Jena becomes 5G model region

As one of 10 top German municipalities, Jena was selected in the second phase of the 5G innovation competition of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to implement the 5G project. This means that 3.8 million euros are available from the federal government for the implementation.



In the first phase of the 5G innovation competition, the Jena concept was initially not successful. However, those responsible were not discouraged by this and presented the project outline to the Thuringian Ministry of Economics, Science and Digital Society (TMWWDG). Minister Tiefensee then made 70,000 euros available for the development of an implementation concept, which finally led to the breakthrough.

Benjamin Koppe, Head of the Department for Digitisation: "We are very pleased to become a 5G model region. Together with our partners, we as a city began two years ago to develop scenarios and design a sustainable project with added value for society. After the setback in the first concept phase we did not give up. With the support of the Thuringian Ministry of Economics and the necessary persistence, we were able to successfully assert ourselves as a lateral entrant in the second implementation phase. In the end, quality and perseverance have earned our merits".

The testing of 5G applications under real conditions can now start in 2021. Federal funding will be used to implement specific sub-projects of the project consortium, which will be managed by the city of Jena.

5G expansion in Jena comes earlier

An early 5G roll-out will strengthen Jena's position as an innovative city in terms of digitalisation. With the implementation funding of the project "5G-based V2X networking for the optimization of energy supply and multimodal traffic in Jena and the surrounding area" the digital transformation of the region will be advanced. In the run-up to the project, the city of Jena has already concluded a "Letter of Intent" with the mobile phone providers Telekom and Vodafone to support the 5G mobile phone expansion in the high-tech region of Jena.

"The infrastructure is important for Jena, because data networks make a strong contribution to growth, development and prosperity in a society. Only because we are already well advanced in the development of the necessary 5G infrastructure in Jena can we be successful in such projects," said Mayor and head of the urban development department Christian Gerlitz.

All those involved in the project, coordinated by the City of Jena, see the digital transformation as a permanent task that extends far beyond the project's fields of application and its implementation, but also far beyond the City of Jena and Thuringia. The catalyst for further applications in the context of networked mobility is not only the already existing 5G supply, but also the planned data broker.



As a result, this project improves living conditions in urban and suburban areas, strengthens the economy, relieves the environment and thus serves all citizens and future generations. Developed solutions contribute to the wealth of experience and product development of the participating companies and universities. It is to be expected that further recycling will take place.

Wolfgang Tiefensee, Minister of Economic Affairs, is also pleased that Jena has now been able to assert itself in the second round of the federal support programme for 5G model regions: "The city of Jena began very early on to develop its concept for networked mobility. Thanks to the federal funding, additional funds are now available to advance the project to optimize the traffic flow in the city and thus take on a pioneering role". This would also make it a showcase project in the sense of the Thuringian digital strategy for the creation of modern infrastructures to make life attractive and maintain competitiveness.

Lord Mayor Thomas Nitzsche points out the cooperation in the region: "Our aim is to strengthen both Jena and its surrounding area by improving the infrastructure. With the installation of the 5G model region, we are doing justice to Jena's importance as a driver of innovation. This will result in the strengthening of the regional economy and the settlement of new technology companies in the Saale valley and beyond. I would like to thank the state of Thuringia for the trust bonus. With it we as a city and our partners will lead the project to success".

Among the project participants were: The city administration with own enterprises (KSJ) and companies (Jenaer Nahverkehr, Stadtwerke Jena Netze), TU Dresden (Chair for traffic control systems and process automation), INAVET (Institute for applied traffic telematics) GmbH, Data in Motion Consulting GmbH