SCONDA Project Achieve Major Milestones at Connected Britain 2024
SCONDA, a multi-million-pound telecoms project funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and including 9 partners spanning across Telecoms Industry and Academia, marked a significant milestone as Silver Sponsors at Connected Britain 2024, held on 11-12th September at the ExCel Arena, London.
The UK flagship connectivity event provided an invaluable platform for the consortium to showcase its developments. Conference attendees flocked to Booth 159 to engage with the Consortium members and gain deeper insights into the project.
AWTG team, who is spearheading the collaborative effort, presented the vision, goals and objectives.
SCONDA, spearheaded by AWTG and supported/promoted by the Scotland 5G Centre, aims to address the unique technical and commercial challenges of deploying 5G and OpenRAN technologies in high-density demand areas. This pioneering initiative is part of the Open Network Ecosystem Competition launched in 2023 and represents a world-first integration of OpenRAN and Traditional RAN hardware and software in a demanding urban environment like Glasgow city centre Novel technologies such ORAN Small Cells, RIC with built-in Artificial Intelligence, xApps, AWTG’s FlexiRAN and University of Surrey’s Intelligent Reflective Surfaces (both here depicted) have been presented.
The project underscores AWTG’s pivotal role in various DSIT consortiums, where it leverages its expertise in OpenRAN and AI technology to deliver substantial economic and social value.
Highlighting the project’s industry significance, AWTG’s Chief Operating Officer, Ian Vernon, was a featured speaker at the event. Ian Vernon provided a comprehensive overview of the role of OpenRAN in the UK, detailing SCONDA’s objectives, key results, and future plans. His insights resonated with attendees, emphasizing the project’s potential to revolutionise high-density network deployments and setting the stage for future advancements in 5G technology.
In addition to AWTG and the Scotland 5G Centre, the SCONDA project has garnered support from a consortium of influential partners, including Three, Freshwave Group, Mavenir, PI Works University of Surrey, University of Glasgow, and Accenture, and were also present at the Conference. This collaborative effort has not only strengthened the project’s foundation but also facilitated the exchange of knowledge and alignment of goals among partners, promising a transformative impact on the telecommunications landscape. The successful exhibition at Connected Britain 2024 has set a positive trajectory for SCONDA, reaffirming its status as one of DSIT’s innovation and collaboration in the field of 5G and OpenRAN technology.
Mike Carter, AWTG’s Director of Public Networks shares:
Connected Britain 2024 event has been an incredible opportunity for us to showcase the pioneering work we are doing with the SCONDA initiative. Our collaboration with the Scotland 5G Centre and other key partners is driving innovation in 5G and OpenRAN technologies, addressing the complex challenges of high-density network deployments. We’re excited to see how our collective efforts will reshape the telecommunications landscape and bring substantial economic and social benefits.
Luca Campanalonga, Business Development Manager, The Scotland 5G Centre has further expressed:
Connected Britain brought together all the SCONDA partners to showcase the project’s transformative potential in revolutionizing network infrastructure and driving innovation in the telecom industry. Attendees had the opportunity to hear directly from project experts, learn more about the initiative, and additionally, insights into the project’s upcoming milestones offered a glimpse into the future of telecommunications and the broader impact SCONDA will have on digital infrastructure.