Ericsson Private 5G to Power SailGP Race Technology

Ericsson, the Swedish multinational networking and telecommunications company, has been appointed as the technology supplier for SailGP, a high-performance sailing race series.
The company will implement Private 5G networks to manage communications and data collection for SailGP's 2025 season, following trials with T-Mobile during Season 4 US events.
The deployment of Private 5G networks, which are dedicated cellular networks for specific organisations or locations, offers a solution to the connectivity challenges faced in marine sports. These challenges include environmental conditions, distance from shore-based infrastructure, and the speed of competition vessels.
The technology will support race management through enhanced capabilities in live camera streaming and team location tracking, enabling officials to monitor race protocols.
Warren Jones, Chief Technology Officer at SailGP, says: “SailGP continues to innovate so we can provide the best experiences possible for our teams and fans and this requires networking technology that can keep up with the speed and intricacies of the sport.”
Real-time data to optimise performance
Each F50 catamaran, the high-speed sailing vessels used in SailGP, carries a Cradlepoint edge router in its wing structure. Edge routers are devices that connect local networks to external networks, facilitating data transfer.
These routers must operate in maritime conditions while maintaining constant communication and safety protocols requiring confirmed connectivity before vessels can leave the dock.
The technology enables real-time data transmission between teams and shore crews, covering boat speed, wind conditions and tactical information. This data flows directly into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, a suite of cloud computing services, promoting transparency across teams.
Teams utilise the system for performance optimisation, analysing real-time data to adjust sail settings and boat trim. The network supports split-second decision making in race conditions, providing immediate access to critical performance metrics.
Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G at Ericsson's Enterprise Wireless Solutions division, says: “The fastest sailing event deserves the fastest possible connectivity for its crews, onshore teams, and officials. With Ericsson Private 5G and our Cradlepoint edge routers, that's exactly what it will get.”
Enhancing strategic decision-making
The network implementation aims to enhance race management through improved data collection and analysis. Teams receive immediate feedback on race position, course layout and wind direction, supporting tactical decision-making during competitions.
Furthermore, the technology facilitates strategic decisions during races, including optimal sailing angles and timing for manoeuvres such as tacking and gybing. This capability extends to mark roundings, where precise positioning data influences tactical choices.
The system will also process data from IoT (Internet of Things) sensors, video feeds and critical communications. These capabilities extend to spectator engagement, providing technical insights into racing tactics and strategy through data visualisation.
Warren adds: “Ericsson Private 5G combined with its Cradlepoint edge routers not only matches the bandwidth and latency challenges of billions of data points during a race but also addresses our need to quickly deploy networks at locations across the world.”
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