High-Speed 5G Connectivity tested on field

Multidomain connectivity is a key focus for SMA-RTY, ensuring seamless communication across multiple networks and applications. A critical piece of this puzzle is high-speed mobile connectivity, a challenge MARPA tackles in collaboration with UNIMORE. The project leverages mmWave antennas and intelligent cameras to improve how accurately the network tracks moving vehicles, maintaining stable connections even at high speeds.

Recently, the MARPA team completed the first on-site phase at the racetrack in Modena. For this step, a standard 5G antenna and an NGCI cell were installed, providing a functional baseline for high-speed connectivity testing. This setup allowed the team to carefully assess coverage, signal stability, and potential interference in a real-world high-mobility environment.

Beyond simply placing the equipment, the installation involved fine-tuning the antenna alignment and network parameters to ensure reliable initial operation. These efforts not only validate the feasibility of the NGCI deployment but also create a controlled environment for integrating more advanced technologies in the next phases, such as mmWave radios and intelligent camera systems.

In recent trials, a Škoda Octavia equipped with a receiver antenna completed laps around the Modena racetrack. The connection remained stable throughout, with only minor low-signal zones behind hills — insights that help fine-tune MARPA’s systems.

“Sometimes innovation starts with a slow lap and patience,” the team notes, emphasizing that building reliable high-speed connectivity is as much about testing and iteration as it is about technology.

This installation represents only the first step of MARPA. After completing preliminary tests and analyzing the data, SMA-RTY will return to the site to install mmWave radios and intelligent cameras, marking the beginning of the full-scale project.