Manchester Airport becomes UK’s first ‘5G-connected’ airport

Vodafone UK is testing video streaming and other services at Manchester Airport as part of its ongoing 5G trials.

The telco has switched on a 5G hotspot that enable customers to use a free ‘Entertainment Pass’ for streaming the NOW TV service to download and stream content.

Vodafone claims downloads are up to four times faster than over 4G. During the trial, passengers are given a free Entertainment Pass on streaming service NOW TV so that they could download an episode of the new series of Tin Star in 45 seconds and the whole series in six minutes and seven seconds - up to four times faster than over 4G, which would have taken 26 minutes and eight seconds, according to Vodafone.

As 5G handsets are not yet available, Vodafone had completed the trial using its ‘Gigacube’ device - a portable router that is 5G enabled.

The idea is that passengers could digitally load entertainment on their devices to see them through their flight as more people bring their one devices for entertainment purposes.

According to Vodafone, the trial used 5G with Active Antenna (or Massive MIMO) technology at Manchester Airport – a wireless network that allows the transmitting and receiving of more than one data signal. This creates multiple 5G ‘motorways’ from one antenna, which are then beamed to a 5G router to create a fixed wireless access connection for many users. This allows any device with Wi-Fi to connect to the router and benefit from a high-speed data connection.

Nick Jeffery, Vodafone UK’s chief executive, said of the development: "We all love to catch up on our favourite TV shows, play games or finish off some work when travelling. 5G, with its fast speeds and quick response times, will make that quick and easy, even in busy locations."

Vodafone intends to keep deploying its ‘blast pods’ - which are actually enabled by its Gigacube 5G portable routers - at more airports and railway stations including Birmingham over the summer.

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