BT's 5G Standalone technology will provide critical connectivity to Sail GP

BT Group undertakes a collaboration with the world regatta championship SailGP, where its innovative 5G Standalone network slicing capabilities will provide critical connectivity to support event operations and enhance the fan experience at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth, UK (July 19-20).

As the official technology provider of the Emirates Great Britain SailGP, in which a dozen national teams compete in the waters of the Solent, BT is working closely with SailGP and Ericsson, the championship's global technology partner. BT will provide two dedicated network segments tailored to the specific requirements of the event, improving connectivity and complementing Ericsson's role in providing high-capacity, reliable network performance for SailGP.

Network slicing uses 5G Standalone technology to provide a dedicated, protected portion of the mobile network for specific use cases, ensuring performance is not affected if the public network becomes congested by users during the event. SailGP represents the first time BT offers multiple simultaneous network segments at the same event, demonstrating the technology's ability to keep fans connected to the event experience, as well as drive the delivery of seamless operations behind the scenes.

In collaboration with Sony and its 5G live production products to test new broadcast capabilities, the roaming Full HD cameras will use BT's optimized network for the high-capacity uplink requirements of Sony ultra-low latency encoders, in order to support the production of SailGP, which is broadcast to 212 countries around the world. At the same time, photographers will benefit from instant and guaranteed connectivity to upload photos in real time for use by international media outlets. This is carried out in collaboration with the connected cameras Sony Alpha y PDT-FP1.

Permanent connectivity

In addition, the BT network segment will ensure permanent connectivity for voice communications, telemetry data transfer and on-board video. Also new to the UK event is the experience of augmented reality and virtual reality in 360 degrees of SailGP, which will allow fans to experience what it feels like to be aboard an F50. This high-quality experience will use new higher capacity 5G radios, which BT and Ericsson are trialling in Portsmouth, which will enable ultra-low latency performance and gigabit capacity.

Kerry Small, COO of BT Group, said: "Standalone 5G not only delivers faster speeds, it also unlocks personalized capabilities that can transform the customer experience. Working with SailGP, we've demonstrated this using network slicing to optimize event operations and bring fans closer to the action than ever before. It's a clear example of how we're evolving the UK's best-in-class network to deliver next-generation connectivity and more immersive experiences."

Warren Jones, SailGP's Chief Technology Officer, said: "Bringing SailGP back to UK shores after three years is a significant milestone, and delivering a world-class, technology-driven event is critical to its success. Partnering with BT has allowed us to push the boundaries of what is possible in sporting connectivity. For the first time in SailGP, the use of BT's autonomous 5G network slicing technology ensures the world championship can maintain real-time communications, telemetry and live broadcast from the circuit. This collaboration demonstrates how cutting-edge connectivity can transform the broadcast of global sporting events.”