A new Strathclyde Uni 5G project created by Scottish engineers aims to bring live, interactive content to sports viewers.

The 5GEdgeXR sport project will utilise the power of 5G networks to provide new ways to watch or experience sports and the performing arts.

The Strathclyde Uni 5G project is being conducted along with EE’s 5G network, BT Sport, BT Applied Research, and external suppliers including the University. It hopes to bring immersive, personalised experiences through virtual, augmented, and mixed reality tech.

Using devices like smartphones, tablets, and TVs, as well as the latest AR headsets, the new prototype enables users to take control and engage in an event from all angles.

Building on successful demonstrations for a MotoGP event at Silverstone in 2021, engineers from the University’s Software Defined Radio team, StrathSDR, began the work on a private, 5G stand-alone network.

Alongside this, university spin-out firm Neutral Wireless provided and engineered the 5G shared spectrum radios and core that enabled the outside extended reality (XR) experiences to de demonstrated.

Commenting on the technology, Professor Bob Stewart from the University of Strathclyde, Director of the StrathSDR team said: “5G Edge XR is an exciting project featuring new applications for engagement and interaction for sports events.

“Our team is very pleased to have had the opportunity to augment the 5G connectivity used for the demonstrators from the project.”

The prototypes are the first outputs from the project, which demonstrates how the potential of a 5G network, paired with cloud graphics processing units, can enable viewers to access events in a range of immersive ways.

Examples of how the tech can be used include being able measure how hard the ball has been kicked and how far it will go on a rugby pitch, with the data being streamed in real time to enhance the experience.

Boxing fans will gain access to immersive holographic videos which puts them up close to the boxers as they fight, while football fans will be offered a ‘like being there’ experience, with screens showing the live TV match feed, team sheets, match info and interactive timeline that enables users to directly jump to key events within the match.

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Paul Coffey, CEO of The Scotland 5G Centre said: “In the coming years, 5G EdgeXR type applications will not just be for professional and headlining sports.

“As the technology matures, we can expect to see application to more provincial events, such as shinty, local rugby sevens events, and mountain biking events in Scotland.”

Dr Cameron Speirs, CCO of Neutral Wireless Ltd added: “We are very pleased to have had the opportunity to engineer and integrate the technology to set up a 5G standalone private network to support the demonstrations for the 5G EdgeXR project to complement the connectivity available from public networks.”

The project is supported by the Department of Digital, Culture, Media & Sport as part of 5G Create programme to develop new use cases and 5G technical capabilities.

Other high-end XR services being explored by the project address the needs of industries such as construction, health, and retail.

Lisa Perkins, Research Realisation, BT, said: “We’re excited to be unveiling experiences that could transform sports, culture, and the arts as well as demonstrating the benefits 5G can bring to people and businesses.”

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