Known as 5G-Blueprint, the project is a public-private partnership, which includes 28 partners from the Netherlands, Flanders (Belgium), Switzerland and the Czech Republic, with work funded by a subsidy from the European Union.
Project participants will research how real-time data exchange to and from vehicles, between terminals and vehicles, and between vehicles and distribution centres can contribute to increased efficiency in the supply chain, and help to resolve driver shortages by providing remote control of and support for vehicles and vessels.
These developments are expected to improve accessibility of a key logistical corridor between the Netherlands and Belgium (Vlissingen – Ghent – Antwerp), as well as creating more jobs and strengthening the competitive position of the region.
Fiberoptic infrastructure will be needed to handle the higher volume of data traffic and Eurofiber will no doubt draw on its experience on the 5G Charter. The firm will explore how to deploy various fiberoptic networks as optimally and reliably as possible to achieve cross-border 5G connectivity
Eurofiber innovation officer, Ivo Veerman, said: “Eurofiber has a densely deployed fiberoptic network extending 36,000km in the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Telecom companies rely on this high-quality network to connect their base stations for mobile data traffic. Over half of the mobile 4G data traffic in the Netherlands currently runs over our network.
“We are looking forward to collaborating on 5G-Blueprint, because the 5G technology offers completely new possibilities, including in the field of mobility. It aligns seamlessly with our role as a lifeline for the digital society.”
According to Eurofiber, one of the most important aspects will be how to achieve interconnection of various fiberoptic networks that are already in place, providing a secure and cost-effective foundation for future 5G applications.
“We have extensive experience in linking networks that have different technical specifications, and we are more than happy to contribute our expertise to this project,” Veerman added.
The 5G-Blueprint project is one of 11 new Horizon 2020 projects under the European 5G Public-Private Partnership (5G-PPP), scheduled to commence September 2020.
Their combined budget amounts to €41 million, of which €31.1 million is EU funding under the Horizon 2020 programme.
Horizon 2020 has been the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever, with nearly €80 billion of funding from 2014 to 2020.
