VIAVI Solutions is joining ORBIT (Orchestrated mobile Network for Blackpool intelligent transport), a $4.15 million UK-funded initiative backed by DCMS and Innovate UK. The project’s goal is simple: integrate and validate a dedicated 5G standalone non-public network (SNPN) right across Blackpool’s municipal tram and bus lines.
While private 5G is quickly becoming a non-negotiable for modern transit safety, operators still run into a major hurdle: vendor fragmentation. There is a real lack of field-tested proof that multi-vendor Open RAN hardware and software can actually pull together into a dependable, production-ready system.
ORBIT fills that gap head-on by prioritizing real-world integration and system assurance. Core deployment scenarios include high-definition live CCTV streams for rapid incident response, onboard passenger multimedia, and a dedicated network slice to guarantee operational communications stay online.
To de-risk the deployment, VIAVI is building a Network Digital Twin powered by its TeraVM AI RAN Scenario Generator (AI RSG). By mapping out Blackpool’s exact transit routes virtually, the engineering team can test and fine-tune network control routines against realistic, high-density traffic long before hardware ever hits the street.
This virtual sandbox lets VIAVI stress-test performance, network resilience, and power consumption while slashing on-site integration headaches.
Led by Blackpool Council, the consortium also brings together the University of York and Hitachi Rail. Together, the partners will roll out live demonstrators across Blackpool’s fleet, issue comprehensive interoperability and assurance reports, and deliver a blueprint reference architecture designed to help other cities deploy verified 5G transit networks.
Leadership Comment
“The same approach to validating connectivity and AI-driven control before live deployment can be applied beyond ORBIT to other critical, distributed assets such as utilities, airports, ports, advanced manufacturing sites and other nationally significant infrastructure,” said Ian Langley, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Wireless, Security and Applications, VIAVI. “ORBIT gives us a live reference case for applying our digital twin capabilities to network deployments across critical sectors to reduce cost and risk.”
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