Use case 2: Providing network slicing as a service for a sports partner
In Formula 1, a hundredth of a second can be the difference between winning and losing. Formula 1 teams have become dependent on technology, with sensors, servers, connectivity, and unified and secured communications solutions crucial for enabling the analysis of data to improve both cars and real-time race day strategies. Having near real-time data is critical to providing a competitive edge. Data is gathered from hundreds of telemetry sensors spread out across the race cars and their drivers.

Real-time data streams drive every aspect of the sport including pre-race simulations, real-time decision-making by analysts and pit crew, post-race analysis, and the broadcast experience.

During testing and racing, compiling information on performance and conditions like speed, exhaust and tire temperatures, engine fluid pressure, oil and water levels, engine RPMs, G-force and driver biometrics, as well as airflow and air pressure to help the race team understand their car’s aerodynamic position are just some of the elements measured by the car’s array of sensors. The data from the sensors is communicated to the team’s pit crew using radio with limited bandwidth. The data is shared via trackside LAN with all team members present at the location as well as with the broader team at the racing team’s headquarters. Due to technical limitations, the team cannot get all the data it would like during the race in real time. A dedicated team of telecommunications engineers always travels to each race alongside the racing team to create and install the required infrastructure and ensure it is up and running. With the racing team’s decision-making time frame on whether a car needs to be brought into the pit potentially as short as just 45 seconds, the racing team is reliant on real-time communications between all engineers, both trackside and at headquarters.

Figure 2: Hundreds of sensors measuring F1 car telemetry data during race