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Technology start-ups hail significant impact of new 5G testbed

2021.06.30
  • Location technology experts Ubisense demonstrate 5G-enabled cost reductions of up to 60%
  • Robotic software-as-a-service start-up Extend Robotics have extended their solution’s field of view by using 5G to double the number of streaming cameras
  • Industrial IoT specialists Camnexus found 5G to be significantly more reliable than 4G when  testing a massive IoT scenario.

29 JUNE 2021 (CAMBRIDGE, UK) – A Cambridge-based 5G R&D accelerator has unlocked transformative benefits for the first start-ups and SMEs to use its 5G testbed.

Over a three-month accelerator programme on the CW (Cambridge Wireless)-led 5G private network, testbed participants Ubisense, Extend Robotics and Camnexus discovered cost and performance advantages from 5G that will boost their competitiveness and enable them to disrupt their respective markets. For example:

  • Ubisense’s cost comparisons for asset tracking in factories showed 5G delivered up to 60% lower cost compared to current wired solutions.  Further cost reductions were found in decreased cable damage and human error, and increased ease of sensor deployment – all while achieving the target level of performance (30cm accuracy in 3D with acceptable network load).
  • The capabilities of Extend Robotics’ mechanical arms were transformed by the superior uplink speeds and latency of 5G. Consistent bandwidths of >20Mbps enabled bulk RGB-D data transmission and the doubling of cameras supported by their solution. Latency of less than 20ms – compared to 500+ms in 4G – enabled real-time operation of the robotic arms from any region, a feat that was not possible with previous generations of mobile technology.
  • The testbed validated 5G uplink as a new feature of the Camnexus LPWAN gateways: KUBO800© (for European and African market) and KUBO900© (for the Americas and Australian market). In a simulated scenario of massive IoT including 200 nodes and two HD video streams, 5G was shown to have higher reliability than 3G/4G. The result is a versatile Camnexus IoT LPWAN-5G infrastructure and seamless solution for clients looking to integrate real-time or higher bandwidth applications in a dedicated massive IoT solution that can secure existing infrastructure.

For start-ups and SMEs such as these, early access to a 5G testbed has enabled them to conduct critical R&D and deploy 5G-based solutions before their competition, resulting in a significant first-mover advantage.

To ensure that participants benefit commercially from the testbed’s three-month R&D timeframe, CW and testbed partner Huawei offered technical and commercial consultancy and used its network to engage potential business partners for the participants. On the back of this commercial support, Extend Robotics made connections with QuarkXR and co-developed a 5G-enabled CloudVR solution that reduced the total cost of their solution by 30%.

Andy Ward, CTO at Ubisense, said “CW’s 5G testbed has let us explore and test real-world system configurations, and will be crucial in convincing customers that private 5G networks can be used to deliver lower costs and higher performance to Industrial IoT users today”

Chang Liu, CEO of Extend Robotics, said “The facilities at the CW 5G testbed were excellent and flexible enough to support our diverse range of testing needs. We received engineer-to-engineer support on network set-up and had anytime access to the facility, enabling the team to maximise the impact of our R&D efforts during the three-month accelerator.”

Dr Jessica Ocampos, CEO and co-founder of Camnexus, said “Camnexus’ participation in CW’s 5G testbed allowed us to research and gain valuable insight of this new technology and how this can be implemented in industrial IoT. Amid a pandemic our international team separated by 10,000 km was able perform the first 5G-5G end-to-end HD video streaming and simultaneous simulation of a massive IoT scenario. This can have a tremendous impact to our clients globally.”

Victor Zhang, Huawei Vice-President, said “This accelerator programme marks a breakthrough in the application of 5G and shows what’s possible by using this technology to work smarter. Congratulations to the participants for the exciting progress they’ve made and the boundaries they’re pushing in their sectors. This is just the starting point – we would like to work with other innovators in a range of sectors, by providing both our technology and our expertise, to explore opportunities for business and industry using 5G. This next generation of connectivity has the potential to reshape ways of working and all progress helps the whole ecosystem to grow and prosper.”

Abhi Naha, CCO of Cambridge Wireless, said “Our testbed was the first 5G private network in the region and remains the only place in Cambridge for the local technology ecosystem to validate their technology on 5G. CW fully believes in the importance of 5G R&D facilities, such as this one, being accessible for engineering teams. Only then will companies be able to fully engage with the R&D and generate real business value not just for themselves, but also for their customers.”

Applications are open for the third cohort to enter the CW 5G accelerator programme starting September 2021. If your company wishes to trial its products or services on the CW 5G testbed visit the Cambridge Wireless website or contact Abhi Naha.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors

  • This press release is embargoed to allow for the production of a video of the 5G applications listed here and shown in the live demonstrations on Wednesday 23 June.  This video will be shared with journalists prior to the embargo lifting (00:01 AM on Tuesday 29 June) so it can be included in coverage.
  • Media contact: Eleanor Brash, Head of Marketing, CW, Eleanor.Brash@cambridgewireless.co.uk

About CW

CW is the leading international community for companies involved in the research, development and application of wireless and mobile, internet, semiconductor and software technologies. With an active community of over 1000 technology companies, ranging from major network operators and device manufacturers to innovative start-ups and universities, CW stimulates debate and collaboration, harnesses and shares knowledge, and helps to build connections between academia and industry. For more information visit https://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk

About Extend Robotics

Extend Robotics is a new type of robotic SaaS company. We view ourselves as a special force taken on a mission to extend human capabilities beyond physical existence, using advanced robotic technologies. We augment human intelligence with machine intelligence to develop superhuman robots, and form an ecosystem to rapidly advance the robot autonomy under human control. For more information visit: https://www.extendrobotics.com/

About Ubisense

Ubisense gives software systems intelligence about what’s actually happening in the real world by capturing the location, movement and interaction of things. We do this with industry-leading sensors and an open software platform that business users can easily configure for planning, monitoring and controlling physical process flows. Headquartered in Cambridge UK, Ubisense operates globally with more than 1000 customers, transforming their physical space into SmartSpace®.  For more information visit: https://ubisense.com/

About Camnexus

Camnexus develops and integrates low-power IoT solutions that enable businesses that operates in the food, water and energy sectors to achieve their sustainability targets and have a positive impact on the people and the planet. We do this through the integration of low-power sensors, telecommunications and data analytics for near-real-time alert systems and predictive maintenance. Founded as a startup of the University of Cambridge, Camnexus is based in Cambridge with an international team that is bridging the digital gap in the industrial sector with IoT solutions for sustainable development. https://www.camnexus.io/

About Huawei

Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. With integrated solutions across four key domains—telecom networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services—we are committed to bringing digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world.

Huawei's end-to-end portfolio of products, solutions, and services are both competitive and secure. Through open collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create lasting value for our customers, working to empower people, enrich home life, and inspire innovation in organizations of all shapes and sizes.

At Huawei, innovation focuses on customer needs. We invest heavily in basic research, concentrating on technological breakthroughs that drive the world forward. We have more than 188,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.

For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow us on:

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