Game on: Inside the 5G trials for enhanced sports broadcasting for fans by the ONE4HDD consortium By Joe OHalloran Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 09:11
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Stade Orange V lodrome in Marselle being prepared for 2024 Six Nations opening match between France and Ireland in February
As exemplified by the second half strength of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium and the panache and power of France in dismantling Wales in Paris, Six Nations Rugby is very much back right now. Back on the field and also the screen in more compelling form than ever for those not only watching on home but also, thanks to 5G infrastructures, within and around stadiums with tens of thousands of fans.
In fact, the power of 5G in rugby, and in sports in general, was highlighted very clearly by the ONE4HDD consortium at the end of 2024 to boost the fan experience at the final game of the Autumn Nations Series at Twickenham on 24 November between England and Japan and at the UK Superbikes final at Brands Hatch from 11-13 October.
Essentially, the ONE4HDD project has the stated aim of optimising mobile network performance in high demand density environments. It claims to a propose a novel' 5G-based solution to optimise mobile network performance in high demand density (HDD) environments such as music festivals, sporting events and major public gatherings.
At the heart of the solution designed by ONE4HDD is what is described as a mobile cell on wheels (CoW) - featuring a fully UK-built 5G network - equipped with Open radio access network (RAN) technology and advanced codecs to ensure high-quality data transmission even in the busiest environments.
It is said to be capable of serving hundreds of users simultaneously in order to offer reliable connectivity in crowded venues, with the net result of enhanced user experience and fostering technological innovation. The project will also look to explore the provision of services such as over-the-top (OTT) video, social media, emergency broadcasts and standard telephony across the UK.
The consortium behind the project comprises UK companies across key sectors including mobile network optimisation, broadcast services, video compression and content delivery, cellular radio technologies and cybersecurity. This includes Digital TV Group, Virgin Media O2, Ateme, Imaginary Pictures and the University of Surrey. The £2.64 million project has already received £1.47 million from the UK's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) as part of its Open Network Ecosystems competition, an £88 million research and development connectivity programme to futureproof UK mobile networks.
Open RAN technology
Research and competence in the domain of cybersecurity is regarded as a priority, with measures to ensure robust protection against potential threats so that the solution will not only enhance mobile network performance, but also ensure user data privacy and security.
One of the key current aims of the project has been to demonstrated will showcase the technical capabilities of Open RAN technology - seen by the communications industry and the UK government as an essential part of tomorrow's mobile networks through broader and less risky essential equipment supply chains - as well as live demonstrations of advanced use cases and through live, technical presentations, and collaboration with partners to advance industry learning and, hopes ONE4HDD, foster innovation.
The demonstration at the UK Superbikes final built on the progress of previous showcases and featured the rapid deployment and high-performance capabilities of a fully UK-built 5G mobile network. The ONE4HDD consortium said it was able to fully deploy the CoW with a complete 5G broadcast network in UHF spectrum, in under 30 minutes with the rapid setup enabling high bandwidth 5G data capacity in a densely populated live event at the iconic racecourse.
The 5G Broadcast network was supported by a custom-built mobile app used by fans to access live race footage when the bikes were out of sight, track real time stats and running orders, and watch interviews during event breaks. It also demonstrated the integration of MPEG-H interactive audio into the 5G broadcast application to give fans access to a customisable viewing experience through supplementary audio options, such as multi-language commentary, personalised audio settings and enhanced dialogue for greater accessibility.
Genuine customer satisfaction
ONE4HDD was keen to emphasise that its work was not just a technological success on behalf of its stakeholder, but that it also generated genuine customer satisfaction. It noted that during the event, an independent consumer panel tested the 5G broadcast application and that feedback was overwhelmingly positive , with participants praising the app for keeping them close to the action even when the bikes were out of sight.
Customer experience testing from the day is also said to have revealed that existing mobile networks struggled to cope with demand, while the ONE4HDD network delivered a seamless experience for fans. Participants praised the service's ability to enhance race visibility and engagement with users finding the app intuitive, seamlessly complementing their live viewing experience when providing access to out-of-sight areas of the track and additional race data. Interestingly, audio commentary was highlighted for adding clarity to the action, with many triallists expressing a willingness to pay for the service as part of an upgraded ticket package.
Clearly enthused, the ONE4HDD consortium said the positive response at Superbikes pointed to clear commercial potential for wider adoption across motorsport and other live events. It added that what it said was the system's success in managing the intense demand for mobile data, which was said to have outstripped the venu
