Blu Wireless teams with the 5G Innovation Centre

The 5G Innovation Centre, or 5GIC, at the University of Surrey, is almost fully up and running, which as the only 5G-focused research centre in the UK is a big deal.

But it won’t be working alone, as it’s partnered with a number of other organisations to help with research and development and among those is Blu Wireless, which initially will work with the 5GIC to integrate its ‘Lightning’ millimetre wave gigabit modems within the 5GIC 5G mobile testbed.

That testbed is a self-contained 4G mobile network, which over time will be upgraded to a 5G one, as the 5GIC develops and tests 5G solutions.

As well as integrating its modems with the 5GIC’s network, Blu Wireless will also be on hand to help with any general technical collaboration involved in creating a 5G millimetre-wave modem.

Mark Barrett, Blu Wireless CMO, said of the partnership: “The 5GIC is a global centre of research into next generation wireless networks and we are delighted to be a part of it. Our technology will enable 5G infrastructure and access applications such as radio transport over Back Haul and Front Haul networks and will help to drive the research that will underpin the 5G standards of the future.”

Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Director of 5GIC, said: “We are working with a fantastic variety of partners from across industry to deliver a holistic framework for the successful development of 5G. With Blu Wireless joining the Centre, our collaborative efforts are further strengthened particularly in millimetric band technologies. We look forward to working with them and integrating their equipment and expertise into our new test bed, housed on our campus in Guildford.”