The trials were conducted under Project ARANA, a collaborative initiative led by Weaver Labs in partnership with the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab, AI operator Madevo, and several other industry contributors.
The trials were carried out at the 30,400-seat MK Dons football stadium in Milton Keynes, focusing on enhancing connectivity in highly congested environments where thousands of spectators attempt to access the network simultaneously.
The technology used in the trials was powered by Weaver Labs’ Cell-Stack platform and developed through a collaboration between Madevo and Nokia. For football clubs, the solution promises real-time match insights, video analytics such as player positioning, and data on formations, tactics, and other key aspects of on-field performance.
During the trials, fans could stream four high-quality live video feeds directly to their mobile devices. According to the team behind the project, the technology also has the potential to solve long-standing operational challenges for broadcasters and event organisers by reducing network congestion, simplifying cabling requirements, and overcoming the limitations of 4G during high-attendance events.
The system is expected to deliver high-quality live video streaming from multiple camera angles, AI-driven team performance insights backed by historical data, live player statistics, interactive chatbots, 3D stadium mapping, real-time queue navigation, streamlined food and beverage ordering, and enhanced safety and security features.
Many fans now prefer watching matches from home, where they can enjoy high-quality streams, instant replays, multiple screens, and no queues,” said Dr. Alex Mavromatis, Co-founder and CEO of Madevo, the University of Bristol spin-out that developed the AI models for the trials. “We recognised that the in-stadium experience had fallen behind what fans can access from their living rooms.
According to the announcement, the deployment part of the Sunderland Open Network EcosysTem (SONET) initiative was the UK’s first fully neutral host RAN managed service in a high-density venue. The upgrade delivered enhanced 5G coverage for the 49,000-seat stadium, representing a major improvement over its decade-old network and enabling richer, more reliable connectivity for fans and visitors.
Today’s fans want the best of both worlds the excitement of being at the stadium combined with the digital convenience and insights they enjoy at home. Our technology, built on research from Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab, bridges that gap by transforming live viewing into a more immersive, connected experience. Whether it’s sharing clips in real time, ordering food from their seats, or exploring detailed game statistics, fans can now feel more engaged in the action than ever before.
Professor Dimitra Simeonidou OBE, Director of the Smart Internet Lab at the University of Bristol, added: “We are thrilled to see this new platform technology in action. With its 5G broadcast capabilities, the app provides a cost-effective alternative to traditional cellular solutions particularly valuable for large sporting venues where mobile connectivity often becomes unreliable during peak demand. We look forward to seeing how these technologies can fundamentally reshape the live event experience.
This successful trial also marks a significant milestone for Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. It forms part of our broader mission to shape the future of connectivity through advancements in 5G, emerging 6G technologies, and large-scale platforms such as JOINER a UK-wide testbed driving research and innovation in next-generation networks.
While limited technical detail has been shared about the underlying system, the platform is set to return for further trials at Stadium MK early next year, where it is expected to showcase additional applications and deliver “even greater fan engagement.
Earlier this year, Boldyn Networks and Virgin Media O2 tackled the same challenge of stadium connectivity by deploying enhanced 5G coverage at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, using Boldyn’s connectivity-as-a-service (CaaS) platform.
