5G real lab set up in "TIP Innovationspark" Nordheide

21 August 2023

5G research projects at a cost of EUR 11 million launched

The basis of a new 5G real lab is now in place after a 5G R&D campus was officially opened Wednesday (August 16, 2023) in the Technology and Innovation Park (TIP) Nordheide in the Hamburg Metropolitan Region. Launched by the Harburg District Economic Development Corporation (WLH) with partners in commerce and science, the network will be made available for institutions based in TIP where research into the development of new 5G applications is underway at a cost of EUR 11 million.

Environment for new, forward-looking technologies

"The 5G campus network strengthens Harburg as a seat of innovation and offers us a unique testing ground for forward-looking technologies," said Rainer Rempe, District Administrator. That will create an experimental environment in TIP to develop novel products and services. WLH operates the campus network independently of the public mobile network and has its own licence. "Our goal is to turn TIP into a hotspot of regional innovation. Therefore, we want to make it as easy as possible for companies and researchers to develop and test their own 5G applications here," said Jens Wrede, Managing Director of WLH. The independent network offers more security and improved transmission quality and scalability, he added.

(l. to r.) Rainer Rempe, Jens Wrede and Francie Petrick, Manager of Media Broadcast

Partners and projects in 5G Real Lab

The 5G standard offers all kinds of possibilities in autonomous driving, robotics, drone control, virtual and augmented reality and automation. Several partners including Leuphana University Lüneburg, Buxtehude University of Applied Sciences, RWTH Aachen University and the PHWT Diepholz and Vechta have helped set up and expand the lab. Research is dedicated to e.g., smart production and buildings, smart disaster control, systems for complex energy plants, VR and AR applications, autonomous driving with AI systems, as well as 5G in SMEs and an overarching data platform.

Campus network

"An innovation ecosystem is being created in TIP, which we are building to strengthen the business location. Knowledge and technology transfer are key to that," said Timo Maurer, Innovation Manager of WLH. The new campus network will help achieve this success. About 40 kilometres of fibre optic cables were laid and ten outdoor antennas were installed on street lamps, according to WLH. These so-called outdoor units could be expanded to a total of 129. The new infrastructure is designed to meet demand in future and to further develop the mobile communications standard. The 5G network is available in TIP at a speed of up to 10 gigabits per second. "Enquiries from other partners, who would like to start joint projects with us in the 5G real lab, are always welcome," Wrede added.

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