- Nokia and Hispasat are providing the technology to support 5G and satellite connectivity for CAVs.
Telefónica UK (O2 UK) flagged the launch of a commercial laboratory that will use 5G and satellite communications to test connected and automated vehicles (CAV).
The laboratory, named the Darwin SatCom Lab, forms the next phase of Project Darwin, a four‑year trial programme supported by O2 UK, Telefónica Group, and the European Space Agency (ESA), and located at the Harwell Campus, a science and innovation hub in Oxfordshire (Telefónicawatch, #136 and #138).
The aim of the Darwin SatCom Lab is to enable enterprises to trial connectivity solutions for CAVs. O2 UK has converted two Renault Twizy electric cars into CAVs and fitted them with LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensors to allow them to be controlled from the laboratory and driven around the Harwell Campus.
The 5G equipment is provided by Nokia and the geosynchronous communications satellites (GEO) by Spanish satellite operator (and former Group investment) Hispasat. The O2 UK 5G Innovation team will remotely track the status of the CAVs, including their position, movement, and speed. A ‘digital twin’ will also be broadcast to screens in O2 UK’s laboratory at the University of Glasgow and at the operator’s headquarters in Slough.
O2 said one proof of concept already being tested is using the LiDAR sensors to track the vehicles’ carbon emissions.
Derek McManus, Chief Operating Officer at O2 UK, said combining 5G technology and satellite communications will “essentially extend 5G networks to even the most remote areas, ensuring reliable access across the whole of the UK”.
O2 UK has engaged in other CAV projects over recent years, including DRIVEN, in partnership with artificial intelligence specialist Oxbotica and with funding from Innovate UK; a smart‑ambulance trial at Millbank Proving Ground, together with Array, Samsung, and Visionable; and the AutoAir project, also at Millbank (Telefónicawatch, #116, #125, #135–#136, and #138). It also partnered with Cisco Systems and others to develop a “cybersecurity blueprint” for connected and autonomous mobility testing (Telefónicawatch, #144).
Darwin’s evolution
Project Darwin was unveiled in June 2019 and, as well as being backed by Telefónica and ESA, is supported by Oxford and Glasgow Universities, the UK Space Agency, Darwin Innovation Group, and various startups specialising in self‑driving mobility solutions. In addition to the Harwell Campus, Darwin has locations at O2’s London and Slough offices and in Glasgow. O2 UK and ESA opened the Darwin laboratory at the University of Glasgow in March 2020.
In July 2020, O2 UK flagged the involvement of Darwin laboratory in trials of a COVID‑19 ‘clinic‑on‑wheels’ for remote tracking and testing of care home workers and residents in Glasgow. The project is co‑funded by the Darwin Innovation Group and University of Glasgow’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Impact Acceleration Account.
UK government‑backed projects
| Project | Focus | Telco participation | Key partners (Lead) | Funding* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes: * Figure listed is that received from the DCMS, but projects may have received additional funding from partners, local government, and the private sector. Sources: TelcoTitans; UK Government. |
||||
|
Worcestershire 5G Consortium March 2018–March 2020 |
Creation of a 5G testbed in the West Midlands. |
BT O2 UK |
5GIC AWTG QinetiQ Worcester Bosch Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership Yamazaki Mazak |
£7.2m |
|
5G-ENCODE February 2020–March 2022 |
Backing will supplement the £9m‑funded project at Bristol’s National Composites Centre. |
O2 UK |
Baker Hughes Mativision Siemens Solvay Toshiba Plataine University of Bristol West of England Combined Authority Zeetta Networks |
£3.8m |
|
5G Festival (5GF) August 2020–March 2022 |
Live music streamed to homes using 5G facilities. |
O2 UK
|
Digital Catapult Matvision Wired Sussex |
£2.2m |
|
Capacity Manager September 2020–November 2021 |
5G‑enabled real‑time traffic management at the West Midlands 5G testbed. |
O2 UK |
Blacc Elgin Immense University of Warwick |
Up to £500k. |
|
5G Testbed Accelerator Programme May 2020– |
20‑week startup programme granting access to 5G testbeds in Brighton and London. Current cohort: Extend Robotics; Immersive Computing Labs; Pixsellar; YouGo.World. |
Coast to Capital Digital Catapult University of Brighton Wired Sussex. |
||
UK proving itself a 5G research hotbed
Telefónica UK’s contribution of 5G technology to Darwin Project research is only one example of a vibrant R&D environment in the UK, examining use‑cases and business models for the next‑generation technology.
The operator and its peers are involved in multiple public‑private partnerships across the UK’s nations and regions, including several major European Union‑backed efforts that have established a presence in the country. Highlights of projects featuring Telefónica involvement are set out below, while an in‑depth review of the UK’s 5G research activity can be found at TelcoTitans.com.
European projects with a UK presence
| Project | Focus and footprint | Telco participation | UK and key participants | Funding** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notes: * This charts 5G PPP Phase 2 and Phase 3 projects with a footing in the UK, though there are others operating without a UK‑based participant. ** Figure listed is that received from the EC. Most are funded solely by the EC. Sources: European Commission; projects. |
||||
| 5G‑TransformerJune 2017–November 2019 |
Software‑defined and network function virtualisation leveraged for a mobile transport and computing platform. Italy and Spain, with UK and others in support. (Telefónicawatch, #118.) |
Orange Telefónica |
Ericsson InterDigital NEC Nokia |
€8m |
| Metro‑HaulJune 2017–September 2019 |
Energy‑efficient, cost‑effective, agile metro networks scalable for 5G access and future network needs. UK, with Italy, Spain, others in support. (Telefónicawatch, #138.) |
BT Telecom Italia Telefónica |
ADVA Ericsson Lexden Technologies Old Dog Consulting OpenLightComm University of Bristol Zeetta Networks |
€7.8m |
| 5G‑CLARITYNovember 2019–July 2022 |
Developing a 5G architecture for private networks. Spain and UK. |
Telefónica I&D |
Accelleran Gigasys Solutions Interdigital Ericsson pureLiFi University of Edinburgh University of Bristol |
€5.7m |
| 5GenesisJuly 2018–December 2021 |
Aims to validate 5G KPIs in various use‑cases through controlled set‑ups and large‑scale events via the provision of an end‑to‑end 5G facility. Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Spain, and UK. (Telefónicawatch, #133.) |
Cosmote Telefónica I&D |
Ericsson Fon Technology Intel Deutschland Maran UK University of Surrey |
€15.8m |
| 5G-VINNIJuly 2018–June 2021 |
A network of 5G‑testing facilities. BT’s Adastral Park is one of six Main Facilities where 5G trials are taking place for remote and “agile” media production. (BTwatch, #315; Telefónicawatch, #128.) |
BT/EE Telefónica I&D Telenor |
Cisco Ericsson Huawei Lime Microsystems National Express Nokia Samsung Electronics Vortex IoT |
€20m |
| Full5GSeptember 2019–September 2021 |
To assess the achievement of 5G PPP in its ability to promote 5G uptake across several verticals in the EU. France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and UK. |
Cosmote Telefónica I&D |
Atos Spain Ericsson Fon Technology Intel Deutschland Maran UK University of Surrey |
€2m |
