Vertical: Broadcasting
Application: Real-time race data, broadcast media, fan experiences, point-of-sale transactions
Ecosystem: BT, Nokia, Ericsson, Sony,
Private Network: 5G
The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth marked a significant milestone in sports connectivity technology, as BT and Ericsson collaborated to deploy advanced 5G network infrastructure supporting the global sailing championship. This deployment represented the first time BT delivered multiple concurrent network slices at a single event, combining public 5G standalone capabilities with private network integration.
BT provided two dedicated network slices using its EE 5G standalone infrastructure, partnering with Nokia to enable end-to-end network slicing across radio mast sites spanning Portsmouth Harbor. The solution guaranteed steady network performance during the July 19-20 racing event, where 12 national teams competed on the waters of the Solent.
Warren Jones, chief technology officer at SailGP, says: “Bringing SailGP back to UK shores after three years is a major milestone, and delivering a world-class, tech-driven event is critical to the success of it. Partnering with BT has allowed us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports connectivity.”
The network architecture supported F50 catamarans racing at speeds up to 100 km/h, with each vessel equipped with Ericsson Cradlepoint edge routers connecting to the private 5G network. This setup enabled processing of more than 53 billion data points per race day, providing real-time telemetry, communications, and live video transmission from the racecourse.
Ericsson’s role as SailGP’s global technology partner extended beyond Portsmouth, providing private 5G networks across the entire world championship series. The private network infrastructure spans operational and event sites, including technical centers located up to 30 kilometers away from racing venues.
The network slicing technology enabled seamless roaming between public and private networks across all racing boats, while supporting point-of-sale connectivity within the SailGP Race Stadium. Media personnel gained the ability to upload high-resolution photos in real-time through Sony’s connected camera system, while broadcast production could transmit HD video to 212 countries using Sony’s 5G live capabilities.
Kerry Small, chief operating officer, Business at BT Group, says: “5G Standalone isn’t just about faster speeds – it’s about unlocking tailor-made capabilities that can transform customer experiences.”
A notable innovation was the introduction of a 360-degree AR/VR fan experience in the SailGP Fanzone, simulating the experience of being onboard an F50 catamaran. This immersive technology was powered by new higher capacity 5G radios tested in Portsmouth by BT and Ericsson, delivering ultra-low latency performance and gigabit capacity.
The deployment also supported race officials and umpires with live camera streaming capabilities, enabling more effective race protocol adjudication. The twelve national teams received real-time insights into competitor locations, tactics, and strategies through the comprehensive data network.
This Portsmouth deployment builds upon BT’s previous network slicing experiences at venues such as Wembley Stadium and Belfast Christmas market. The collaboration showcases how public and private 5G technologies can be integrated to create robust, scalable network solutions for demanding real-time applications.
Manish Tiwari, head of enterprise 5G, enterprise wireless solutions, at Ericsson, said: “SailGP is pushing the limits of performance, and Ericsson is enabling that ambition – connecting the F50 catamarans with ultra-reliable, low-latency 5G powering real-time decision making on the water.”
