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
Print This Story
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
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
01/05/2026
January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...
01/04/2026
January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION
Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
28/01/2026
28 01 2026 - Media release Screen Australia refreshes Market & Audience approach...
28/01/2026
Boston Conservatory Orchestra Premieres a New Piano Concerto by Peter and Leonar...
27/01/2026
Click for Japanese version
Tokyo, Japan - January 27, 2026 - Akamai Technolo...
27/01/2026
L-R: Jonathan Cuchacovich, Sonia Kennebeck, Alan Fischer, Daeil Kim, Andrew Sta...
27/01/2026
Today, Spotify is proud to support our partner Backline, an industry-leading men...
27/01/2026
With nearly 29 million monthly listeners and clear momentum on Spotify, Net n Ve...
27/01/2026
January 14, 2026
We are proud to share that 25 Ontario, First Gulf's commercial project located just two minutes from our head office, has been recognized ...
27/01/2026
January 22, 2026
First Gulf is excited to share that a full-building lease has been secured at 625 Bronte Rd in Oakville, part of Bronte Station Business Park,...
27/01/2026
January 23, 2026
First Gulf continues to demonstrate its commitment to high-performance, sustainable real estate with 351 King Street East achieving BOMA BEST ...
27/01/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
27/01/2026
Nielsen will continue to drive growth and provide local audience measurement
in...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Amagi Media Labs Limited, the only cloud-native SaaS provider offering end-to-end solutions across live production, content preparation, distribution, and monet...
27/01/2026
Miri Technologies Inc. today unveiled its V410 live 4K video encoder/decoder for streaming, IP-based production workflows and AV-over-IP distribution. Designed ...
27/01/2026
The Paul E. Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell in Massachusetts has chosen Ikegami cameras for incorporation into its broadcast-quality television production facili...
27/01/2026
SipRadius, specialists in secure, low latency media transport, will show the pro AV community its end-to-end solution for high quality content distribution and ...
27/01/2026
Hiltron will highlight the fruits of its 45-plus years of experience in satellite communications system integration and product development at the annual GovSat...
27/01/2026
Klvr will demonstrate how its Charger Pro solution is delivering cost reduction and performance benefits for live entertainment and pro AV markets at ISE 2026 (...
27/01/2026
Amino, a global media technology leader in enterprise video and digital signage, today announced that its Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 booth (4N700) wil...
27/01/2026
ANI, India's leading news agency and a major content provider across the Asia Pacific region, today announced a significant expansion of its long standing p...
27/01/2026
Independent analysis confirms faster encoding, lower CPU usage, and improved perceptual quality compared to CBR and CRF
VisualOn, a leader in multimedia playba...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
27/01/2026
New agreement for uninterrupted UHF connectivity for Australian Defence Force through 2033, With Options Extending to 2041
Luxembourg, January 13, 2026 - Satel...
27/01/2026
Tuesday 27 January 2026
SNL UK creative team expands as Pauli Lovejoy, Annie Ha...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
When It Feels Real, Is It Still a Lie? The Art of Sarah' ...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
That Night premiering on Netflix March 13
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
DOWNLOAD THE KEY ART
DOWNLO...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Netflix Revealed the Future of Mexican Stories Coming in 2026
Entertainment
27 January 2026
GlobalMexico
Link copied to clipboard
Among t...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
Four New Japan Titles Announced for 2026: Viral Hit', On...
27/01/2026
Back to All News
What's Next on Netflix from Japan: Expanding the Possibili...
27/01/2026
AI, graphics and virtual software power new production capabilities...
27/01/2026
RT Supporting the Arts is delighted to support a dynamic programme of cultural events taking place across Ireland this February. From visual art, film, music, ...
26/01/2026
Music videos play a huge part in how fans connect with their favorite songs, but...
26/01/2026
NAIDOC launches 2026 theme 50 Years of Deadly , marks major milestone
25 January, 2026
Media releases
The National NAIDOC Committee has today unveiled its...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
26/01/2026
Share Share by:
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Pinterest
Bluesky
Email...
Game on: Inside the 5G trials for enhanced sports broadcasting for fans by the ONE4HDD consortium By Joe OHalloran 
