Cutting edge 5G network showcased during Games

BT has worked alongside the BBC at Birmingham 's historic Commonwealth Games to trial a state-of-the-art standalone 5G private network for broadcast coverage of the event.

The tech and telecoms firm worked with the broadcaster to provide the network in Birmingham 's Victoria Square, which was used to screen the Queen 's Baton 's arrival in the second city live on BBC One 's The One Show.

BT deployed the trailer variant of its portable private network, which provides bespoke 5G coverage as well as a range of application capabilities.

The trailer vehicle can enable customers to deploy a network in a challenging environment, or to trial how 5G can enhance their business operations.

With Victoria Square attracting large crowds at its fan park throughout the Commonwealth Games it had the potential to swamp a standard network, but the use of the new technology allowed for live cameras to connect directly and securely to the private network.

BT 's Media and Broadcast unit, part of its Enterprise business, set up the secure portable network in the square, providing ultra-fast speeds and low latency of 5G during its coverage of the Games.

With the use of the Vislink 's subsidiary Mobile Viewpoint UltraLink-Air 5G cellular encoders we have been able to roam the event with complete freedom delivering uninterrupted, low latency video feeds and bi-directional communication with the camera operator.

Rather than broadcast cameras that connect to the outside broadcast solely using radio (RF) signals which rely on proprietary equipment, the private network enabled 5G connected cameras to roam freely within the area covered by the network.