TUS Athlone says 5G Standalone trial will make it 'Ireland's most connected campus'
The Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) said its Athlone base will become Ireland's "most connected campus" thanks to a new partnership with Three Ireland which will see it being used as a testbed for 5G Standalone (5G SA) technology.
5G Standalone is broadband which operates on a dedicated 5G core network, and thus is regarded as a step up from current 5G, which operates on a 4G network.
TUS said its researchers in Athlone are now poised to explore use cases for 5G SA, and that they would be utilising its capabilities such as improved speed, ultra-low latency and increased connectivity.
"5G Standalone is an immensely powerful technology in search of problems to solve; we have barely scratched the surface on use cases for its capabilities," Dr Enda Fallon, Head of the Department of Computer and Software Engineering at TUS Athlone, explained.
"We're going to be looking at user scenarios - how can 5G SA be used in people’s everyday lives, using the campus as a testbed for this technology, and from that design and evaluate solutions to problems that have yet to be conceptualised."
TUS said initial ideas for how the technology might be applied across campus included "the creation of immersive collaboration spaces for students, staff and researchers, 5G-enabled polymer labs and sports facilities, connected health sciences, and even remote real-time music collaborations with sound engineering students."
The use of 5G-enabled drones for real-time performance feedback in high-performance sports and enhancing runner safety through object detection and risk analysis, as well as remote surgery through robotics and automation, are among the use cases under consideration.
The president of TUS, Professor Vincent Cunnane, said the technological university's "unparalleled technical expertise in the field of software engineering" set it apart and made it the ideal partner for the pioneering trial.
"TUS is a leader in the field, bringing a deep knowledge base and a proven track record of excellence," Professor Cunnane said.
"Our focus on near-to-market research and knowledge transfer ensures that our endeavours have immediate benefits for both industry and our students.
"This expertise and commitment make us the ideal partner for pioneering the trial of 5G Standalone technology and exploring its exciting possibilities.
"Through our engagement in applied projects like these, we not only shape the future of technology but also enrich the learning experiences of our students," he stated.
Karl McDermot, Head of Connected Solutions at Three Ireland, commented: "5G Standalone is the next evolution in 5G technology, as we move fully away from a reliance on 4G and into 5G core technology.
"We are delighted to partner with TUS, working alongside them to advance these use cases and explore the possibilities for powering advanced technologies, supporting greater connectivity for all kinds of devices and user experiences."
Rob Stack, Key Account Manager at Ericsson Ireland, added: "As a global leader in 5G, and with a world-class R&D development centre in Athlone, we are excited to be collaborating with TUS and Three Ireland to drive forward innovation in the Midlands region.
"5G standalone technology offers a seamless and secure connectivity foundation to help unlock advanced applications and services that can power digital transformation, enhance productivity, streamline efficiencies and deliver benefits for a wide variety of different organisations."
The Three Ireland 5G SA trial, powered by Ericsson and tested using the Samsung flagship device - the Galaxy S23 Ultra, will include 5G SA being deployed across the entire campus with additional 5G hardware for indoor coverage being installed in TUS Athlone’s Engineering Building and Applied Polymer Technology Lab in 2024, with hopes of extending the technology outwards across the campus thereafter.