Vertical: Education
Application: Autonomous driving, logistics, healthcare, augmented reality
Ecosystem: Deutsche Telekom, Ericsson
Private Network: 5G
In a significant step towards digital innovation and research, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany has inaugurated its private 5G campus network, marking a milestone in the region’s technological advancement. This initiative, commissioned in collaboration with Dr. Lydia Hüskens, Minister for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt, represents a substantial investment in the area’s digital infrastructure.
Key Highlights:
- The project, implemented by Deutsche Telekom, comes with a price tag of approximately 1 million euros for construction and operation over seven years.
- The network covers both outdoor and indoor areas across 30,000 square meters.
- The network will enable research into various 5G applications, including autonomous driving, logistics, healthcare, and augmented reality.
- The university has been allocated industrial frequencies in the 3.7 to 3.8 gigahertz range, providing up to 100 megahertz of bandwidth for research and innovation.
- The network introduces 5G indoor positioning technology, a first for commercial use, opening up new possibilities in areas like production and logistics.
The establishment of this 5G network is not just a technological upgrade; it’s a catalyst for educational and industrial growth. Prof. Dr. Markus Krabbes, Rector of Merseburg University, emphasized that this network is a crucial component of the university’s ‘MerInnoCampus’ development strategy. It will serve as a testing ground for smart solutions, supporting new services in operational automation, infrastructure control, and real-time media transmission.
Moreover, the adjacent Merseburg Innovation and Technology Center (MITZ) will also benefit from this investment, allowing companies to test and develop 5G applications. This synergy between academia and industry is expected to accelerate innovation and research in digital technologies.
Minister Dr. Lydia Hüskens highlighted the broader implications of this project for Saxony-Anhalt. She emphasized that well-developed digital infrastructures are crucial for creating attractive living spaces and fostering economic growth. This investment is seen as a significant contributor to the region’s structural change process, potentially attracting more businesses and improving the quality of life for citizens.
