Ericsson is establishing a new 5G co-creation environment in Eindhoven, Netherlands, that will serve as a 5G Hub featuring a testing lab, training facilities and a demo studio with 5G and internet of things (IoT) capabilities.
The 5G Hub will be built in collaboration with VodafoneZiggo, Brainport Development and High-Tech Campus Eindhoven. The 5G Hub will allow visitors to experiment with next-generation test applications, define new business models and explore live test cases and pilots such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics and augmented/virtual reality.
The Netherlands government has granted a frequency space in the 3.5 GHz band with additional spectrum expected to come in September 2022. The spectrum is needed for a fully fledged 5G mobile experience for services, Ericsson said.
“With our high-performance networks, we are a leading force in 5G developments in the Netherlands, and, together with Ericsson and our other partners involved, we are excited to be involved in driving this development forward through the 5G HUB,” said Eben Albertyn, chief technology officer at VodafoneZiggo. “The 5G HUB gives us direct access to the evolving 5G technologies and competences that will serve critical functions in the societies of tomorrow. This is an excellent opportunity to facilitate the exploration of new applications with stakeholders in a very real way.”
One project at the 5G Hub will research how 5G can be used to help support the ambulance team with performing an onsite ultrasound to examine the patient with remote assistance from a physician in the hospital in order to start the right treatment as soon as possible.
Ericsson said companies both private and public, startups, governments and education institutions can use the 5G Hub to explore how the next-generation cellular technology can be used in ways beyond just smartphones.
Previously, Ericsson established a test bed in China to accelerate large-scale global deployment of 5G products in the country.
Other companies are taking a similar approach including AT&T who is working with Purdue University’s College of Engineering to open a 5G research and development testing facility that will use mmWave and multi-access edge computing to study intelligent farming, advanced manufacturing, IoT, disaster recovery, smart cities and other new use cases.
Sprint is also working with Peachtree Corners in Georgia to create a hub called Curiosity Lab that will include a 1.5 mile autonomous test track inside the tech park and enables companies to develop and test emerging technologies such as smart city infrastructure and next-generation connectivity under real-world conditions.
