Deutsche Telekom Deploys First 5G Campus Network at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
Digital Minister Dr. Lydia Hüskens on the Launch: ‘5G Unlocks New Digital Opportunities, Playing a Key Role in the Region’s Structural Transformation’
5G Standalone Technology and Local Network Infrastructure Guarantee Security and Optimal 5G Performance
Innovation and Research Boosted by 5G: Merseburg University of Applied Sciences, alongside Dr. Lydia Hüskens, Minister for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs of Saxony-Anhalt, has launched a private 5G campus network. This network, part of the state’s investment in modern, future-proof digital infrastructures in a region undergoing structural change, is the first of its kind in the area. Deutsche Telekom secured the project, prevailing over several competitors in a Europe-wide tender. The total cost for construction and operation over seven years is approximately 1 million euros.
During the Merseburg Digital Days launch ceremony, Minister Dr. Lydia Hüskens emphasized the importance of digital infrastructure in enhancing quality of life and economic growth in Saxony-Anhalt: “Attractive living spaces require well-developed digital infrastructures. We are working diligently to establish these structures throughout Saxony-Anhalt, making the region more appealing for residents and businesses alike. This, in turn, encourages further business development, improves citizens’ quality of life, and ensures robust digital frameworks. A key component of this effort is 5G mobile communications, which opens up new digital opportunities for both businesses and private users.” The investment at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences is expected to significantly contribute to the region’s structural transformation.
5G Research for Innovative Industry and Business Applications
The newly established 5G network will enable the university to explore 5G applications in various fields, including autonomous driving, logistics, industry, healthcare, and augmented reality. The adjacent Merseburg Innovation and Technology Center (MITZ) will also benefit from this investment. Both companies and researchers at MITZ are engaged in collaborative projects across multiple disciplines, supported by the 5G campus network, which allows them to test and develop 5G applications.
Prof. Dr. Markus Krabbes, Rector of Merseburg University of Applied Sciences, expressed his gratitude to all involved in the project, stating: “The new 5G campus network is a crucial component of Merseburg University’s ‘MerInnoCampus’ development strategy. As a testing ground for smart solutions, this modern network supports new services in operational automation, infrastructure control, and real-time media signal transmission. These capabilities open up new opportunities for innovative projects and research, further strengthening the integration of teaching, research, and practice in digital future technologies.”
State-of-the-Art 5G Coverage
The 5G network provides cutting-edge coverage across the university’s 30,000-square-meter campus.
At Merseburg University of Applied Sciences and the Merseburg Innovation and Technology Center (MITZ), Deutsche Telekom has implemented its “Campus-Netz Private” business solution using state-of-the-art 5G standalone (5G SA) technology in partnership with Ericsson. The comprehensive 5G campus network spans approximately 30,000 square meters, offering both outdoor and indoor coverage. The network is supported by five powerful outdoor antennas, 12 indoor antennas on the third and fourth floors of the university’s main building, and 32 indoor antennas in the MITZ, ensuring robust and highly available connectivity.
The 5G network operates on industrial frequencies specifically reserved for the university in the 3.7 to 3.8 gigahertz range, allocated by the Federal Network Agency. This allocation provides researchers and companies with exclusive access to up to 100 megahertz of bandwidth.
Linus Schade, State Policy Representative for Saxony-Anhalt at Telekom, stated, “With Telekom’s new 5G campus network, the university and the state have established optimal conditions to enhance the transfer of innovation between research and practice in the field of digitalization and future technologies. Merseburg has long been a significant 5G testing ground for Deutsche Telekom, where the first pure 5G phone call on our network was made in 2021. This new campus network, based on cutting-edge 5G standalone technology, continues our successful 5G innovation journey in Merseburg.”
Dedicated Network Infrastructure for High Security and Peak 5G Performance
The 5G SA campus network at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences operates independently from Deutsche Telekom’s public mobile network. All infrastructure components, including antennas, active system technology, gateways, and the network server, are housed directly on campus. This ensures that all data traffic remains within the local network, enabling highly secure and fast data processing. The independent 5G architecture’s short transmission paths support data-intensive applications with ultra-low response times in the millisecond range.
Pioneering 5G Indoor Positioning for Real-Time Applications
A unique feature of the university’s campus network is the deployment of 5G indoor positioning at MITZ, marking the first time this technology has been made available to a customer beyond test operations. This innovative technology enables real-time tracking of objects, which is crucial for optimizing material replenishment in production halls and warehouses. The solution, based on Ericsson’s 3GPP-standard positioning technology, allows researchers at MITZ to explore further cutting-edge applications for industry, enhancing efficiency and planning in production and logistics processes.
