Germany’s Cologne Bonn Airport is taking a big step towards its digital future. Alongside IT service provider NTT, it is building a private 5G mobile phone network across an area of 1,000 hectares – the equivalent of 1,400 football pitches.

The aim of the joint research and cooperation project is to push ahead with technological innovations such as intelligent baggage screening and border control as well as to improve the airport’s overall operational efficiency.

“We see the decision to set up our own 5G network covering the entire premises of the airport as an important strategic step,” said Johan Vanneste, President and CEO of Flughafen Köln/ Bonn. “Having continuous connectivity and our own high-speed mobile network will open up a range of completely new possiblities for our processes and services, which will not only be of benefit to our airport operations but also to the businesses that are based here and to our passengers,” he continued.

The Internet of Things (IoT), automated vehicles on the runway and mobile security systems all mean that it is becoming necessary for airports to manage increasingly large quantities of objects and therefore data. 5G enables better connectivity and improved processing of the rapidly growing data flows, which allows the airport, the airlines and ground handling staff to work together more effectively.

“In the course of this joint research and cooperation project, we are not only planning the theory, we are also implementing and optimising one of the largest completely private 5G mobile networks in Europe. This allows us to research, develop and test innovative and future-oriented applications,” added Kai Grunwitz, Managing Director of the German branch of NTT.

He explained that the 5G network at Cologne Airport will enable the German hub to determine the exact location of devices and people, to transport luggage on self-driving vehicles, and to use autonomous robots to secure the site, as well as to provide intelligent services for the logistics hubs. The airport has been granted a licence for the project by the Federal Network Agency with frequencies of between 3.7 and 3.8 GHz. Setting up a completely private network guarantees stable processes with low levels of downtime and makes it possible to have an individually tailored operational and security strategy.

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