Surrey's Lime Microsystems help Vodafone create nano 5G network
Newbury-based Vodafone has created a prototype for a nano 5G network using a credit card-sized computer.
The new system, which can give any home or business a private, portable 5G network, uses a Raspberry Pi 4 and a small 5G-compatible embeddable software-defined radio circuit board (SDR), made by Guildford-based Lime Microsystems.
The SDR board makes it possible for any computer to become a miniature 5G base station, which can then be used as a dedicated private network, an extension of a larger private network or connected to Vodafone’s public network.
Vodafone’s director of network architecture Santiago Tenorio, said: “This is just a prototype. But it has the potential to bring new cloud, AI and big data technologies to many of the small businesses we support across Europe. The next step is to develop and eventually produce it. Our door is open to interested vendors.”
The final product is expected to be housed in a router-sized box, and will offer an additional, faster WiFi link.
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