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New services and innovation

Research, Scouting and Experimentation



The research and development of disruptive technology lie at the heart of Rai Way’s Innovation and Research structure; its development aims to make our approach to innovation better-structured and more efficient, and aims also to prepare the company for mid- to long-term change. The objective of this structure is to acquire technological competence, proposing new ideas and transforming them into projects which will be able to face the challenges of the coming years. Maintaining our strong position within the Media and Broadcasting sector, we have extended our scouting activities into the telecommunications and ICT sectors.

An ecosystem of innovation

Our Innovation and Research structure works within an internal and an external ecosystem, communicating with:

  • companies who work on innovation. Sharing our experience and skills with these companies could lead to strategic agreements or partnerships;
  • start-ups who could provide solutions or become partners in specific projects;
  • research bodies, agencies, and consultancy firms who could support our experimentation with new technology or become partners in our national and international research;
  • universities;
  • vendors who share our interest in specific technologies and their subsequent experimentation, thus taking on a share of the benefits and/or responsibilities.
Being part of our ecosystem means actively facing consistent challenges in the fight for improvement, experimentation, and innovation.

Innovation and Research Projects

In coherence with our renowned infrastructure and celebrated talent, we are committed to various forms of Innovation and Research. Notable projects include:

  • the experimentation of network infrastructure which supports the drone market;
  • the experimentation of new broadcasting models, such as 5G Broadcasting;
  • the experimentation, using our assets, of selected IoT verticals.

Drones and IoT – Infrastructure and Vertical Services

Through this project, we intend to test a logistical radio infrastructure for drones in BVLOS within avionic standards on our sites.

The first phase of the experiment looks at radio links and how they can control and command drones (C2-Link), as well as long-distance and highly reliable connections which are necessary for BVLOS flights. The use of these dedicated connections is of fundamental importance to:

  • drone operators, who require a reliable service;
  • regulatory bodies Italian Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Economic Development, who require, respectively, elevated security standards and a clear regulatory framework for frequencies.


In 2020 we began testing and integrating radio and VTOL drone equipment at our Rai Way centre in Monte Peglia.

The second phase considers the recovery and charging station for VTOL drones, in order to:

  • render BVLOS infrastructure completely autonomous, with no employees on-site;
  • enable a series of vertical services, including the monitoring of the area and the environment to prevent and react to natural hazards.

These use cases require the acquisition of data from sensors on board the drones, as well as from in-field IoT sensors, and the integration and processing of this data using Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning algorithms.




Experimenting with 5G

5G Bari-Matera

In 2020, we concluded our participation in a project organised by the Ministry of Economic Development which experimented with 5G technology in the areas of Bari and Matera. We participated in the project for use cases related to television contribution and to monitoring and control services of handling in the port of Bari. To achieve this, we employed – alongside our other partner companies – the 5G network and other innovative technologies, including:

  • 360° video shooting and reproduction systems;
  • Virtual/Augmented Reality systems;
  • image recognition systems using Artificial Intelligence.


5G Broadcast

Technology
5G broadcasting technology (3GPP rel. 16) allows for the enhancement of HPHT (High Power High Tower) site networks for a BNO (Broadcast Network Operator) such as Rai Way. It is particularly efficient in broadcasting content to a greater number of users; this guarantees an elevated QoE even in extreme situations, and prevents the typical network congestion issues of unicast services operated by MNOs (Mobile Network Operators).

This technology enables cooperative HPHT/LPLT (Low Power Low Tower) network models, which optimise service coverage in urban areas.

Experimentation

  • MED band “Audio-Visual 5G” – In 2021, we participated in the band as leader of an aggregate with other partners. The objective was to implement use cases, making use of 5G broadcast technology alongside other innovative technologies, such as, for example, VR360.
  • Experimentation in Valle d’Aosta – We are currently taking part, in collaboration with RAI/CRITS, in an experiment of 5G broadcast technology which aims to verify the service coverage for fixed and mobile devices (in particular, for in-vehicle reception). This operates in SFN mode from Rai Way’s transmission sites in Aosta Gerdaz and Saint Vincent-Salirod.





Innovation in Core-Business

Our innovation strategy is doubly linked:

  • to the research of long-term opportunities and innovative uses in terms of our assets;
  • to an increasingly dynamic management in our current activities.

We pursue the evolution of our business model, guiding it towards new services and infrastructure, as well as the evolution of our operational model and the management of our assets through a digital transformation process.




Related arguments

Video and data content broadcasting services on broadband platforms

To support our broadcasting customers in their response to the evolution of consumer habits. This guarantees a heightened quality in both services and in user experience.

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Infrastructure which supports Edge Computing

The proximity of our infrastructure is an enabling element in low-latency services (which evokes an optimisation in usage quality) and in new telecommunication networks.

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Digital transformation

A process which effects human and technological resources, as well as working methods and corporate culture.

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