POOR mobile signal at football stadiums could soon be a thing of the past.
Experts have been working on a first of its kind upgrade in the UK that transforms traditional sports venues into “fully smart-enabled stadiums”.
It enables football fans and more to watch high quality multi-camera video streams from around the pitch that they can’t see from their seat.
They can also access team performance insights, historical data and live player statistics.
Attendees can even order a pie and a pint from their phone and know exactly when it’ll be ready to collect.
And real-time queue navigation can tell you which toilet has the shortest queue too so you miss as little action as possible.
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The hi-tech upgrade, called Project ARANA, is close to becoming a reality using AI and 5G.
It has come about thanks to a collaboration between the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab, AI experts Madevo and Nokia, led by network specialists Weaver Labs.
Trials have been carried out at the 30,400-seat MK Dons football stadium in Milton Keynes.
“Many fans now choose the comfort of home to watch matches, enjoying high-quality streams, instant replays, multi-screens, and no queues,” explained Dr Alex Mavromatis, from Madevo.
“We recognised that the in-stadium experience was lagging behind what fans are able to enjoy at home.
“Today’s fans want the best of both worlds, the excitement of being there live, with the digital comfort and insights they’re used to at home.
“Our technology, built on research from Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab, bridges that gap, turning live viewing into a deeper, more connected experience.
“Whether it’s sharing clips in real time, ordering food from your seat, or diving into game stats, fans are now part of the action like never before.”
Football fans will be able to experience the technology for themselves as soon as early next year with more trials in the pipeline.
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou, Director of the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol, said: “We are thrilled to see this new platform technology in action.
“Thanks to 5G broadcast capabilities, the app offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional cellular solutions which is particularly important for large sporting venues where mobile connectivity is often unreliable during peak usage.
“We are excited to see how these technologies can dramatically reshape how we experience live events.”
