We’re excited to launch our latest case study exploring how we partnered with Dense Air and West Sussex County Council to deliver a community-first mobile app for Worthing. This project wasn’t just about building a product—it was about enabling a new model for scalable, sustainable infrastructure.
Supporting Smarter Infrastructure, From the Ground Up
Worthing is one of many UK towns experiencing fluctuating mobile demand. In the summer, it’s a thriving seaside destination. During the off-season, it returns to a quieter pace. These seasonal shifts put real strain on the town’s mobile infrastructure—leading to connectivity gaps that affect residents, businesses, and visitors.
The BEACH Project (Bandwidth-Efficient Access for Clustered High-demand) was launched to tackle this challenge. Backed by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), it set out to trial shared, energy-efficient 4G/5G infrastructure in high-demand areas.
But to get the data needed to shape smarter deployments, the consortium needed a solution that combined real user value with anonymised, consent-led data collection. That’s where Sonin came in.
A Dual-Purpose App with Real-World Impact
We worked with Dense Air and West Sussex County Council to deliver My Worthing: a mobile app that gives residents and visitors access to local events, services, and businesses while running lightweight, low-impact signal strength mapping in the background (with full user opt-in).
The result? A dual-purpose solution that:
- Engaged the public with a genuinely useful experience
- Supported researchers with real-world mobile data
- Informed the rollout of energy-efficient small cells across Worthing
With over 2,000 downloads in the initial rollout and 15+ small cells deployed in high-traffic areas, the platform is already having a tangible impact. And as part of the broader Open Network Ecosystem (ONE) programme, this model is now being explored for replication in towns and cities across the UK.
A Model for Future Collaboration
This project shows what’s possible when local government, national institutions, and private-sector innovation come together with a shared goal. By focusing on people-first technology and scalable infrastructure, the BEACH Project has created a blueprint for smarter, more sustainable connectivity.
And we’re proud that the platform we built is at the heart of it.
Want to explore a similar collaboration? Let’s talk.