At we are at the forefront of innovation, paving the way for the future of wireless communication with our state-of-the-art 5G/6G research infrastructure. Our comprehensive setup is designed to empower researchers, engineers, and industry leaders with unique capabilities in exploring the vast potential of next-generation networks.
We have invested in the latest technologies to create a groundbreaking research environment that encompasses the best of 5G and is primed for 6G exploration.
The testbed is located at our premises in the Tech Lane Ghent Science Park. Test licenses assigned by the Belgian regulator (BIPT) allow usage of licensed 5G test spectrum in the 3.5GHz band (N77).
The IMEC’s IDLAB-UGent 5G/6G research testbed stands out for its unique combination of flexibility and openness through the O-RAN framework to enable research on private cellular networks. Our research infrastructure includes two portable all-in-one flight cases, ready to deploy a (beyond) 5G network anywhere you need it. It supports open-source solutions like srsRAN/OpenAirInterface. These 5G units fully support the O-RAN framework enabling flexibility for extensions and customization beyond features offered in 3GPP releases and capability for deterministic end-to-end experimentation involving business-critical and mission-critical applications with demanding QoS requirements in dynamic wireless environments. The testbed comprises Software Defined Radios (SDR) for complete low-level radio design, complemented by commercial Radio Units to enhance coverage and stability. With battery support and a compact all-in-one-box design, it offers exceptional portability for conducting on-site and mobile testing.
Our user equipment is designed for both in-lab and on-site 5G network evaluation, allowing to test and optimize a diverse set of applications in a real-world environment. The portable 5G UE units are mounted in an easily transportable case for performing (beyond) 5G tests and experiments on location. These UE units can be used for testing and evaluating private or commercial 5G networks.
An advanced set of software tools has been developed to perform 5G/6G network evaluation for a number of networking KPIs. IDLAB-IMEC developed its proprietary tools to allow for real-time logging of several metrics (e.g. round-trip-time, throughput, one-way latency, packet delivery rate, reliability, etc.) in a structured way. To visualize the logged data stored in the database, Grafana dashboards are available.
