5G and Interconnectivity Equipment and Virtual Production Services for StudiosUK Facilities

Digital Catapult is looking to establish StudiosUK, a cluster of interconnected research facilities leveraging 5G and future networks capability to enable the exploration of convergent visual content production technologies - such as the use of high-density LED walls, motion-capture, real-time rendering engines and new forms of real-world capture.

Studios UK will be a cluster of interconnected facilities that leverage private 5G standalone (5G-SA) networks with multi-access edge compute (MEC) infrastructure hosting machine learning algorithms to enable real-time animation, wireless data transfer, volumetric capture, motion capture and AR broadcast; thus, enabling co-creation, remotely testing applications and experiences for Film and TV productions.

These studios will be utilised for collaborative research and development projects, skills training initiatives and commercial productions within the creative and manufacturing sectors. Examples of projects could include productions utilising in-camera VFX and Virtual Production, 5G enabled device testing, digital twin testbeds, real-time multi-site collaboration and tools and workflow development.

There are two sites, the first is within the M25, to be confirmed, the second is at PROTO, Abbott's Hill, Baltic Business Quarter, Gateshead NE8 3DF and both must be of specification to integrate with existing equipment. This procurement is for PROTO only, a procurement for the requirements of the site within the M25 will be subject to a separate procurement.

Each facility will host a private 5G Standalone (5G-SA) network that provides high bandwidth, low latency, synchronization and edge computing to support enhanced visual content production workflows and flexible wireless deployments. Security over public and non-public networks is a key consideration for media production applications. The Catapult is to leverage the development of non-public networks to integrate wireless production equipment into each studio and network slicing to differentiate and isolate the data flows.

High capacity (+10Gbps) dedicated secure inter-connections will enable the distribution of network services and workloads across the facilities. The network infrastructure will be flexible and scalable enough to meet the requirements for visual content production scenarios, such as those defined in 3GPP Rel. 16/17 to support ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC) and Video, Imaging and Audio for Professional Applications (VIAPA). Specifically, for the MEC infrastructure, it will connect all the production technology – camera, dolly and crane, audio-multitrack recorder, wireless microphone, tracking sensors, lighting – in a low latency and high-bandwidth network that will enhance the overall workflow.

The Catapult is to contract with an experienced and capable Supplier as a result of this procurement for the supply of 5G and interconnectivity equipment that will be used to upgrade the PROTO site and to connect the aforementioned two studios in the UK in accordance with the scope stated in this ITT.

There are four sub-lots for the equipment to be procured:

Lot 1a: Generic IT/Networking kit;

Lot 1b: 5G Radio and 5G ORAN Solution system;

Lot 1c: 5G Core system; and

Lot 1d: Point-to-point Interconnectivity between PROTO and LONDON

The estimated contract value of the Contracts to be awarded are detailed below:

Lot 1a: Generic IT/Networking kit – estimated value of this Lot is 790,000.00 GBP ex VAT;

Lot 1b: 5G Radio and 5G ORAN Solution system – estimated value of this Lot is 190,000.00 GBP ex VAT;

Lot 1c: 5G Core system – estimated value of this Lot is 60,000.00 GBP ex VAT;

Lot 1d: Point-to-point interconnection between PROTO and LONDON; 120,000.00 GBP ex VAT;

Bidders are permitted to submit tenders for one or more sub-lots at their discretion.