Innovative Implementation of Connected Urban 5G Smart Pole

Nestled in the heart of Bavaria, Würzburg is a city that seamlessly blends ancient history with vibrant modern life. Known for its scenic landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and architectural marvels, Würzburg offers a unique journey into the past, making it a must-visit destination for travellers and history enthusiasts.

Whether a visitor or resident, nothing is more frustrating than losing signal, and with the increasing demands on digital infrastructure, including music and video streaming, the Metaverse, AI-based programs, augmented and virtual reality, and connected driving and autonomous logistics, the frequency of this occurring is only increasing.

Würzburg city has taken a significant step towards improving the quality of life for its residents and businesses. In a recent pilot project CU Phosco Lighting with its German partner, 5G Synergiewerk, the first 5G Connected Urban smart poles were installed in collaboration with telecommunications provider O2 Telefónica and the Würzburg public utilities, reducing signal issues and enhancing connectivity.

Replacing conventional lamp posts, the innovative solution efficiently utilises existing infrastructure and grid connections to provide citizens with night-time lighting and advanced telecommunications capabilities, setting a new standard for high-performance 4G and 5G mobile connectivity.

Keith Henry, CU Phosco Australia General Manager and Telecommunications product manager commented, “Connected Urban offers a transformative solution for local authorities and asset owners seeking a multi-functional structure which offers both functionality and aesthetic appeal, whilst delivering increased capacity and densification of the 4G and 5G networks at street level.”

Connected Urban is a smart city, modular, and fully customisable lighting and medium cell high-performance mobile network solution within a single, compact footprint. It offers an alternative to more traditional rooftop or cell phone mast locations. The installation marks a significant milestone in the evolution of street-level mobile network densification.

Matthias Sauder, Director of Mobile Access & Transport Networks at O2 Telefónica, said, “The 5G streetlights are an innovative approach to further improve the mobile network in Würzburg. These small cells have a big impact. They complement our local O2 mobile network and ensure an improved network experience for our customers when using mobile telephony and data.”

The deployment of Connected Urban has introduced a new era of mobile network infrastructure in Würzburg. The small cells embedded within streetlights have improved the local O2 mobile network, ensuring an enhanced user experience.

The collaborative efforts in this project have positively impacted the innovation drive and improved the quality of life for city residents and businesses.

Ralf Gerbershagen, Managing Director of 5G-Synergiewerk GmbH, comments, “The entire project is a good example of what can be achieved when everyone involved pulls together: the Würzburg public utilities, the city of Würzburg, and O2 Telefónica; we were all a good team and able to implement the project very quickly.”

For further information, please visit www.cuphosco.com.

Photo credit: Copyright 5G Synergiewerk | Sven’s Bildwerke