Nephelie wins Future Telecoms Competition with nCOMM+ Project

Nephelie Technologies Limited has been awarded a £1.8 million contract to revolutionise the way volumetric video is produced over a ground-breaking multi-access wireless network. Powered by Neural Radiance Fields and 3D Gaussian Splatting technologies, the nCOMM+ project represents the pinnacle of innovation at the intersection of AI and networking.

The nCOMM+ project focuses on using cutting-edge wireless networking technology to generate high-quality volumetric videos in real time. Volumetric video is a technique that captures and recreates virtually a 3D space, such as a location or performance. It is used in various industries, such as VR/AR experiences, education and training, video games, film/television production, and digital marketing.

By streamlining the process of volumetric video production (VVP), the nCOMM+ solution aims to open new business opportunities beyond entertainment, sports and gaming, in areas like digital twins, surveying, real estate, and healthcare.

In this project, Nephelie Technologies, a Bristol-based SME, will build a product demonstrator of the nCOMM+ solution based on a high-performance 'network of networks' that seamlessly combines various wireless technologies such as 5G and Wi-Fi under a unified software-defined orchestration. The technology solution will be developed in collaboration with the University of Bristol and Weaver Labs who will serve as sub-contractors for this project.

Furthermore, a carefully selected group of companies from the UK creative industry will assist in defining the end-user requirements and provide valuable and practical insights into the overall design of the solution.

Two novel, AI-driven, rendering technologies: Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs)  and 3D Gaussian Splattings (3DGS) will be used to generate highly realistic and detailed images delivered over then COMM+ network. Using NeRF/3DGS renderings for VVP offers numerous benefits over traditional methods, including supporting real-time applications and creating accurate 3D renderings even under difficult environmental conditions.

The nCOMM+ network incorporates several key innovations, including highly accurate timing to support the synchronization of dozens of high-resolution cameras, ultra-low-latency and high-bandwidth wireless video data transfers to support AI-driven VVP applications, and dynamic adjustment of the network operating parameters according to the application's requirements.

The key aim of the nCOMM+ project is to demonstrate that the integration of a highly efficient wireless network with NeRFs' ability to generate detailed 3D renderings can produce a versatile and adaptable VVP solution with substantial business growth potential across various industries.

Upon the project's conclusion, the demonstrator will be installed at the Bristol Digital Futures Institute as a 'first-of-a-kind' deployment of the solution. This will not only showcase the project's accomplishments but also attract additional funding and new customers.

The project findings will be made available to the broad UK industry so everyone can benefit from the project's learnings thus stimulating new economic growth opportunities at a regional and national level.