WLAN networks use the public and much-used frequencies between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz and have to use significantly more antennas and access points to provide the same performance as 5G networks. Private and thus locally limited 5G campus networks can ensure faster, seamless and uninterrupted communication in the specially allocated frequencies in the spectrum from 3.7 GHz to 3.8 GHz when the end device changes from one mobile cell to the next. They are therefore particularly advantageous for mobile use, i.e. wherever moving or moving end devices are to be used, such as autonomous or remote-controlled vehicles. In addition, the targeted use of antennas and access points after appropriate radio network planning saves cabling effort and costs.

Public mobile radio is often characterized by physical and structural restrictions. This can lead to disruptions and failures in the communications infrastructure, which offer business customers no guarantee of stability, coverage and performance. In the local 5G campus network, a dedicated mobile communications infrastructure is set up exactly where it is needed, whether indoors or outdoors. This has the advantage that operators of their own 5G campus network have access to a stable and, above all, closed, secure network wherever they want to use their digital business-critical data and mobile processes.

A stable and uninterrupted communication infrastructure is required to ensure the autonomous flights of drones, as the primary use here is beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). Within this BVLOS operational area, a drone operator must have continuous access to the drone in order to be able to intervene if necessary. However, public mobile networks, as well as WLAN networks, do not offer the necessary stability for this. A 5G campus network, on the other hand, offers the required stability and additional data security due to the closed and operational infrastructure for the images and information transmitted in real time. The possibilities for autonomous drone flights are diverse and can be used, for example, for the automatic measurement of bulk goods or the inspection of photovoltaic systems.

COCUS relies on the use of Open-RAN-based solutions for the implementation of the 5G campus network projects. This offers the advantage of using standard hardware and software solutions that can be seamlessly integrated into any IT system and existing processes. The 5G Packet Core – the heart of the 5G Campus2Go -rb is an in-house software development, which therefore makes it possible to incorporate and implement customer-specific requirements. Nothing stands in the way of successful integration into existing IT landscapes.

Machine control using Profinet requires a highly stable, secure and delay-free communication infrastructure. Until now, it was only possible to set up and securely operate such an infrastructure using copper or fiber optic cables. With 5G Campus2Go, we enable the implementation of these requirements in our own 5G campus network and thus implement mobile communication infrastructures via which Profinet control can be used.