The Liverpool LCR HDD project is using Open RAN technology in a private network, an emerging telecommunications network architecture that has been shown to enable low-cost, power efficient and unobtrusive small cells to meet the demands of high-density areas.
The project has just trialled its new Open RAN HDD private network at Salt & Tar’s Music Festival – a four-day Festival that attracted 12,000 fans to Bootle’s new outdoor venue.
The event provided a real-world, high-density usage environment for the Liverpool LCR HDD project to test if the technology could deliver high capacity, open Wi-Fi to support e-ticketing and food & drink sales in a secure, fast and efficient way to improve the user experience.
Further trials of the technology will take place across the region at both music, transport and sports venues to see how the new HDD network works in a range of venues that involve a high number of users in the same environment.
Professor Joe Spencer, from the University of Liverpool who is leading the Liverpool City Region HDD project, said: “I am delighted that the project has conducted its first trial in a real-world setting. Using this new technology in this type of setting is innovative and an ambitious project. This trial will provide us with data that we can analyse to assess the different components of the technology to see if it exceeds the performance of current and traditional technology solutions.”
Further trials of the technology will take place across the region to see how the new HDD network works in a range of venues that involve a high number of users in the same environment.
Ann Williams, Programme Director, Liverpool 5G, said, “This was LCR HDD’s first trial of Open RAN 5G SA service in a real-world high-density environment. We successfully provided connectivity for point-of-sale terminals via 5G MiFis and some public internet access using a very high-capacity WiFi AP with 5G back-haul to the on-site network. In addition, we tested the 'Group QR code' eSIMs.
“We were able to demonstrate end-to-end functionality of the Open RAN 5G SA network, and we will use the technical insights and data analysis gained from this event as we carry out further trials in the forthcoming months.”
The Liverpool City Region HDD consortium is led by the University of Liverpool in collaboration with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) and ITS Technology Group.
Partners include Liverpool John Moores University, local telecommunications, software and super-computing organisations: ITS Technology, Aro, CGA Simulation, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Hartree Centre; and wireless technology leaders including Attocore, Weaver Labs, Telet, Radisys and Qualcomm.
The consortium is already working on innovative networks at two venues in the region with plans for at least two more in development.
The Liverpool LCR HDD project is supported with a £9 million investment by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology. It was funded through DSIT’s Open Networks Ecosystem (ONE) competition which aims to demonstrate the feasibility and reliability of technology.
