| Invited Talk

Name of the Speaker: Prof. Bob Stewart
Name of the Organizer: Prof. Radhakrishna Ganti
Venue: ESB-244 (Seminar Hall)
Date/Time: 24th October 2024 (Thursday), 3:00 PM
Title: Private 5G Standalone Networks – and no Show without Spectrum.

Abstract :

In this presentation we will review the recent journey of our University R&D team StrathSDR in researching private 5G networks and solutions and now designing real live operational networks. Following a number of years designing for TV White Space networks, in 2017 we commenced on some UK Govt co-funded industry partnership projects to design and build rural access private 4G/5G networks in remote parts of Scotland. Building on the know-how from these projects we formed our startup company, Neutral Wireless Ltd, and now design private 5G RAN (radio access network) solutions, notably for the live event and broadcast use case. We have recently deployed networks at globally broadcast events such as King Charles III Coronation in London in 2023, and more recently Neutral Wireless provided the private 5G for Paris Games in 2024 working alongside Orange, Cisco, Intel and Olympic Broadcasting Services. This work featured 5G SA for the opening ceremony supporting more than 200 cameras over a 6km route and with more than 11 gNodeB base stations. Additionally networks at three of the Paris 2024 stadiums were deployed, as well as an at-sea private 5G to support live broadcast from the sailing events. In the presentation we will share how a small technology company can provide a complete 5G SA (Standalone) RAN solution and create custom bespoke and flexible software defined radio (SDR) solutions for use cases such as live events and broadcasting. Key to the private networks is the availability of radio spectrum – there is no show with spectrum! Therefore will also share on how the United Kingdom has allocated 400MHz of mid-band spectrum in the 3.8 to 4.2 GHz n77 band, so that anyone can get a local access licence to build private networks.

Speaker Bio:

Professor Bob Stewart has more than 30 years of experience working in communications and signal processing systems at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. He currently leads the StrathSDR research team, and is Director and CTO of startup Neutral Wireless Ltd. Previously he was a Visiting Professor from 1997 to 2017 at UCLA Extension School, in the USA, In 2004 to 2014 was Director and co-founder of the communications startup company, Steepest Ascent Ltd, which was acquired by MathWorks in 2014, creating the company’s Glasgow office. Bob is an experienced technical author and published more than 200 papers and 4 books.