Overbury Enterprises welcomed stakeholders from across the agricultural, academic, and private sectors to its Agri-Tech Open Day, unveiling the transformative potential of its new private 5G network.
The event, hosted in collaboration with the River Severn Partnership Advanced Wireless Innovation Region (RSPAWIR), highlighted how cutting-edge connectivity is revolutionising rural enterprise.
In an area plagued by unreliable mobile coverage, Overbury’s Enterprises and VMO2’s deployment of a private 5G network marks a pivotal shift.
Overbury Farms, a 1,600 hectare award-winning estate on the Gloucestershire/ Worcestershire border, has long been a leader in digital farming, utilising connected tractors, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled weather stations, and real-time data analytics.
The farm is now serving as the ultimate testbed for the portable 5G private network, covering a 1-kilometre trial area to unlock advanced applications for farming, driving the future of agriculture.
Penelope Bossom, managing partner of Overbury Enterprises, said: “It is hugely frustrating in a rural area not having good mobile connectivity and gradually the signal has become more intermittent.
“Everybody has got their own needs and I don't think as a rural business community we've really shown what our connectivity requirements are, whether for safety, whether for any sort of communication, security, measuring things, taking photographs and getting real time results.”
At the heart of the innovation is a control room powered by the 5G network—described as the “linchpin” of Overbury’s operations. The network enables seamless data collection from a wide array of Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, including:
- Weather stations for hyper-local forecasting
- Pest identification systems to support precision agriculture
- Soil moisture probes to optimise irrigation
- River sensors monitoring nitrate levels and water chemistry
- Smart water troughs measuring water levels and consumption
This real-time data ecosystem empowers Overbury to make faster, smarter decisions, enhancing sustainability, productivity, and environmental stewardship.
Penelope added: “The private network we are demonstrating here assures us stable connectivity and allows us to streamline our operations, gives us access to accurate data remotely and helps keep our workforce safe.”
The agri-tech open day drew attendees from farms, NGOs, universities, and private enterprises, all eager to witness how Overbury is leveraging 5G to redefine rural innovation.
Matt Smith programme manager for the RSPAWIR, which is managed by Shropshire Council, added: “We're delighted that so many people have come along to have a look at the sensors that we have seen deployed on the farm, capturing a lot of data and being fed back through the private 5G network.
“Everybody who attended has got their own unique needs and we have demonstrated that by adopting wireless technology supported by a private network it is possible to meet them all.”
A video from the day can be found here.
Click here for more information about the RSPAWIR, VMO2 and Overbury’s pioneering work.