Lead project CampusOS for providers and users

Technology toolbox and blueprints for setting up and operating open campus networks

© Project CampusOS

Project description
The CampusOS Lead project aims to establish a technologically sovereign modular campus network ecosystem in Germany. The focus is on open and secure radio networks based on open radio technologies and interoperable network components. This is intended to enable vendor independence and more competition as well as innovation in order to strengthen the digital sovereignty of companies in Germany.

CampusOS is being built as an open E2E programmable 5G+ system. As such, the campus network ecosystem extends to all essential components of the network, including the radio access network (RAN), core network (Core), end-user equipment (UE), virtualised cloud computing infrastructure, and management and operations (MANO). The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) is also considered. Open solutions, such as OpenRAN, are analysed and compared with integrated radio access solutions from established network providers. The open campus networks will then be implemented on the basis of an expandable technology kit. This will include a component catalogue and blueprints for different operator models as well as functioning combinations of the components.

Market perspective and product promise
Thanks to 5G technology and the use of dedicated frequencies, campus networks can meet the highest quality of service requirements in terms of latency, reliability and availability of communication networks. This makes 5G campus networks attractive for applications in the commercial and industrial sectors as well as for the public sector such as healthcare. They are therefore considered an important pioneer for the factory or clinic of the future, for example. Other concrete areas of application can be found in the port sector, logistics, construction sites or agriculture, among others.

Use Cases
Open interfaces create the prerequisite for developing components for different application domains. For this purpose, the following use cases are being evaluated in regular operation:
• Networked mobility: teleoperated driving in locally limited areas and network-supported functional safety at BOSCH in Hildesheim.
• Industry 4.0: low-latency and resilient control of vehicles and transmission of videos at very high data rates at STILL in Hamburg.
• Construction: Real-time monitoring of construction sites and networking of all sensors and construction machinery in use on construction sites at Topcon.

Challenge and innovation
5G and, in the future, 6G will not only connect machines, but also redefine human-machine interaction. The low-latency communication achievable with 5G, with a greatly increased data rate and high, SLA (Service Level Agreement)-dependent reliability, enables completely new applications in areas such as Industry 4.0, telemedicine, AR/VR and connected mobility.

The opportunities and possibilities for German and European providers and users of 5G will lie in particular in the campus networks and their diverse applications. Each application area has industry-specific requirements for flexibility, efficiency, reliability, security and latency. The large network equipment suppliers, which offer highly vertically integrated solutions, are currently not geared to such individualisation of networks and services - the niche solutions require industry-specific special knowledge and software, which in some cases lie outside the competence and business area of the established network equipment suppliers. For this reason, required services and special requirements are not sufficiently served in concrete campus networks, which leads to considerable barriers to innovation. This creates market gaps and thus good opportunities for German start-ups and SMEs as well as for innovations in the 5G environment.

Solution approach
Open campus networks should be realised on the basis of an expandable technology kit. This includes a catalogue of open technology components and a set of proven blueprints for the construction and operation of campus networks based on the aforementioned building blocks. Open solutions, such as Open RAN, as well as conventional, integrated base stations based on 3GPP Release 16 (5G) and higher for stand-alone (SA) operation in the frequency bands 3.7 GHz and higher (e.g. 26 GHz) are to be used.

Furthermore, functions and interfaces will be investigated with regard to openness and interoperability for relevant scenarios. On this basis, open E2E campus network architectures will be investigated and evaluated using open and (partially) integrated building block combinations, if necessary by means of tools.

The development and implementation of the technology toolbox will take place within the framework of the lead project. This is divided into two focal points: one from the povider's perspective and one from the user's perspective. The procedure in the lead project is iterative in order to build up an initial technology kit of components (as building blocks) and blueprints as quickly as possible, which will then be expanded over the course of the project.

In this context, different operator models (private vs. public and mixed operation) as well as interworking are considered and the requirements for the system are determined. This requires conducting a market analysis with consideration of the providers as well as current deployment scenarios and operator models as well as the building blocks for end devices, Open RAN, MANO, etc.

The lead project is supplemented by the CampusOS satellite projects. On the one hand, these projects serve to validate the components and blueprints already recorded in the lead projects in specific sectors and application scenarios. On the other hand, the technology toolbox will be expanded by developing and testing new technology components and blueprints for needs-based combinations and new operator models. This may also include new testing tools.

Consortium
Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute, Fraunhofer FOKUS, Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Telekom AG, MUGLER SE, highstreet technologies GmbH, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Atesio GmbH, BISDN GmbH, rt-solutions.de GmbH, EANTC Aktiengesellschaft, BROWN-IPOSS GmbH, Node-H GmbH, Kubermatic GmbH, SysEleven GmbH, Technische Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Robert Bosch Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, GPS Gesellschaft für Produktionssysteme GmbH, TOPCON Deutschland Positioning GmbH, Smart Mobile Labs AG, STILL Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, Technische Universität Berlin.

Duration
January 2022 - December 2024

Budget
Total funds: € 30.1 million
Funding amount: € 18.1 million