Event Innovation: A 5G Connectivity Bubble at the Val Thorens Ski Cross as Part of the ME/CT Project

• 5G
• Connectivity
• Sport
• Technology

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An Unprecedented Immersive Stream that Elevates the Viewer Experience

The goal of this experiment was clear: to push the limits of the viewer experience. Thanks to lightweight, portable cameras integrated into athletes’ helmets and very low-latency private 5G broadcasting, viewers could experience the race as if they were there, with total immersion in the course, speed and intensity of ski cross.

The solution had been designed and tested in the laboratory at Orange Innovation Lannion to ensure:

• low latency essential for a livestream (~100 ms screen to screen). This performance was crucial for broadcasters (L’Équipe 21 and Eurosport) to smoothly switch from a fixed or wired camera to the 5G camera in real time
• optimal HD image quality with high-performance upload speed
• enhanced reliability, to operate in a demanding environment such as a high-altitude ski resort.

Orange broke new ground in event innovation with unprecedented immersive broadcasting, made possible thanks to private 5G

Tools/Technologies Used

High-definition video streams were transmitted in real time via a dedicated private 5G solution. This network comprised:

• 3 Amarisoft/AW2S outdoor 5G radios in the n77 band (3.9–4 GHz) arranged along the 1.1-km long route with 300 m of negative elevation
• an Amarisoft 5G SA mobile core deployed on a rugged mini PC to withstand the external conditions of the event
• 100 SIM cards programmed by Orange Innovation
• modem kits with a built-in camera supplied by NoVR

These results were achieved as part of the 5G MPN (Mobile Private Network) project within the IPCEI ME/CT FID4 (Important Project of Common European Interest, Microelectronics and Communication Technology, First Industrial Deployment) initiative, where field experimentation is crucial to validate the Amarisoft software solution (core and gNodeB) and the AW2S radio component.  Orange Innovation solidified and optimized the solution to be as light, robust and efficient as possible to operate in this environment.

Results and Challenges

The results were viewed extremely positively, by our customer, the FIS (International Ski and Snowboard Federation), by the broadcasters (L’Équipe 21 and Eurosport) and by viewers, who were able to enjoy a unique experience.

The two main technological challenges were met:

• High-quality connectivity along the route in terms of performance and stability, with mobility between radios at speeds of around 70–80 km/h.
• A strong and resilient solution that can be deployed in high mountains in a matter of hours and operate in negative temperatures

With this experiment in Val Thorens, Orange confirmed its pioneering role in 5G innovation and demonstrated its ability to push the limits of sports broadcasting. This spectacular level of immersion was made possible thanks to technology, the expertise of the Orange Innovation and Events teams, the quality of the 5G solutions used and a clear ambition: to offer the public a richer experience, ever closer to the action. This work is part of the legacy of the private 5G network of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.