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Cloud-Star technology are looking for someone to work in our busy sales office to help with various types of admin including processing telephone and on-line orders, answering the telephone booking international shipments, updating the website.

The job is varied and you will be working with a small friendly team.

We will consider both part-time and full-time hours.

If you would like more information please contact Tim on: 01423 340066 or e-mail: tim@co-star.co.uk

Nokia unveils 5G automated drone for industrial operations

Nokia unveils first CE-certified 5G automated drone-in-a-box solution for secure, reliable public sector and industrial operations

• Nokia first to offer CE-certified turnkey automated drone solution, connected over 4G/LTE and 5G, including drones with dual gimbal camera, docking station, and edge data processing.

• Use of Nokia Drone Networks docking station enables 24/7 fully remote drone operations and charging.

• Open API framework allows integration of third-party applications for extensive customization of the solution to expand use cases and capabilities.

Nokia have revealed it is the first to offer a CE-certified, turnkey drone-in-a-box solution, designed to meet the growing demands of organizations including public safety agencies, smart cities, construction, energy and defense. CE-certified to meet safety requirements of the European Union, the Nokia Drone Networks solution connects over public and private 4G/LTE and 5G networks to enhance situational awareness for first responders and other professionals.

The solution is manufactured in Europe and comprises Nokia drones, docking station, dual gimbal camera and edge cloud processing using Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE). By connecting over public and private 4G/LTE and 5G networks, customers will benefit from the highest reliability. Using cellular connectivity technologies also offers higher data rates and lower latency enabling more data to be streamed than over Wi-Fi. Beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations with real-time kinetic (RTK) positioning improves situational awareness. Dual modem connectivity allows Nokia drones to simultaneously connect to multiple networks, complying with system redundancy that is commonly required by aviation regulatory bodies.

The Nokia Drone Networks solution can be operated remotely for search and rescue activities, and to assess damage in a hazardous environment. Nokia drones can also be programmed to manage autonomous scheduled flights for applications like additional security at large events or to manage regular remote equipment inspections.

The docking station protects the drone and payload, such as the sensor devices or dual gimbal camera, from external hazards and harsh weather while it remotely charges the drone to prepare for the next flight.

When used in conjunction with Nokia MXIE, data from Nokia drones can be collected and processed in real time at the edge cloud. An open API framework allows agencies and enterprises to onboard pre-integrated Nokia and third-party applications and systems and take advantage of a growing number of compelling public safety and Industry 4.0 use cases for drone automation, including object identification, tracking and network measurements

Nokia and the New York Power Authority have already demonstrated the use of the Nokia Drone Networks solution, connected over private LTE, for transmission line inspection.

Thomas Eder, Head of Embedded Wireless Solutions at Nokia, said: “Our mission is to reshape the industrial UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) market, providing enhanced situational awareness to aid search and rescue, surveillance, and other UAV operations in a wide variety of industries. Nokia Drone Networks has been designed to comply with the remote operation requirements of aviation regulatory bodies such as EASA in Europe and FAA in the United States.

This will help us address growing market demands as a turnkey provider with a solution designed and produced in Europe. The unique feature set enabling the integration of Nokia drones with third-party applications will aid the transformation of the drones, allowing them to be used as a flying data collection platform leveraging reliable 4G and 5G edge cloud connectivity.”

Depending on the deployed configuration, Nokia drones offer more than 50 minutes of flight time and cover distances of more than 30 km due to the unique hardware architecture, integrated software innovations and the 4G/5G connectivity.

Source: Nokia

Vodafone and ITN partner to broadcast Coronation using 5G Standalone

ITN's coverage of the Coronation of King Charles III will be the first UK broadcast enabled by a public 5G SA network.

• Coronation broadcast is first in the UK to be enabled by a public 5G Standalone (5G SA) network – the next generation of 5G currently being piloted by Vodafone.

• Vodafone and ITN have entered a partnership to create a network slice on Vodafone’s public 5G SA network for the Coronation TV broadcast.

• This is the first time 5G SA on a public network is being used to enable a broadcast in the UK.

• Vodafone was the first UK network to make 5G SA available to the public, during its pilot in January 2023.

• Partnership formed via Vodafone and Coventry University’s 5G SA Media Lab.

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III will be the first time in the UK a public 5G Standalone (5G SA) network is used for a broadcast, due to an innovative partnership between Vodafone and ITN.

Vodafone has worked with ITN to dedicate a slice of Vodafone’s public 5G SA network for the broadcast of the Coronation – the first time any UK telco has provided a slice of its public 5G SA network for a major event broadcast. Vodafone was the first UK telco to test its 5G SA network for public use in January 2023, when select consumers trialled the new network’s capabilities. Dedicating an exclusive slice of Vodafone’s public 5G SA network to ITN will enable the swift and secure transfer of the live Coronation broadcast coverage from Westminster to ITN’s HQ newsroom in Gray’s Inn Road, London, so it can then be shared across the nation and then worldwide. Vodafone launches 5G Standalone Mobile Private Network solution Vodafone launches 5G Standalone connectivity over its standardised Mobile Private Network solution to offer ultra-low latency, high availability connectivity to power businesses into the future.

Nick Gliddon, UK Business Director, Vodafone, said: “This innovative partnership will make the Coronation of HM King Charles III the first 5G SA coronation. We are proud to be working with ITN to play our part in helping make this special event happen. “Innovation is at the heart of Vodafone, from the first text message to the first mobile call, we have been central in the UK’s adoption of digital technology. Now we are continuing this tradition by being the first to switch on 5G SA for the public to trial and providing a slice of this network for the Coronation. “The possibilities with 5G SA are very exciting – AI, autonomous vehicles, holographic calls, IoT and more. 5G SA will turbo-charge the UK’s digital economy and pave the way for our next digital age.”

Jon Roberts, Director of Television, Production and Innovation at ITN, says: “It feels fitting that 70 years on from the 1953 Coronation, itself a milestone in outside broadcasting, ITN will be delivering coverage to audiences around the world while trialling the future of cellular connectivity. “We are proud of our role in broadcasting this historic event, and excited to be blazing a trail in partnership with Vodafone as we explore the capabilities of 5G SA technology together.”Network slicing: Everything you need to know Network slicing, a new way of delivering customised connectivity experiences, will be made possible by the introduction of 5G Standalone (5G SA). But what is it and why do we need it?

Network slicing is a new capability enabled by 5G SA, the next generation of 5G, which the UK Government recently called the “cornerstone of the UK’s digital economy”. One of its key benefits is that it allows telecoms operators to create separate and isolated networks for different use cases. Each slice can be configured differently. As they are isolated from each other, the performance on one would not impact another. In the broadcasting industry, this is an exciting development for two reasons. Firstly, a minimum upload speed threshold can be set to guarantee that digitally dense content is uploaded quickly and reliably for live streaming. Secondly, it removes the risk of network congestion impacting the performance of the broadcast. This is particularly relevant for mass events such as the Coronation, as well as for live content contribution in isolated locations.

As media organisations become increasingly reliant on mobile networks for outside broadcasts, achieving predictable network performance has become essential. Mobile private networks are a commonly used technology, but these can require heavy-duty equipment. They are also time-consuming, as advance planning is needed to get permission for a private network.

Network slicing gives broadcasters private mobile network for video transmission with no extra heavy-duty equipment, planning, back-office or spectrum licensing needed, and it can be accessed all via a SIM card.Vodafone and Coventry University launch UK’s first 5G SA Media Innovation Lab Broadcasters and media companies can work with Vodafone and Coventry University experts at the lab to develop new use cases based on the high bandwidth and low latency capabilities of 5G, as well as explore the benefits of new services such as network slicing.

The testing of the capability for this partnership was supported by Vodafone’s technology partner Ericsson and ITN’s technology partner Live U. This was done at Vodafone and Coventry University’s 5G SA Media Innovation Lab in Coventry – the first of its kind in the UK. Broadcasters and other media companies, as well as the software development community, have been invited to the lab to develop 5G SA use cases for the media industry, working alongside Vodafone engineers and Coventry University academics. The lab supports proof of concepts and allows development and testing of end-to-end solutions in a safe and configurable environment.

Source: Vodafone