Blu Wireless Technology Ltd has joined the University of Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC) as part of its SME Technology partner programme.

Due to open its doors in September 2015, the 5GIC is the UK’s only research centre dedicated to the next generation of mobile communications. The centre will bring together leading academic expertise and key industry partners in a shared vision to develop standards and technology for fifth generation wireless networks.

Blu Wireless will work with the 5GIC initially to integrate Blu Wireless ‘Lightning’ millimetre wave gigabit modems within the 5GIC 5G mobile testbed. This unique facility equips businesses and researchers with a fully-functioning advanced 4G network which, over time, will be upgraded to a fully-fledged 5G system, enabling the development and testing of 5G prototype technologies in a real world situation. Blu Wireless will also assist with general technical collaboration on requirements and technology for advanced baseband modems for the 5G millimeter-wave modem.

Mark Barrett, Blu Wireless CMO, said of the partnership, “The 5GIC is a global centre of research into next generation wireless networks and we are delighted to be a part of it. Our technology will enable 5G infrastructure and access applications such as radio transport over Back Haul and Front Haul networks and will help to drive the research that will underpin the 5G standards of the future.”

Professor Rahim Tafazolli, Director of 5GIC, said “We are working with a fantastic variety of partners from across industry to deliver a holistic framework for the successful development of 5G. With Blu Wireless joining the Centre, our collaborative efforts are further strengthened particularly in millimetric band technologies. We look forward to working with them and integrating their equipment and expertise into our new test bed, housed on our campus in Guildford.”