Ambition North Wales 4G+ Public Sector Asset Improvement Grant Scheme - EOI
Ambition North Wales
Award
Up to £132.5k
Total fund Up to £795.5k
Deadline
Closes 30 June 2029
Where
Wales
Summary
The 4G+ Public Sector Asset Improvement Grant Scheme helps public sector organisations upgrade or replace existing assets so they can support 4G and 5G mobile infrastructure. This can include improving lighting columns, power supplies, access, structures, or fibre and ducting. Once upgraded, assets must be made available to mobile operators on a non‑exclusive, open access basis. Grants may fund up to 100% of eligible capital costs. However, grant payments are made in arrears. Applicants must therefore be able to cashflow project delivery and provide evidence of financial capacity to do so.
Who can apply
This scheme is open to public sector organisations that own, operate or manage eligible assets in North Wales and can enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with Ambition North Wales. Eligible applicants include (but are not limited to) local authorities, national park authorities, health bodies, emergency services, further and higher education institutions, and other public sector bodies. Projects must be located within North Wales (Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire or Wrexham). Limited out-of-region expenditure may be eligible where it is essential to delivering the project’s regional objectives. Applications are assessed on readiness, deliverability, impact, open access obligations, and value for money. Projects must show operator commitment; eligible capital spend and compliance with all scheme requirements. The Scheme is designed to enable new projects that cannot be undertaken without grant support. Projects must be deliverable within the agreed timescales (by January 2030) and demonstrate value for money, sustainability, and compliance with subsidy control and equality requirements. *Further information can be found in Grant Scheme Guidance
Full details
The 4G+ Public Sector Asset Improvement Grant Scheme provides targeted capital grants to public sector organisations to upgrade or replace existing assets so that 4G+ (4G, 5G non-standalone and 5G standalone) technology can be deployed on them. Eligible works may include (but are not limited to) replacing outdated lighting columns, installing or upgrading power supplies, installing fibre backhaul or ducting, improving access to structures, or reinforcing structures to accommodate telecommunications equipment. Once upgraded, assets supported by this Scheme must be made available to commercial operators through non-exclusive Open Access Agreements (or equivalent non-discriminatory access arrangements). This Scheme complements the 4G+ Industry Grant Scheme detailed below by enabling the “host” infrastructure needed for deployment and by reducing barriers associated with asset suitability, power and backhaul availability. The 4G+ Industry Grant scheme is designed to provide targeted subsidies to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), neutral hosts and infrastructure providers for the deployment and upgrading of 4G and 5G mobile infrastructure in underserved Total Not Spot (TNS) and Partial Not Spot (PNS) locations in North Wales. The 4G+ Public Sector Asset Improvement Scheme applicants are encouraged to engage with the mobile network industry to coordinate activities at sites where investment could be available through both schemes.