Nokia, Alphabet, Qualcomm demonstrate LTE Network with 360-degree race car experience

LAS VEGAS: Qualcomm Technologies, Nokia and Alphabet’s Access Group have joined forces to demonstrate the first live demo of a private LTE network over CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) shared spectrum at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

The companies built a virtual reality zone inside stock car race cars operating at the Richard Petty Driving Experience, with 360-degree video streaming to provide an “in car” experience in real time.

The demonstration achieved speeds in excess of 180 mph, and showed not only how the combination of a new CBRS band and innovative technologies can offer new audience experiences, but also how shared spectrum can be used by enterprises to deploy their own private LTE network to offer new services.

The deployment of a private LTE network is becoming a reality due to the availability of the CBRS spectrum and advances in network technology that are providing the performance benefits of LTE with an easy deployment model.

The live demonstration successfully highlighted some of the key performance benefits of using LTE, including consistent high data rates to stream 360-degree video for immersive experiences, superior mobility at extreme race car speeds, exceptional outdoor coverage, and capacity that can be customised to meet the needs of the particular service.

The demonstration also showcased  successfully that due to the availability of CBRS shared spectrum, an enterprise, campus, venue or other group can deploy their own private LTE network. The shared spectrum used in the demo is the new CBRS spectrum which allows for broad innovation in wireless business models.

These three companies are the founding members of the CBRS Alliance, which is promoting LTE-based solutions in the CBRS spectrum, and is committed to driving technology forward to allow for ubiquitous deployment of LTE networks within the CBRS band.

The collaboration brought industry leading expertise and technology innovations to create the foundation for a cutting-edge demonstration, revolutionise audience experience and show first-hand the performance benefits of a private LTE network.

The Nokia CBRS private LTE high performance network used base stations to cover the complete track and spectator area. CBRS spectrum for the base stations was provisioned by the Access SAS (Spectrum Access System) and the 360-degree virtual reality video was streamed using YouTube Live Events.

The network was customised to provide high uplink data rate on the race track and high downlink data rate in the spectator area, very low latency between car and network, and seamless mobility.

This set up allows the continuous streaming of real time 4K 360-degree virtual reality video between the spectators and the cars – in this demonstration driving in excess of 180 mph. The in-car connectivity for the trial was enabled by a Qualcomm Snapdragon LTE modem.

Chris Stark, head of strategy and business development for North America, Nokia said: “By bringing together the ingenuity of Nokia, Alphabet’s Access Group and Qualcomm Technologies, not only are we showing how the CBRS band can enable new business ideas using LTE, but also how such futuristic applications like this are possible.”

He said that the company want the trial to act as a catalyst for carriers and enterprises to start thinking about leveraging this band for new applications as the real opportunities are in the life-changing applications that will transform users’ experience.

Neville Meijers, vice president, business development, Qualcomm Technologies and chairman of the CBRS Alliance said: “Developing technologies that utilise the CBRS band of shared spectrum is a very exciting trend for our industry not only because of the customized customer experiences it can deliver, such as the immersive 360-degree view demonstrated in this trial, but also the business opportunities it will create for enterprises.”

Preston Marshall, director, Alphabet’s Access Group, said: “This is the first demonstration of the capability of shared spectrum to enable otherwise impractical innovations and applications.”

“Co-operation between the U.S. government and industry has made it possible to create a whole new class of wireless systems, fusing the flexibility and accessibility of licensed spectrum with the high performance and effectiveness of carrier grade technologies,” he said.

Marshall said that over sixty companies have jointly developed the standards to implement this protection and private networks are just one example. He said that they see great potential for private and public shared networks and have committed to develop Spectrum Access System.