5G-CLARITY · Project

Private 5G Networks With Built-In WiFi and LiFi for Factories and Venues

digitalPilotedTRL 7

Imagine your factory or stadium needs rock-solid wireless coverage — but public 5G just isn't reliable enough for robots or real-time operations. This team built a private network system that blends 5G, WiFi, and even light-based communication (LiFi) into one seamless package, managed by AI that practically runs itself. They tested it in a real factory near Barcelona guiding autonomous vehicles, and in a museum in Bristol where humans and robots interacted live. Think of it as a smart wireless backbone designed specifically for places where dropped connections can mean stopped production lines.

By the numbers

consortium partners across 5 countries

EUR 5,744,885

EU research investment

industry partners (56% of consortium)

real-world pilot demonstrations (factory + museum)

total project deliverables produced

standards bodies targeted (3GPP, O-RAN, IEEE802.11bb, ETSI-ZSM)

The business problem

What needed solving

Factories, stadiums, and transportation hubs need ultra-reliable wireless networks for critical operations like autonomous vehicle guidance, real-time robotics, and indoor positioning — but public 5G networks are designed for consumers, not industrial-grade performance. Current private network solutions typically support only one wireless technology, forcing businesses to manage separate systems for cellular, WiFi, and positioning, which increases costs and complexity.

The solution

What was built

The project built a unified private network architecture that integrates 5G, WiFi, and LiFi access with AI-driven automation and intent-based management. This was validated through 24 deliverables including a final demonstration report covering two real-world pilots: AGV positioning in a factory near Barcelona and human-robot interaction in a Bristol museum.

Audience

Who needs this

Factory operators deploying AGVs or collaborative robots that need reliable indoor wireless and centimeter-accurate positioningStadium and convention center operators needing high-density, multi-tenant wireless infrastructurePrivate network solution integrators looking for a standards-aligned 5G+WiFi+LiFi platformLogistics warehouse operators requiring real-time tracking and autonomous vehicle coordinationTransportation hub managers needing seamless indoor coverage across multiple wireless technologies

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Manufacturing & Logistics

enterprise

Target: Factory operators running autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) or robotic assembly lines

If you are a factory operator dealing with unreliable wireless coverage that disrupts your AGVs and robotic systems — this project developed a private network architecture combining 5G, WiFi, and LiFi that was tested in a real factory near Barcelona for AGV positioning and network slicing. The AI-driven management plane automates network operations, reducing the need for dedicated IT staff to keep your production floor connected.

Venue & Event Management

enterprise

Target: Stadium, convention center, or transportation hub operators

If you are a venue operator dealing with network congestion and poor indoor positioning during peak events — this project developed a multi-tenant private network that lets multiple service providers share one infrastructure. It was demonstrated in a museum in Bristol with human-robot interaction, proving it works in public-facing venues where reliability and accurate indoor positioning matter.

Telecommunications & Network Integration

mid-size

Target: System integrators and private network solution providers

If you are a network integrator struggling to combine cellular, WiFi, and emerging technologies like LiFi into one manageable solution for enterprise clients — this project built an AI engine that automates network management through intent-based policies. With contributions targeting 3GPP, O-RAN, IEEE802.11bb, and ETSI-ZSM standards, the technology is designed to plug into the ecosystem you already work with.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to deploy a private network based on this technology?

The project itself received EUR 5,744,885 in EU funding across 18 partners over roughly 3 years. Deployment costs for a single factory or venue would depend on scale, but the multi-tenant architecture is designed to let multiple tenants share infrastructure costs. Based on available project data, specific per-site pricing has not been published.

Can this scale to a full production factory or large venue?

The technology was demonstrated in two real-world settings: an Industry 4.0 factory near Barcelona (AGV positioning and network slicing) and a museum in Bristol (human-robot interaction). These were targeted pilot demonstrations, not full-scale rollouts, but they prove the architecture works in operational environments.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license it?

The consortium of 18 partners across 5 countries developed the technology under an EU-funded RIA grant. IP is typically shared among consortium members per their grant agreement. Licensing would need to be negotiated with the relevant partners — IHP GmbH (coordinator) or the specific partner that developed the component you need.

Does this comply with telecom regulations and standards?

The project specifically targeted contributions to 3GPP, O-RAN, IEEE802.11bb, and ETSI-ZSM standards bodies. This standards-first approach means the technology is designed to align with existing and emerging regulatory requirements for private 5G networks in Europe.

How quickly could this be integrated into an existing factory network?

The project ran from November 2019 to February 2023 and produced 24 deliverables including the final demonstration report. The AI-driven management plane uses intent-based policies, meaning an administrator sets high-level goals rather than configuring every device manually. Based on available project data, specific deployment timelines for commercial installations have not been disclosed.

Is this still actively supported or has the project ended?

The project officially closed in February 2023. However, with 10 industry partners and 2 SMEs in the consortium, there is strong potential for commercial follow-up. The coordinator IHP GmbH is a Leibniz research institute with a track record of technology transfer to industry.

What makes this different from buying a standard private 5G solution?

Most private 5G solutions offer cellular-only coverage. This system uniquely integrates 5G, WiFi, and LiFi into one managed network with AI-driven automation. The LiFi component enables centimeter-accurate indoor positioning — critical for AGV navigation — which standard 5G alone cannot deliver at that precision.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a strong, industry-heavy consortium with 18 partners across 5 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, Ireland, UK). Ten of the 18 partners — 56% — come from industry, signaling that this technology was built with commercial deployment in mind, not just academic publication. The coordinator IHP GmbH is a German Leibniz institute specializing in high-performance microelectronics, a credible technology transfer organization. With 6 universities and 2 research organizations providing the scientific backbone, and 2 SMEs bringing agility, the mix is well-balanced for moving results from lab to market. The explicit targeting of 4 major standards bodies (3GPP, O-RAN, IEEE802.11bb, ETSI-ZSM) further confirms the consortium's intent to make this technology commercially viable, not just academically interesting.

IHP GMBH - LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICSCoordinator · DE
ROBERT BOSCH ESPANA FABRICA ARANJUEZ SAparticipant · ES
ROBERT BOSCH ESPANA SLUthirdparty · ES
ROBERT BOSCH ESPANA FABRICA CASTELLET SAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSIDAD DE GRANADAparticipant · ES
INTERDIGITAL EUROPE LTDparticipant · UK
PURELIFI LIMITEDparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYAthirdparty · ES
TELEFONICA INNOVACION DIGITAL SLparticipant · ES
ACCELLERANparticipant · BE
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOLparticipant · UK
L.M. ERICSSON LIMITEDparticipant · IE
FUNDACIO PRIVADA I2CAT, INTERNET I INNOVACIO DIGITAL A CATALUNYAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRIDthirdparty · ES
THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGHparticipant · UK
UNIVERSITY OF STRATHCLYDEparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

IHP GmbH - Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics, Germany. Use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to find the right contact.

Order a report on this consortium See IHP GMBH - LEIBNIZ INSTITUTE FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE MICROELECTRONICS profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how this private 5G+WiFi+LiFi technology could solve connectivity problems in your factory or venue? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the right consortium partner — contact us for a tailored briefing.

Order a report on this topic More in Digital & ICT