as part of its plan to establish a 5G Neutral Host service, allowing telecoms operators to buy capacity so they can offer their own services.

Elsewhere, a Sunderland-based project, worth £4.9m, was recently announced between Vantec, at the Nissan test track in Sunderland, and Nokia. The scheme, which focuses on last-mile logistics, will enable the automation of a 40-tonne heavy goods vehicle (HGV).

And these are just two examples of why Patrick Melia, Chief Executive at Sunderland City Council, has been appointed to the UK5G  senior national advisory board, which provides expertise and feedback on how 5G can be used in the UK, including in the UK Government’s 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme.

"I hope to bring the experience I’ve gained in my home city of Sunderland to the UK5G Advisory Board, to extend the opportunities that technology can bring to benefit people and places."

Patrick Melia, Sunderland City Council.

“Working closely with partners across public and private sectors brings huge opportunities to towns and cities,” said Patrick Melia, chief executive at Sunderland City Council. “I am passionate about using technology and infrastructure to benefit the lives of all in society, and I hope to bring the experience I’ve gained in my home city of Sunderland to the UK5G Advisory Board, to extend the opportunities that technology can bring to benefit people and places across the UK."

Working alongside leading proponents of 5G

Melia will join representatives from organisations such as BAM Nuttall, BT Sport, Ericsson, Vodafone UK, Amazon, Network Rail, and many more.

“We were specifically looking for members to join the board in the final year of DCMS’ 5G Testbed & Trials programme who could provide guidance and advice from the demand side of the 5G ecosystem,” explained Bob Driver, head of UK5G. “In particular we were keen to welcome individuals who not only represented key vertical sectors, but also places. Patrick was therefore a great fit and we’re excited to have him bring his insights and perspectives to the board.”



Dan Oliver
Dan Oliver

Dan is a British journalist with 20 years of experience in the design and tech sectors, producing content for the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Dell and The Sunday Times. In 2012 he helped launch the world's number one design blog, Creative Bloq. Dan is now editor-in-chief at 5Gradar, where he oversees news, insight and reviews, providing an invaluable resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the key issues facing 5G.