5G TRACKS

ongoing

The 5G TRACKS project consists of deploying new network elements and upgrading the existing radio access network to provide uninterrupted cross-border 5G coverage for connected and automated mobility, high-value commercial services and multi-service/multi-application 5G services between Greece and Bulgaria on the Orient/East-Med and Baltic Sea – Black Sea – Aegean Sea Corridor. Specifically, the Corridor sections are: a) Sofia – Plovdiv – Haskovo – Kapitan Andreevo (BG/TR border) and Kapitan Petko Petko Volvoda (BG/EL border); b) Alexandroupoli – Ormenio (BG/EL border); c) Langadas – Kavala – Komotini – Alexandroupoli; and d) Alexandroupoli – Kipoi (EL/TR border). The 5G network will have a 761-km length and will be based on a new 5G Standalone (SA) network architecture supporting advanced service features. The provision of 5G coverage by the project will use the 700 MHz band across the full length of the Corridor sections, and the 3.6 GHz band in “hotspot” areas with increased traffic demand. The project will deploy 161 sites in total including 138 upgrades for uninterrupted 5G SA coverage on a 761-km transport network in Bulgaria and Greece, with a backhaul upgrade from 1G to 10G at existing sites and 100% of the C-band sites in 10G. The network will have an average inter-radio site distance of 4.7km and will enable an average data rate of 1 Mbps per vehicle and average latency <150msec per vehicle. It will be mainly based on optical fibre network connectivity, with provisions for end-to-end power outage protection and high availability, thus ensuring the necessary service continuity. As a direct result of this new connectivity, the project will install eight 5G-enabled meteorological stations on the Sofia-Haskovo-Kapitan Andreevo corridor sections. Additionally, the project will contribute to the clustering of 5G initiatives with the development of concepts and facilities for the interconnection of the 5G corridor sections with edge computing facilities, federated cloud infrastructures and European operational digital platforms. The project will contribute to guarantee seamless connectivity and consistent security standards throughout the entirety of the network and stimulate its integration with other 5G deployments on the TEN-T Network.