Connected mobility, a key aspect for the installation of 5G in Luxembourg

Published on 14/12/2018

A few years from now, 4G will be stepping aside to make way for 5G (i.e. the fifth-generation mobile communication technology), in accordance with European connectivity goals, bringing with it a number of key benefits for Luxembourg – either economically or by helping to provide a better quality of life for its citizens. However, to achieve this, several challenges must still be overcome, most of all for National Authorities.

Strong commitment to European research

As part of the pre-deployment and introduction of 5G within the European Union, and backed by its expertise in digital innovation, particularly in transforming information flows into useful information for targeted applications, the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is involved, along with two other Luxembourgish players – University of Luxembourg and Intrasoft International SA –  in a European project dedicated to this next generation of communication technology.

Officially launched on 28 November 2018 in Brussels, Belgium, the project entitled "5G for cooperative & connected automated MOBIility on X-border corridors" (5G-MOBIX) comprises 48 European partners, 5 Chinese and 3 South Korean partners. Evidence, if ever needed, that interest for this technology has grown over the past few years through an intensive definition process. With this project funded by the Horizon 2020 programme and backed by a budget of €21.4 million euros, partners will develop and test 5G applications related to connected and autonomous vehicles across multiple trial sites, including cross-border and urban corridors. The main objectives are to validate the 5G infrastructure, assess its benefits, define deployment scenarios and also support standardisation initiatives and allocation of the radio spectrum.

Intimately involved with the project, LIST's role is three-fold. As Quality Manager, LIST is responsible for assessing the technical and operational quality of 5G-MOBIX. It will also be involved in mobility and network simulations, particularly when studying the impact of road topology on network connectivity with a view to making recommendations on deployment strategies and the positioning of 5G antennas. This will be used as an input to meet specific application requirements, related for instance to autonomous driving. Finally, LIST will contribute to the assessment of the economic and social impacts of the technologies studied in the project, as well as business models tested in cross-border corridors.

Luxembourg, a pioneer in the adoption of 5G

A trial site for connected and autonomous driving between Luxembourg, Germany and France will be set up jointly by the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure in partnership with their French and German counterparts. Luxembourgish operator POST Luxembourg will deliver 5G coverage of the Luxembourg section of the highway connecting Metz, Merzig and the Grand Duchy as part of a European project entitled 5GCroCo.

Whether it is LIST with 5G-MOBIX or POST Luxembourg with 5GCroCo, both entities form the cornerstone of an ambitious Luxembourgish National initiative to deploy 5G infrastructure across the territory as soon as possible.

>> For more information about the latest 5G initiatives in Luxembourg and specifically the implementation of the cross-border trial site, please find comprehensive information on the Luxembourg Government website (In French only)

Legend of the picture: The 5G-MOBIX consortium partners at the official launch event (copyright ERTICO)

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Dr Sébastien FAYE
Dr Sébastien FAYE
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