5G+ Nomadic Node for temporary networks

To extend network coverage to a specific location, one of the most attractive options is to make the network portable or mobile, enabling private local communication as well as efficient backhauling to a central location or edge nodes.

• A portable network can be installed and configured at the specific use case location in a matter of minutes and remain in use for a specific duration of time (such as for fairs or construction sites)
• A mobile network can be installed in a mobile vehicle to fulfill the specific mobile communication needs of scenarios like  public parades, public health or emergency networks
  

The nomadic 5G edge network is designed to evaluate the usage of 5G campus networks for:

• Spectrum usage around the nomadic node (licensed and unlicensed)
• Connectivity of devices: connecting IoT and communication devices via 5G to an existing infrastructure e.g., the shop floor 
• Power management: especially the mobile edge network has to function with the limited power from the vehicle
• Local offloading of the communication: providing support for private local communication
• Backhaul selection between satellite and available terrestrial operators – enabling efficient communication with the central locations and the Internet for data, for control plane as well as for the management of the 5G network
• Reliable edge communication: applications on the edge server provide reliable operation even on unpredictable backhauls 

The Nomadic 5G Network was specifically designed to be able to showcase the different use cases at the use case location when needed and according to the use case requirements.

Operators of mobile networks, such as 5G campus networks, need to know at all times how good the current network is and whether performance varies at different locations within the desired network coverage, whether at an airport, on construction sites, or during a disaster response.

Fraunhofer FOKUS has added the Open Mobile Network Toolkit (OMNT) to its end-to-end test environment for this purpose. The open-source software collects measurement data about the mobile network, such as the exact position and signal quality. It evaluates the network's bandwidth, latency, and fluctuations in signal pulses (jitter).

The measurement data can be saved locally and/or sent to a server. You can visualize and further process the measurement results via a dashboard. OMNT can also be used to configure network-related carrier settings on the smartphone.

Fraunhofer FOKUS is presenting the Open Mobile Network Toolkit for the first time at the Hannover Messe. The database will consist of live measurements from the trade fair and various field trials in Brandenburg in 2023. During the summer of 2024, the CampusOS project will use OMNT during field tests on a construction site in Herne.