The Future is Hybrid: how hybrid connectivity is set to shape our world
With innovative technologies spawning every day, one thing is for sure, ‘always on’ connectivity is ever more crucial to society. The rapid continuous and ubiquitous transfer of data is becoming a crucial part of modern life, dominated by countless connectivity-dependent services. However, as Tristan Wood, CEO of Livewire Digital says here, it is hybrid connectivity that is making the biggest waves, particularly on the front line.
True hybrid connectivity fuses diverse networks, expertly placed to address the challenge of connecting vehicles, drones and devices of all sizes and complexity, regardless of local area conditions and infrastructure. Bonding any combination of available services, including cellular, satellite, LTE and other terrestrial services, it ensures uninterrupted and reliable communication crucial to business and government operations.
But perhaps the most immediate evidence of the benefits of hybrid connectivity is in scenarios that demand an emergency response, where reliance on a single network proves unreliable.
One such example is our Hybrid Connex collaboration with Excelerate Technology and the East of England Ambulance Service, that uses our proprietary RazorLink SD-WAN technology to bond and accelerate disparate networks, 4G/5G/LTE and satellite into a single, resilient ‘heterogeneous’ connection, meaning a first response crew will never be offline even in the most off-grid or remote locations. It has literally transformed ambulance operations in locations that previously had little to no usable cellular connection, empowering clinicians to update patient records and access critical systems in real time – elevating patient care when it matters most.
Even when on the road in remote locations, RazorLink is delivering always-on high speed connectivity, using software defined technology to bond cellular connections with low orbit satellite services to provide an always on Wi-Fi bubble around the response vehicle that allows staff to connect to a hospital’s digital systems and NHS Spine-connected services 100 per cent of the time. This doesn’t just give them access to the patient’s history and identify alternative care pathways, it facilitates decision-making to provide the best possible outcome for the patient. To find out more about how the technology works, see here.
This ability to maintain a fast, seamless connection, especially on the move, is increasingly important across industries, especially healthcare, where seconds are literally lifesaving.
This groundbreaking technology doesn’t simply optimise clinical decision-making, it improves outcomes and opens the door to new patient care pathways, increasing the range of point-of-contact diagnostic procedures. Suddenly, with our hybrid technology, a situation that would once have meant hospital services for treatment, turns into one that allows for faster treatment in situ, without the patient having to go to hospital at all. And with the march of telehealth and remote surgical procedures becoming a centre stage conversation across healthcare systems more widely, the importance of resilient connectivity will assume an order of magnitude many times greater.
Myriad other market applications
Indeed, it is easy to see the benefits RazorLink’s hybrid connectivity brings in the emergency response setting. But it doesn’t stop there – the ability to ‘connect’ within any environment, regardless of whether terrestrial infrastructure is available, is becoming a prerequisite in many other scenarios, from autonomous systems on the move – land, sea or air - to the battlefield.
Leaving aside success in the first responder markets including UK police and fire, in maritime settings, where most ocean-going vessels access satellite communications for telephone and data services, there is a growing need for ‘always on’ connected services, not only for engineer management and security applications, but crew and passenger services.
Back on land, and in conurbations especially, the evolution of connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) is ushering in a new era of transportation, promising safer roads, efficient mobility, and unparalleled convenience. With CAVs, a truly robust communication infrastructure is not just a necessity; it’s the lifeline ensuring these vehicles navigate, operate, and communicate flawlessly across varied terrains and conditions. Imagine a scenario where a train, guided by well-defined tracks, faces challenges in maintaining consistent connectivity. Now, magnify this complexity many times over for autonomous vehicles, crossing borders, and dealing with a wide variety of infrastructure and signals.
When instant communication is the lifeblood of society, hybrid connectivity is not only a technical achievement, but a societal necessity. RazorLink’s fusion of networks doesn’t just enable faster data, it enables better decisions, saves lives, and transforms industries – shaping the future for generations to come.
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Jaynesh Patel
Jaynesh Patel is Head of Telecoms and Spectrum Policy, leading the Communications Infrastructure and Services Programme at techUK and overseeing the UK Spectrum Policy Forum.
Josh Turpin
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
Matthew Wild
Matthew joined techUK in August 2023 as a Programme Assistant.
Tales Gaspar
Tales has a background in law and economics, with previous experience in the regulation of new technologies and infrastructure.