MVM NET Zrt. and CETIN Hungary Zrt. tested how to economically build and operate a 5G network in urban environments and agricultural economy in locations where this is necessary due to the spread of 5G-based applications and the increase in data traffic. Based on the experience of the test, independent, integrated infrastructure providers found that, for reasons of sustainability and economy, in many cases it is advisable to build and operate the network as a single provider and then provide services to several operators.

In the next few years, it may be necessary to install several smaller 5G antennas in two areas, i.e. to build a small-cell 5G network. On the one hand, where a large number of mobile users are concentrated in a small area at once, and because of this, large capacity will be required. These include venues for large events such as stadiums, multifunctional facilities, festivals, beaches – tourist venues and, as data traffic increases, public spaces with more and more metropolitan traffic later on. On the other hand, 5G networks will be needed in areas where the activity requires high-capacity mobile access for specific uses – for example, in agricultural or industrial holdings or logistics centres.

 

MVM NET Zrt., which provides telecommunications services requiring critical availability and implements optical connections and coordination of the use of telecommunications and public lighting infrastructures in projects, together with CETIN Hungary Zrt., the radio network infrastructure provider that builds the mobile network infrastructure, carried out a 5G small cell test project lasting more than half a year in two typical areas. In the downtown of Kecskemét, the 5G small cell solution was tested on the public lighting infrastructure – electricity poles, candelabras – and within the framework of another project, an agricultural 5G test network was installed on the territory of the National Stud Farm and Tangazdaság Zrt. in Mezőhegyes, which uses and tests the possibilities of smart agriculture.

In both cases, in the future, the devices will have to be installed relatively densely, every 100-150 meters. This is made more difficult by the need to take into account existing landmarks – buildings as well as trees.

The conclusion of the pilot project in Kecskemét is that the use of public lighting infrastructure and other street furniture can be a solution to this. To do this, in addition to the optical connection, it is necessary to ensure a constant power supply of the columns to serve the mobile network. Based on current practice, the public lighting network is mostly energized only during the lighting period, i.e. it is not possible to receive electricity during the daytime according to normal operation. In this regard, specialists have considered several solutions. These included equipping the public lighting infrastructure with a battery and an uninterruptible power supply to overcome the daytime shutdown, or driving an energy source independent of the public lighting network to a candelabra body, as well as smartening the public lighting circuit. The smartening of the circuit means that the smart street lighting lamp can be controlled remotely, according to individual needs, and thus electricity is constantly available for the operation of the small cell infrastructure if necessary.

In addition, the number of devices that can be placed on lampposts is limited, and the static condition of the columns, the impact on the cityscape, architectural regulation at local level and aspects of environmental impact must also be taken into account. It is worth combining the development of the optical network with the reconstruction of the utility, public lighting and road network, and involving telecommunications operators in this. Thus, optical endpoints can be built on the right sites, and, if necessary, reinforced public lighting columns with a constant power grid. The specific investment requirement of all this is also high, which makes service providers even more interested in building a cost-effective network.

High-capacity indoor or outdoor coverage is also important for agricultural and industrial facilities, such as the stud farm in Mezőhegyes, where many mobile network applications arise, from IoT (Internet of Things) devices that generate low data traffic to cases requiring high bandwidth and in many cases low latency (e.g. drone control, live view, autonomous vehicles, automated machines connected by monitoring). Due to the high capacity requirements and individual quality requirements, it is necessary to build a separate infrastructure in this case as well.

"Sustainability and economic considerations may justify the construction of a service telecommunications infrastructure that provides services to multiple operators at the same time. Thus, in addition to the benefit of less environmental impact, it is avoided that each service provider has to develop infrastructure with its own investment – said Judit Kübler-Andrási, CEO of CETIN Hungary Zrt. "In our experience, the RaaS model, i.e. the radio access network as a service, could be the solution to this."

"As a telecommunications service provider, MVM NET can help market players to successfully implement 5G developments in creating optical connections for mobile towers and base stations. Our company's high-capacity, nationwide optical backbone network and its high-level operation, fault detection and troubleshooting capabilities make all this possible" – said dr. Gábor Mándi, MVM NET. Ceo of Plc.

It will be possible to provide various smart services on the small-cell 5G network. It will support smart city solutions based on 5G, such as intelligent traffic management and street lighting, smart parking systems or solutions that enhance public safety. It will be able to support agricultural, industrial and logistics solutions based on 5G that increase efficiency and productivity, such as automation, sensor applications or intelligent solutions based on machine vision.

"Since 5G networks will play an important role in the development of digitalization in several sectors – industry, agriculture, healthcare – it is also important for the national economy to implement network developments as quickly as possible. For this, it is essential to encourage the joint use of active infrastructure by several service providers," added Judit Kübler-Andrási.

For the implementation of the two 5G small cell test projects, Digital Prosperity Nonprofit Ltd. announced an open EU public procurement procedure, which was won by MVM NET Zrt., which provides telecommunications services requiring critical availability, in cooperation with CETIN Hungary Zrt., an independent, integrated infrastructure provider.