It goes without saying that the arrival of 5G will bring numerous opportunities to the enterprise market in Belgium, for 5G is generally considered a key enabler of digital transformation in almost every industry. Less evident is how to realize the full potential of 5G technology. Experience from countries that are already further along in their 5G journey, shows that collaborations and partnerships can greatly facilitate the implementation of the technology.

In this sense, the MoU signed today by Howest and Proximus is an important step forward. With the signature, both parties officialize their mutual intention to collaborate around the use of 5G technology in industry and business. The lab will also be used by Digital Arts & Entertainment, Multimedia & Creative Technology and Cyber Security Professional students. Howest can thus use the potential of 5G technology to continue to grow as a center of excellence for new technologies, for example in the field of gaming, in which it is already highly regarded worldwide.

The partnership combines two strong ecosystems to support students and enterprises. In addition to its comprehensive expertise as leading 5G player in Belgium, Proximus can offer additional support, together with its affiliates, in complementary fields ranging from security and intelligent cloud solutions to artificial intelligence and IoT. Howest brings the academic expertise and refreshing insights of its students and teachers to the table, as well as a strong, locally anchored network of partners who can provide additional support in the creation and set-up of the use cases. This translates into an end-to-end approach bringing together various stakeholders along the journey from ideation to implementation.

MPN solution to be operational from the next academic year

Concretely, in a first phase Proximus will roll out a Mobile Private Network solution (MPN), equipping several spaces on the Howest campus with indoor 5G connectivity. The platform should be up and running in the course of the 2022-2023 academic year. Interested companies will then be able to rent test space and receive the support they need to set up their test facilities. Depending on their preference, they will work alone or with Howest students to develop innovative 5G applications relevant to their business.

This should enable the development of innovative use cases where a combination of cutting-edge technologies is required. One could think, for example, of the multitude of possible applications – for manufacturing, logistics, transport, etc – offered by autonomous robot site surveillance, where remotely operated robots detect, monitor and inspect from a distance a specific premise or area of a company. The 5G lab at the Howest premises offers the ideal environment to bring together expertise and technology for enterprises from various sectors to build and test similar or other use cases.

Proximus will offer demos, training and technical support throughout the process. Howest and its partners will be able to draw on Proximus' solid expertise in technology, devices, network services, connectivity, ICT, system integration and digitalization.

New step in a logical collaboration of like-minded partners

The envisaged creation of a 5G lab heralds a new phase in the long-standing collaboration between Proximus and Howest. Over the years, a strong partnership has already been established in the field of cybersecurity. This includes the organization of cyber security events for students and the exchange of experiences in the framework of the Cyber Security Coalition, a collaboration platform that brings together cybersecurity experts from the private, public and academic sectors.

The close ties with Howest are also logical in light of the strategic priority for Proximus to boost the digitalization of our education system: Howest is widely regarded as one of the most progressive educational institutions in this field. Giving students and researchers the opportunity to gain experience in new technological fields is essential to preparing our upcoming graduates for the future. With this collaboration, Proximus and Howest aim to become pioneers in this field.