Seamless 5G cross border mobility between Germany and Luxembourg

ongoing

The 5G DeLux project will aim for high-performing network coverage and a seamless handover of connected devices from one to another mobile network operator (MNO) at intra-European country borders. The handover must be possible without call drops or the loss of data connections, to improve user experience and seamless digital connectivity across Europe. Supported by the 5G Automotive Association the project will enable automotive use cases, which will significantly improve road safety, traffic efficiency, and driving comfort. Because of market failure, seamless cross country handover for 4G LTE and 5G NR is not yet implemented at any intra-European border, notably caused by the large number of operators within Europe, making alignments on interfaces and commercial agreements very difficult. Therefore, a harmonized technical solution is required. Over the project period of three years, both mobile operators Deutsche Telekom and POST Luxembourg will build and improve the 4G and 5G infrastructure for connected and automated mobility. BMW Group will contribute to the project with specific demands from an automotive perspective and will test use cases once the seamless handover solutions are in place. The joint project for “CEF 2 Digital – 5G coverage along transport corridors” is considering the motorway section from Frisange, Luxembourg, to Saarbrucken, Germany, which uses the border crossing near Schengen. Works will develop a new network feature, including new interfaces between operators. This will secure data exchange between MNOs, shared network information, automated network updates and optimization, and new charging rules. The feature will comply with legal provisions regarding lawful interception or the ubiquitous availability of emergency calls. Furthermore, the project will define a blueprint for a harmonized European solution.