The Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI) has set up a 5G campus network on the BTU campus in Senftenberg in cooperation with the BTU. This was funded by the BMV as part of the “5G Implementation Support within the 5G Innovation Program.” The network is operational and can be used for teaching and research. Buildings 6 and 16 (indoor) as well as large parts of the campus (outdoor) are covered by 5G. The network includes all the technical equipment needed for independent operation on campus and can therefore be operated and used independently of public 5G networks, including a powerful EDGE cloud.
The network offers the familiar performance characteristics of 5G, in particular:
- Peak data rates of up to 1 Gbit/s on the premises and in the buildings,
- Low latency (<20 ms),
- Assigned frequency range (3.7 to 3.8 GHz) is available in its entirety and without interference,
- use for broadband applications (image data: Enhanced Mobile Broadband, etc.),
- transmission of time-critical sensor data (e.g., vital data, control of devices and machines: Massive Machine Type Communication).
In addition, there is a powerful EDGE cloud. It allows virtual machines (VMs) to be installed, which provide users with virtual computers independently of other users.
Both the components of the 5G network and the EDGE cloud can be adapted for different applications (data transfer, security, VM areas, image and mass data processing, etc.).
Installed Hardware in the 5G Campus Network
Virtual machines (VMs) can consume a total of approximately 1.5 times the resources in different capacities, depending on the utilization of the virtual machines. The VMs on the software stack can flexibly use different operating systems, such as Windows or Linux (usually Ubuntu or Debian), which allows for great freedom in the choice of data storage, as the software can be installed according to user requirements. If necessary, third parties can also access the VMs via a VPN-as-a-Service solution.
As already practiced at HHI, AI applications such as federated learning processes can also be used. HHI provides resources and expertise for this purpose within the framework of joint projects. This can include, for example, the use of technical infrastructures (5G, LiFi, EDGE cloud, QKD) or the exchange of research results.
Planned infrastructure for HHI's own research projects
Digital Medicine as a Technical Use Case
Digital medical applications place particularly high demands on communication and computing infrastructures. Multisensory systems for motion analysis, wearables, and imaging techniques generate continuous data streams with high temporal resolution. Stable data transmission and deterministic latencies are essential for assistance and decision support systems.
Typical requirements of medical applications:
- Continuous data streams with high sampling rates
- Reliable prioritization of critical data
- Very low latencies for assistance and feedback systems
- Local processing of sensitive health data
The combination of a local 5G core network and edge computing allows these requirements to be mapped and researched under real-world conditions at the 5G Campus Senftenberg.
Demonstration Projects on the Senftenberg Campus by HHI
- Use of 5G infrastructure for testing open RAN and vendor-locked systems (Nokia). Decoupling of proprietary hardware/software through the use of standardized interfaces for free access to the network structure by different manufacturers.
- Connection of additional radio units via eCPRI (enhanced Common Public Radio Interface) for use of standard Ethernet/IP connections to the BBU.
- Use of Optical Wireless Communication (OWC) for the connection between BBU and radio units based on eCPRI.
In the medium to long term, this is intended to develop into a cooperation within which joint industry and funded projects will be realized.