Spreading the net: FISU World University Games trials standalone private 5G network setup
The Rai Centre for Research, Technological Innovation and Experimentation (CRITS) in Turin is an institute dedicated to the development and application of advanced technologies across various sectors, including audiovisual production, telecommunications, and artificial intelligence.
It serves as a hub for collaboration between universities, businesses, and institutions, fostering research projects and technological experimentation.
As part of the Torino 2025 FISU World University Games, held from 13-23 January across multiple locations in the Piedmont region, CRITS was involved in trials in collaboration with key industry partners CVE, EMG Italy, One TV, Sony Europe, and the WUG Organising Committee, aimed at enabling new television production methods.
A private 5G network
The initiative was made possible as CRITS received a special concession to operate – on an experimental basis – on specific radio frequency bands. In some areas of Piedmont, it is permitted to operate on dedicated private 5G network (NPN) frequencies in the 4GHz band.
The system used for the games employed a closed private 5G network – a dedicated bubble for television signal transmission – ensuring a secure environment free from external interference. This provided total control over the transmission, eliminating the risk of overlap with other users.
For the event, Rai utilised Neutral Wireless technology and made it available to EMG Italy, which was responsible for event coverage and broadcasting, leveraging frequencies made available by CRITS.
The technology was deployed at two events, at the Inalpi Arena in Turin and on the ski slopes of Bardonecchia.
The system consisted of two private 5G cells, installed in collaboration with CRITS and based on Neutral Wireless equipment, one of the brands represented by CVE. These were used to transmit video signals from cameras to EMG Italy’s OB truck.
During the tests, each camera used approximately 20 megabits of bandwidth. For filming and contribution, Haivision devices and technologies, including encoders compatible with the 5G standard, and 5G SIM cards connected to the private cells were utilised.
The potential of the technology
CVE CEO, Luca Catalano, explained: “Using standard equipment, it is possible to access the private cell and contribute without the risk of interference from other users.
“This ensures optimal content transmission to the production control room, guaranteeing audio, video, data and communications quality, along with return channels and camera control, essential for remote productions.”
Despite the positive results, this remains an experimental test without yet having a well-established commercial application. In more common 5G trials, such as multicast, operator frequencies are used to distribute broadcast content. In this case, however, assigned frequencies were used in private areas exclusively for contribution, defining a different application model.
In other words, this trial is currently of particular interest for wireless content production, especially in scenarios where commercial 5G networks are unable to ensure adequate transmission capacity and guaranteed bandwidth.
Catalano added: “The main takeaway from this experiment is that the technology has proven reliable, significantly simplifying the use of cameras and contribution systems.
“With a traditional radio camera, it is necessary to install receiving antennas on frequencies that may already be occupied or subject to interference, resulting in operational complexity. In this scenario, however, we operated within a standalone private 5G network, ensuring immediate and stable functionality.
“A crucial factor in the success of this trial was the low latency provided by the dedicated 5G network for live productions, along with the high quality enabled by its broad bandwidth and advanced compression codecs.”