The German federal network agency Bundesnetzagentur has already awarded 123 spectrum licenses for private 5G campus networks.
The Federal Network Agency provides the spectrum in the range 3.7-3.8 GHz for local networks. The frequencies are used in particular for Industry 4.0 applications in the fields of manufacturing, agriculture and forestry.
Some of the companies running campus networks based on 5G frequencies include Audi, BMW Deutsche Messe, Fraunhofer Institut fur Integrierte Schaltungen IIS, Daimler, Mercedez-Benz, Porsche, Rohde & Schwarz and ThyssenKrupp.
In the telecommunications sector, some firms which had obtained licenses to operate private 5G networks are LS Telcom, NTT Data, Telefónica, Deutsche Telekom’s T-Systems as well as Verizon Germany. Huawei Technologies also has a license for its office in Düsseldorf.
Also, several licenses had been awarded to universities and other research organizations such as the Fraunhofer institutes.
“So far, a total of 126 applications for the allocation of frequencies for local 5G networks and 123 assignments of frequencies for local 5G networks have been granted,” Germany’s Federal Network Agency said.
The regulator had previously said that fees are charged for frequency assignments that ensure optimal use and efficient use of the frequencies. The fee depends on the bandwidth applied for and the size of the area covered. The fee structure enables business models of startups, small and medium-sized enterprises as well as agricultural applications to be implemented.
In September 2020, Fraunhofer IIS had announced the opening of a new 5G test center with two test beds for Industry 4.0 and automotive applications at its sites in Erlangen and Nuremberg.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, headquartered in Erlangen, Germany, conducts research on microelectronic and IT system solutions and services.
The 5G test bed in Nuremberg supports tests focusing on applications for industry and logistics under real conditions using the latest mobile technology in a standalone 5G campus network. The institute said that networked, flexible and production processes can be tested in this campus network.
The 5G Bavaria test bed will be used to test 5G functionalities in a real traffic environment.
Fraunhofer IIS will provide its expertise for research, technology development and evaluation as well as for technical advice.
The 5G Bavaria test center offers simulation methods for companies, from reliable sensor networking to simulation platforms, localization technologies and machine learning.
