MotoGP delivers ‘live’ sports using standalone 5G network

At the recent Monster Energy British Grand Prix, MotoGP showcased what it claimed was the world’s first standalone private 5G network for sports broadcasting. In the collaboration between BT Sport, Dorna, Vislink and the University of Strathclyde, ‘live’ pictures were broadcast globally from a 5G handheld camera. An onboard 5G camera also beamed back pictures from a test bike.

For this broadcast, Vislink supplied two new products – the first is a 5G version of their H-cam handheld wireless camera transmitter, the second is a 5G onboard-vehicle transmitter that has been fitted to the media bike to bring ‘live’ high-speed images from the heart of the action.

These were connected to a private standalone software-defined 5G network provided by the University of Strathclyde that covered the pitlane, paddock, and part of the circuit.

The pictures were supplied to the Dorna production team producing the International Production Feed (IPF), which was then shared with rights holders, including BT Sport. The latter then had the feed in their production gallery and edited ‘live’ at the appropriate times to help tell the stories of the day.

Andy Beale, Chief Engineer of BT Sport, said: “This was a successful collaboration between partners showcasing the power of a standalone 5G network to enhance sports production.”