The field trial is being conducted as part of the EU-funded 5G-MoNArch project in Hamburg and is expected to last two years. Its aim is to establish a baseline for defining other aspects of the 5G standard.
Three case studies using real-world applications demonstrate the reliability of the new standard. In the first, partners installed sensors on ships belonging to HPA subsidiary Flotte Hamburg GmbH & Co. KG. These sensors transmit real-time motion and environmental data across large harbor bays. In another example, a traffic light has been linked to the mobile network and can be remotely operated by the HPA control center to manage traffic as it flows through the port. Trucks, for instance, are guided quickly and safely around the site. In the third example, the new standard makes high volumes of data readily available outside of existing networks by transmitting 3D data to an augmented reality application. Smart glasses use this information to display construction data related to future or existing structures in a realistic environment. In the future, this technology will help engineers monitor and optimize construction planning directly on-site at the port.
The goal of the Port of Hamburg project is to demonstrate that complex mobile applications with diverse requirements can reliably operate on a single network. To meet these demands, such as particularly high data rates or a large number of sensors, the mobile network in the test environment is divided into special virtual networks known as network segments. Each segment supports a specific requirement. The result? Separate virtual networks that can be used to manage the traffic light system or transmit environmental data, to name just two examples. This new architecture is the first of its kind, enabling networks to adapt dynamically and flexibly to the demands of a wide range of applications.
"The testbed has given us an idea of the enormous potential that 5G will offer, and in particular, network slicing," says Jens Meier, CEO of HPA. "I believe the new standard will form the basis for solving difficult industry challenges and is the final push we need to achieve a major breakthrough in terms of digitalization. I am proud that the City of Hamburg and the Port of Hamburg are among the first to benefit from this technology.".
Antje Williams, Executive Director of 5G Programs at Deutsche Telekom, states: "This EU project is an incredible opportunity to test key aspects of the new 5G technology together with our customer's HPA and develop it in line with the customer's needs. The project's findings are not only useful for the future standardization of 5G, but also allow us to find new and innovative solutions for the industry.".
"In general, ports must operate smoothly and very efficiently. At the Port of Hamburg, we have demonstrated that 5G can play a significant role in this regard. The test site offers invaluable practical experience and data that will help us in implementing future Smart Port concepts that utilize 5G networks and communication technologies, such as network division," adds Marc Rouanne, Head of Mobile Networks at Nokia.
The technological basis for the test site is provided by a transmitter installed at a height of over 150 meters on the Hamburg TV tower in January 2018. The stability of the mobile signal is monitored and verified through numerous measurements on land and in the Elbe River. Industrial applications require a telecommunications network that is both reliable and highly secure. It must also be capable of supporting a wide range of applications. As the findings from the 5G test site have now demonstrated in practice, network slicing is the way forward.
5G, the next-generation communications standard, has enormous potential for use in industrial settings. The Port of Hamburg Authority (HPA), Deutsche Telekom, and Nokia are pleased with the developments at the 5G test site since it became operational.
Background on 5G: MoNArch
5G is a completely new network concept that integrates fixed-line and mobile communications. However, it's not just about ever-increasing bandwidth or ever-faster speeds. 5G will be used for many applications with very different requirements in terms of speed, response time, security, and capacity. It will play a key role in the new applications emerging from IoT and Industry 4.0. Both the manufacturing and logistics industries, in particular, stand to benefit enormously from 5G mobile communications.
The 5G trial at the Port of Hamburg is part of a two-year research project entitled 5G MoNArch (5G Mobile Network Architecture for diverse services, use cases, and applications in 5G and beyond). 5G MoNArch aims to implement concepts for 5G mobile communications architecture in practice. The findings from the 5G network slicing implementation in a real-world test environment are used to review and improve the underlying concepts.
While the focus in Hamburg is on integrating 5G into infrastructure and transport management systems, a second test site in Turin is exploring multimedia applications. The EU's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Framework Programme will fund the 5G MoNArch project as part of Phase II of the 5G Infrastructure Public-Private Partnership (5G PPP).
