The City of Amsterdam, the Johan Cruijff ArenA and KPN have successfully tested the first 5G applications in the stadium and on the Arena Boulevard. This marks the official launch of the 5G Field Lab Amsterdam Zuidoost, the environment for testing new 5G applications with the aim of making towns and cities more sustainable, safe and pleasant places. The first 5G applications for consumers will be tested next year.

The launch of the 5G Field Lab means that the first steps have been taken towards the UEFA European Championship in 2020, for which Amsterdam is one of the host cities, and spectators in and around the Johan Cruijff ArenA can expect an enhanced fan experience. KPN, the City of Amsterdam and the Johan Cruijff ArenA are working together with technology partners, including Nokia and VCS, to test how 5G technology could make a contribution to reducing waiting times and improving security in and around the stadium.

Recently, KPN and Nokia have together created an experimental 5G network in the area in and around the stadium and the surrounding Arena Boulevard. This considerably increases network capacity in the area, lowering the response time of mobile networks. As a result it is possible to send high-resolution camera footage in real time via the network, not least thanks to a test license for the 3.5 GHz frequency band in use.

“Thanks to 5G technology, the information from camera footage can be used immediately to redirect spectators into the stadium, get them to their seat in the stadium faster or guide them to the train station. In that way we can enhance the event experience for the tens of thousands of spectators and, at the same time, increase their safety and that of the enforcement officers and stadium stewards,” says Henk van Raan, CIO of the Johan Cruijff ArenA.

First ‘5G street’ in Amsterdam Zuidoost

The first tests will be conducted at the start of 2019, and will assess how the fan experience in and around the stadium can be improved. Not least by giving those in the vicinity of the stadium access to an exclusive digital event experience. And the first '5G street’ in the Netherlands will be unveiled with the testing of 5G consumer applications.

“I'm excited that we will be opening the first '5G street’ in the Netherlands, together with KPN, in Amsterdam Zuidoost. This development will give residents ultra-high speed Internet. With innovative partners we are looking into how we can develop relevant 5G applications for Amsterdamers,” says Touria Meliani, holder of the IT portfolio for the City of Amsterdam.

Creating value with 5G together with customers and technology partners

KPN is preparing its 4G network step-by-step for the arrival of 5G. The test in Amsterdam Zuidoost is part of four different field labs for 5G applications in the agricultural and automotive sectors, urban areas and ports. In these field labs KPN, together with customers and technology partners, studies how 5G can optimize business processes and improve the customer experience. Initial testing in Drenthe, the Port of Rotterdam, Helmond and Amsterdam Zuidoost has now come to an end.