Antevia Networks Deploys 5G Private Network at Bath Rugby Stadium

Dedicated Cellular Network: Transforming Match-Day Operations and Fan Experience

Bath, UK - Wednesday 14th January 2026 - Antevia Networks, a leading telecoms equipment vendor, is revolutionizing the economics of 5G private networks. The company recently announced the successful deployment of its 5G Shift end-to-end private network at the historic Recreation Ground of Premiership Rugby Champions Bath Rugby. This innovative 5G private network offers low-cost, high-performance, and predictable connectivity throughout the stadium and fan zone. It supports a wide array of commercial, operational, and safety-critical applications on match days.

Overcoming Challenges in 5G Deployment

The roll-out of 5G private networks has faced significant challenges. High costs and slow, complex installation cycles typically involve major vendors and telecom domain experts. Antevia's 5G Shift is designed to overcome these limitations. It provides better performance than legacy Wi-Fi and congested public mobile networks. The network ensures unbroken coverage using only a fraction of the access points, dramatically reducing the cost and complexity traditionally associated with cellular deployments.

Powered by Antevia's patented multiplexing and Shared Cell technologies, the network requires no RF planning. It can be deployed rapidly and managed as easily as enterprise Wi-Fi by the club's existing IT team.

Enhancing the Match-Day Experience

With up to 14,500 spectators attending each home game, Bath Rugby previously faced severe congestion on public Wi-Fi and macro cellular networks. This congestion caused Point-of-Sale (PoS) terminals to fail, slowing service and impacting revenue. What started as a project to stabilize retail connectivity has now expanded to support a growing set of use cases throughout the match-day experience, leading to increased ROI.

Bath Rugby utilizes the network to connect mission-critical and high-value applications, including:

• Point-of-sale terminals for food, beverage, and club-shop transactions

• Push-to-talk communications for medical teams and match-day operations

• CCTV and body-worn cameras for crowd safety and control

• Temporary connectivity for VIP hospitality areas

• High-speed media access for journalists filing live reports

• Digital signage across fan areas delivering real-time interviews, replays, and information

  
  

Real-World Value of 5G Shift

"Bath Rugby's Recreation Ground is a perfect example of how simple, scalable, and cost-effective private 5G can deliver real-world value. 5G Shift provides comprehensive coverage with ultra-low latency at a low price point, without the complexities and heavy engineering typically associated with private cellular deployment," said Simon Cosgrove, CEO at Antevia Networks. "We are proud to support Bath Rugby with a network that performs even when the stadium is at full capacity. We are excited to keep expanding the use cases that can help deliver operational and commercial benefits for the club."

A Reliable Communications Platform

"Antevia Networks' 5G Private Network has enabled us to provide Bath Rugby with a stable and reliable communications platform to support staff operations, incident management, and medical teams," said Stuart Waine, Director at Spry Fox Networks. "It has also allowed Bath Rugby to elevate the match-day experience for their fans. Working with Antevia Networks has been a genuine pleasure, and we look forward to deploying their 5G Private Network solution with a wide range of other clients as part of our future growth strategy."

Intelligent Network Architecture

Antevia's 5G Shift leverages an intelligent, cloud-based virtualized RAN architecture built on O-RAN standards and COTS hardware. The patented multiplexing technology enables all radios to appear as a single Shared 5G cell. This eliminates handover issues and significantly reduces the number of access points required. In previous deployments, this has been as few as one-tenth of the access points needed for Wi-Fi.

Accessibility for SMEs and Smaller Venues

The end-to-end private network is easy to design, fast to deploy, and simple to operate. This makes enterprise-grade 5G accessible to SMEs and smaller venues for the first time. For channel partners and system integrators, this opens up new markets and the ability to deliver IoT solutions for SMEs, which were previously impossible to satisfy due to the traditional cost and complexity of 5G. For the deployment at The Recreation Ground stadium, Bath Rugby and Antevia collaborated with Spry Fox Networks.

Conclusion

The deployment of Antevia's 5G Shift at Bath Rugby marks a significant milestone in the evolution of private cellular networks. By addressing the challenges of traditional 5G deployment, Antevia is paving the way for enhanced connectivity and improved experiences for both staff and fans. This innovative solution not only stabilizes communications but also opens up new avenues for operational efficiency and revenue generation.

About Antevia Networks

Antevia Networks designs and develops 5G in-building solutions for enterprises. Founded in March 2021, Antevia is based in Reading, UK, with research and development teams in Vancouver, Canada. Antevia’s leadership team has extensive experience in 2G, 3G, and 4G in-building coverage. They are using new Open-RAN based technology to pioneer a new class of in-building 5G coverage and capacity for enterprises.

For more information, visit antevianetworks.com.