International sailing series SailGP has announced a collaboration with BT Group, the heavyweight UK telecoms firm, to utilize the company’s 5G capabilities for its upcoming Great Britain Grand Prix.
Under the agreement, BT becomes the official technology supplier of the event, which will be held off the coast of Portsmouth from July 19 and 20.
Go deeper with GlobalData
BT will work closely with the series organizers and Ericsson, SailGP’s global technology partner, to provide two dedicated network slices for several functions, including onboard video.
Network slicing uses 5G standalone technology to provide a dedicated slice of a mobile network for specific use to ensure its performance is not affected by public user congestion at the event.
BT’s multi-network slices will provide 5G capacity to maintain strong on-board boat connectivity, enable quick payments at point-of-sale terminals, support SailGP’s production for broadcasting, and allow select photographers to upload photos in real time for use by international media.
Warren Jones, SailGP’s chief technology officer, said: “Partnering with BT has allowed us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports connectivity.
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalData“In a first for SailGP, BT’s use of 5G standalone network slicing ensures the global championship can maintain real-time communications, telemetry, and live video from the racecourse – this collaboration showcases how cutting-edge connectivity can transform the delivery of global sporting events.”
It will be the first time that BT has delivered multiple concurrent network slices at the same event, and is working with fellow telecoms company Nokia to deploy network slicing capabilities in several radio mast sites covering the event area around Portsmouth harbor.
This year’s UK event will also feature SailGP’s 360-degree AR/VR experience that will use the higher capacity 5G radios being tested by BT and Ericsson.
Kerry Small, Business at BT Group’s chief operating officer, added: “5G Standalone isn’t just about faster speeds – it’s about unlocking tailor-made capabilities that can transform customer experiences.
“In partnership with SailGP, we’ve demonstrated this by using network slicing to streamline event operations and bring fans closer to the action than ever before.”
The 2025 SailGP season, which began last November with the Dubai Sail Grand Prix, is currently in its mid-season and has four more European stops after the Great Britain GP – Sassnitz (Germany), Saint-Tropez (France), Geneva (Switzerland), and Andalusia/Cadiz (Spain) – before ending with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in late November.
The current season has seen the debut of two new teams representing Italy and Brazil, with SailGP now in the process of bringing two more expansion teams into the fold for the 2026 season.
Last month, the championship opened an initial ‘expression of interest’ process for potential bidders for the two teams, with the Sports Business Group of professional services heavyweight Deloitte set to provide financial and advisory services to the UK-based league.
