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Fakultät für Elektrotechnik und Informationstechnik

Release of interactive planning tool for local 5G networks

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Screenshot from the Campusnetzplaner © CNI & OpenStreetMap contributors
After the much-noticed auction of 5G radio frequencies to mobile network operators in spring 2019, the Federal Network Agency launched the application procedure for additional local 5G campus networks in the 3,700-3,800 MHz frequency range in November 2019. As a consortium partner of the Competence Center 5G.NRW funded by the Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digitization and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the TU Dortmund University developed the 5G Campus Network Planner, a tool with which all interested companies can determine in a few intuitive steps the expected frequency fee for the company-specific campus network. NRW Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Affairs Prof. Dr. Andreas Pinkwart states: "The Competence Center 5G.NRW started its work about half a year ago and supports companies and institutions in the early use of 5G. I am pleased that the work of the partners in the consortium is already bearing fruit. The 5G Campus Network Planner is a great free and user-friendly tool for quickly and easily estimating the costs of local 5G frequencies. I am confident that this nationwide unique offer will also meet with great interest beyond North Rhine-Westphalia. “

The head of the Chair of Communication Networks at the TU Dortmund University and initiator of the campus network planner, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Christian Wietfeld, adds: "5G campus networks enable companies to use exclusive radio resources, unlike WLAN, and thus to reliably operate very demanding applications, such as the real-time critical control of robotic systems. The allocation of the local radio frequency is a necessary first step".

The interactive planning tool for 5G networks is designed to reduce initial challenges for companies that are currently exploring the opportunity to operate a local (private) 5G network. It supports users to determine potential allocation fees and provides first inputs for application procedures at the German Federal Network Agency.

The 5G Campus Network Planner calculates the expected allocation fee based on a fee formula, considering a base amount of 1,000 €, the assigned bandwidth (up to 100 MHz), the assignment term (up to ten years), and the desired campus area. Finally, all necessary information, as well as the coordinates vector defining the desired campus area, are offered as a download.
 
By providing the planning tool for local 5G networks, the Competence Center 5G.NRW intends to contribute to the success of regional and local 5G network solutions. 
 
The planning tool is accessible for free.
 
Further information:
• Press release by the German Federal Network Agency: 5G spectrum fees for local usages