Ambition North Wales 4G+ Industry Grant Scheme - EOI

Eligibility Criteria Applications will be assessed against the criteria below. Their order does not reflect priority; however, value for money and project deliverability are weighted most heavily.Feedback will be provided to all unsuccessful applicants, though decisions cannot be appealed. Applicants may reapply in future rounds, subject to the Scheme’s continuation.

• Applicant Eligibility The Scheme is intended for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), neutral hosts, and infrastructure providers, but is open to any organisation capable of delivering a compliant project. High‑risk vendors, as defined by the National Cyber Security Centre, are not eligible, nor are Russian or Belarusian organisations.Collaborative bids are permitted but must have a single lead applicant able to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement (GFA). Each collaborating organisation must be named, with clear roles explained, and a legally robust collaboration agreement must be in place (meeting Subsidy Control Act requirements). Outsourcing to suppliers does not constitute collaboration.Applicants must comply with Ofcom General Conditions or hold equivalent regulatory cover.

• Project Location Projects must be delivered within North Wales: Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, or Wrexham. Out‑of‑region investment may be supported only where essential to achieving project outcomes and must be clearly justified and costed.

•  New Activity Requirement Funding can support new initiatives only—not business‑as‑usual activity, pre‑committed expenditure, or work already started. Costs associated with existing assets may be included if required for project delivery.

• Finance and Match Funding Grants may cover up to 65% of eligible capital costs, with applicants providing at least 35% match funding and cash‑flowing all delivery costs (grants are paid in arrears). Projects offering higher financial commitment score more strongly.

• Financial Viability Applicants must demonstrate financial robustness using the previous three years' accounts plus current management accounts. Parent company viability may also be assessed.

• Eligible Expenditure Only capital costs are eligible. Revenue expenditure cannot be supported. Eligible costs include:Infrastructure (columns, fibre, power connections, radio equipment)Necessary ancillary items (e.g., cabinets)Design, installation, and project managementCosts must be categorised as:Equipment & suppliesLabour for project delivery (internal or procured)

• Procurement Requirements All procurement must follow Ambition North Wales Procurement Principles. Contracts exceeding £50,000 require a Summary Evaluation Report covering: description of goods/services, procurement process, evaluation summary, and award rationale. All documentation must be retained for audit.

• Strategic Fit Projects are assessed on how well they align with Scheme priorities:Increasing 4G+ service in underserved areasEnhancing readiness for sub‑6GHz 5GMaximising local economic benefit (including supplier location and user impact)Higher-scoring applications will deliver strong improvements in coverage, future‑proofing, and economic contribution.

• Mandatory Outcomes All supported projects must deliver:Measurable increases in 4G/5G coverage and performance without reducing service elsewhereJob creation in North WalesReduced carbon emissionsSocial value, representing 15% of total scoringOutcomes must be evidenced by deadlines specified in the GFA and achieved by March 2036.

• Additional Outcomes Applicants may propose optional outcomes such as biodiversity benefits. Strong additional contributions will increase scoring. These must also be achieved by March 2036.

• Value for Money Assessment will consider the relationship between:Number of additional users gaining improved coverageGrant requestedApplicants must define performance improvements (e.g., coverage, bandwidth, latency) and forecast user benefits.

• Project Deliverability Applicants must show strong planning, technical viability, and access to skilled personnel. A risk register with mitigations is required. Experience delivering similar projects improves scoring.

• Project Timescales All projects must be completed by January 2030, with grant payments finalised by March 2030. A detailed delivery plan with milestones is mandatory.

• Technology The Scheme is technology‑agnostic but favours proven, future‑proof solutions. Installations must operate effectively until March 2036. Replacement or upgrade costs before that date are the applicant’s responsibility.

• Subsidy Control Compliance Grants constitute subsidies under the Subsidy Control Act and will be published on the national subsidy database where required. The grant amount must be the minimum necessary, with applicants providing clear, evidenced calculations (e.g., ROI) to justify the request. Grants are capped at the lower of:The maximum agreed and stated in the GFAThe eligible expenditure share based on actual costsNo organisation may receive more than £1 million per funding round.

• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Applicants must actively promote EDI and avoid discrimination.

• Due Diligence All applications undergo due diligence using the government Spotlight tool and internal risk assessment processes.

• Privacy and Confidentiality Personal and business data will be stored securely and processed in line with Ambition North Wales’s Privacy Notice.*Further information can be found in Grant Scheme Guidance

• To improve 4G and 5G mobile coverage and capacity in underserved Total Not Spot (TNS) and Partial Not Spot (PNS) locations across North Wales.To address the commercial viability gap that prevents market‑led investment in these areas.

• To provide targeted public subsidies that incentivise Mobile Network Operators, neutral hosts and infrastructure providers to deploy and upgrade mobile infrastructure.

• To support delivery of mobile infrastructure that enhances connectivity for residents, businesses and public services.

• To complement the Public Sector Asset Improvement Scheme by encouraging coordinated investment and use of upgraded public assets through non‑exclusive Open Access Agreements.

• To contribute to long‑term economic growth, digital inclusion and improved resilience of mobile networks in North Wales.

The Scheme will operate in a series of funding rounds, with each round running over a period of 6-12 months.  

Each funding round involves an expression of interest (EOI) phase and an application phase.  There is a 4-week window for submitting EOIs followed by an assessment period during which applicants whose EOIs are approved will be invited to submit an application.  The total elapsed time from the date when the EOI window opens to the date when applicants are notified of the outcome will be 10-12 weeks for each round. 

The application phase in each funding round commences when applicants whose EOIs are approved have been notified and invited to submit an application.  There is a 4-week window for submitting applications after which all applications will be assessed, and decisions will be made on which applications will be offered a grant. 

Ambition North Wales cannot accept an application unless an EOI for the same project has been submitted by the same applicant and approved within that round.  There is no appeals process at either the EOI stage or the application stage, but detailed feedback will be offered to unsuccessful applicants, and further EOIs are welcomed from unsuccessful applicants in subsequent funding rounds.

The application process involves two stages: 

Expression of Interest (EOI) 

Where applicants outline the project plan, benefits and readiness to move into delivery. 

Full Application 

Where invited applicants will submit quotes, evidence and cost detail and timelines. 

If invited to full Application, organisations will be expected to follow Ambition North Wales Procurement Principles