SailGP selects Ericsson as global technology supplier for the 2025 Season

ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team helmed by Nicolai Sehested, Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team helmed by Martine Grael, Spain SailGP Team helmed by Diego Botin in action on Race Day 1 of The Rolex SailGP Championship ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

SailGP, the most exciting racing on water, is set to benefit from the fastest mobile connectivity possible as the global championship teams up with Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) at iconic venues across the globe in 2025.

Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions will provide SailGP teams and personnel with seamless, high-quality 5G connectivity, improving fan experiences and race operations. Additionally, the solutions will support SailGP umpires to adjudicate on race protocol through the enhanced capabilities of 5G-enabled live camera streaming from competing F50s and insights into team locations, tactics, and strategy.

Split-second human responses made by athletes will make the difference between victory and defeat. To support those decisions, each team will have access to the fastest connectivity possible under some of the most challenging physical conditions. Ericsson's solutions deliver instant real-time data and statistical feedback, despite the F50s reaching speeds up to 100 km/h (about 62.14 mph) over open waters.

Ericsson's Cradlepoint edge routers - installed in the wings of each F50 - are expected to handle more than 53 billion data points across the fleet per race day, including IoT, video and critical communications from competing boats connecting to Ericsson Private 5G. It was important that 5G connectivity solutions could be deployed across a diverse landscape and connect to multiple carriers. They also required a ruggedized edge router in each F50 that could withstand rough maritime conditions. For the safety of the athletes and the boat, neither may leave the dock until the F50 and its crew are fully connected and communicating.

Warren Jones, Chief Technology Officer at SailGP, said: "SailGP continues to innovate so we can provide the best experiences possible for our teams and fans, this requires networking technology that can keep up with the speed and intricacies of the sport. Ericsson Private 5G combined with its Cradlepoint edge routers not only matches the bandwidth and latency challenges of billions of data points during a race but also addresses our need to quickly deploy networks at locations across the world. This reliable, scalable connectivity helps teams optimize performance and maintain fair competition while significantly enriching the fan experience through visibility into race analytics."

Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G, Enterprise Wireless Solutions, Ericsson, said: "The fastest sailing event deserves the fastest possible connectivity for its crews, onshore teams, and officials. With Ericsson Private 5G and our Cradlepoint edge routers, that's exactly what it will get. This collaboration with SailGP is a testament to the innovation of our connectivity products which support a wide range of use cases - whether it's race-critical for real-time decision-making or to enable the best fan experience through race analytics."

SailGP initially worked with Ericsson and T-Mobile to test and deploy Ericsson Private 5G solution over T-Mobile's 5G spectrum at US events in Season 4. The solution will be installed and deployed in all F50s and rolled out globally for the 2025 Season. Key outcomes include:

• Performance Optimization: The real-time transport of extensive data between off- and on-shore teammates on boat speed, wind conditions, and other factors, allowing real-time data analysis to maximize speed and efficiency by adjusting sail settings and boat trim.

• Enhanced Tactical Decision-Making: The immediate availability of data on race position, course layout, and wind direction enables teams to make informed tactical decisions during races, such as choosing optimal sailing angles, deciding when to tack or gybe, and strategizing for mark roundings.

• Increased Fairness and Transparency: The real-time transportation of data directly and securely into Oracle Cloud (OCI) enables racers to share data with all teams, including boat speed, wind direction and course layout, and race position. This helps SailGP prevent any unfair advantages and promotes fair competition.

• Enhanced Spectator Engagement: Data sharing and improved bandwidth also enhance the spectator experience by providing insights into the intricacies of sailing tactics and strategy, making races more engaging and understandable for viewers.

For more information about Ericsson's partnership with SailGP, visit here.