Neutral Wireless

A Glasgow-based spin-out from the University of Strathclyde that designs and builds private 4G and 5G networks, including portable ones used for live TV and events.

About Neutral Wireless

Neutral Wireless makes private mobile networks. Instead of using a public network shared with millions of phones, a broadcaster, a stadium or an emergency team can have a network of its own that is reliable and can be set up quickly. The company designs, builds and installs private 4G and 5G radio networks, and has shown versions that fit on a small aircraft or in a flight case. Its own description is that it offers end-to-end wireless solutions that are innovative, secure by design and good value for money.

The company is a spin-out from the University of Strathclyde and works closely with the university's StrathSDR research lab, which designs software-defined radio (radios whose behaviour is set by software rather than fixed circuits). Chief executive Dr Cameron Speirs and chief technology officer and director Professor Bob Stewart are named in public coverage. Its tools include nibOS software that automates network operation. Its technology was used in trials and broadcasts including a Highland Games, an Irish music festival, and live coverage of Queen Elizabeth II's final departure from Edinburgh.

The team was part of the project named IBC Accelerator Project of the Year for 2022, according to the university, for "5G Remote Production in the middle of nowhere". At Mobile World Congress 2026 it showed a 5G-enabled ultralight aircraft. Its technology partners are listed as including AMD, Amarisoft, Cisco, Haivision, Qualcomm and StrathSDR. Professor Stewart said its focus is on "what's already working in the real world", and described the goal as making connectivity more flexible and more efficient.

A UK industry directory entry describes the company as headquartered in Glasgow and privately held. Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, is expected to release short-duration spectrum which the company says will let temporary events get networks in days rather than months. The pages we could read do not give staff numbers or describe culture beyond engineers working on digital signal processing and software-defined radio, so we cannot say more about what it is like inside.

A company like this suits people who like electronics, programming and maths, with roles such as radio and signal processing engineers, FPGA (programmable chip) designers, software developers, network engineers and field engineers who set up networks at events. It also offers training courses. Physics, maths and computing at school are all relevant, and universities such as Strathclyde teach this area. The company's own website is the place to check what is open.

What they do

• {'desc': 'Designing and installing deployable networks for broadcast, events and public safety.', 'title': 'Private 4G and 5G networks'}
• {'desc': 'Development of RFSoC-based radio hardware and custom FPGA designs.', 'title': 'Software-defined radio products'}
• {'desc': 'Courses on private wireless networks.', 'title': 'Training and upskilling'}

Key facts

• Spin-out from the University of Strathclyde, working with the StrathSDR research lab
• Headquartered in Glasgow (UK telecoms industry directory)
• Part of the team named IBC Accelerator Project of the Year for 2022 (University of Strathclyde)
• CEO Dr Cameron Speirs; CTO and director Professor Bob Stewart

Website: www.neutralwireless.com