5GINFIRE · Project

A Ready-Made 5G Testing Playground Where Industries Can Trial New Apps Before Going Live

digitalTestedTRL 6

Imagine you want to test-drive a new car feature that relies on ultra-fast mobile networks — but those networks don't fully exist yet. 5GINFIRE built a shared testing ground where companies from automotive, smart cities, and other industries can plug in their ideas and try them out on a realistic 5G setup. Think of it like a flight simulator for 5G apps: you get to crash safely before flying for real. The platform connects labs across 7 countries so companies don't need to build expensive test infrastructure from scratch.

By the numbers

EUR 4,999,970

EU funding for building the 5G experimental platform

consortium partners across the platform

countries connected in the testing ecosystem

project deliverables produced

industry partners in the consortium

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies developing products for 5G networks — from connected cars to smart city sensors — face a costly chicken-and-egg problem: they need realistic 5G infrastructure to test their applications, but building private test networks is prohibitively expensive. Without proper testing environments, products reach the market with unknown failure modes and compatibility issues.

The solution

What was built

The project built an operational 5G experimental platform with two key components: a MANO (Management and Orchestration) platform with continuous integration for managing virtual network functions, and a dedicated 5G automotive vertical testbed integrated with existing FIRE research facilities. In total, 21 deliverables were produced across the project's 3-year run.

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers developing V2X and connected car featuresTelecom operators planning 5G network slicing for vertical industriesSmart city solution providers needing to validate IoT applications on 5GNetwork equipment vendors testing NFV and MANO implementationsEnterprise software companies building 5G-dependent industrial applications

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive & Connected Vehicles

enterprise

Target: Automotive OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers developing connected car features

If you are an automotive supplier developing connected vehicle applications — this project built a dedicated 5G automotive vertical testbed where you can trial V2X communication, remote diagnostics, or autonomous driving features on a realistic network without deploying your own 5G infrastructure. The platform was operated across 11 partners in 7 countries, giving you access to diverse test conditions.

Smart City Solutions

mid-size

Target: Smart city platform vendors and municipal technology providers

If you are a smart city technology provider struggling to validate how your IoT sensors, traffic management, or public safety apps perform on 5G networks — this project created an open experimental ecosystem where you can deploy and test your applications on real 5G-like infrastructure. With 21 deliverables covering network management and orchestration, the platform handles the complexity so you can focus on your application.

Telecom & Network Equipment

enterprise

Target: Telecom operators and network equipment manufacturers preparing 5G rollouts

If you are a telecom operator or equipment vendor needing to validate 5G network functions before commercial deployment — this project delivered an operational MANO (Management and Orchestration) platform with continuous integration, letting you test NFV-based network services in a controlled environment. The platform was built in alignment with ongoing standardization, reducing the gap between lab results and real-world performance.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to access or replicate this testing platform?

The project received EUR 4,999,970 in EU funding to build and operate the platform across 11 partners. Replicating this from scratch would require significant investment in NFV infrastructure and multi-site connectivity. Licensing or access terms for the platform outputs would need to be negotiated with the coordinator, EURESCOM.

Can this platform scale to handle real industrial workloads?

The platform was designed as an experimental ecosystem, not a production network. However, the operational MANO platform included continuous integration mechanisms, suggesting it can handle repeated, automated testing cycles. Scaling to production-grade workloads would require additional engineering beyond what was delivered.

Who owns the IP and how can I license the technology?

The project was funded under RIA (Research and Innovation Action), meaning IP is typically retained by the consortium partners. EURESCOM, the German coordinator, would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions. Based on available project data, the platform was built on open-source and standardization-aligned components, which may simplify access.

Is this technology still current given 5G has since been commercially deployed?

The project ran from 2017 to 2019, during early 5G standardization. While commercial 5G networks now exist, the platform's value lies in its multi-vertical testing approach and NFV orchestration capabilities. The architectural patterns and MANO platform design remain relevant for testing advanced 5G use cases like network slicing.

How easily can I integrate my existing applications with this platform?

The platform was specifically designed to be open and extensible, allowing vertical industries to plug in their own experiments. The 5G automotive vertical testbed deliverable documents the integration process with existing FIRE facilities. Based on available project data, the architecture supports onboarding new verticals through standardized interfaces.

Are there regulatory considerations for using this in my country?

The consortium spanned 7 countries (BR, DE, EL, ES, FR, PT, UK), suggesting the platform was tested across multiple regulatory environments. However, 5G spectrum licensing and network testing regulations vary by jurisdiction. You would need to verify local compliance requirements for any deployment outside the original test sites.

Consortium

Who built it

The 5GINFIRE consortium brings together 11 partners from 7 countries, with a solid mix of 5 universities providing research depth, 4 industry players ensuring practical relevance, and 2 research organizations. The 36% industry ratio is reasonable for a research-focused project. EURESCOM, the coordinator, is a well-known German telecom research institute — not an SME but an established industry body with deep ties to European telecom operators. The inclusion of partners from Brazil alongside European countries (DE, EL, ES, FR, PT, UK) signals international testing ambition. With 2 SMEs in the mix, there is some entrepreneurial energy, though the consortium leans toward established research and industry players.

EURESCOM-EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC STUDIES IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS GMBHCoordinator · DE
B-COMparticipant · FR
INSTITUTO DE TELECOMUNICACOESparticipant · PT
BRISTOLISOPEN LIMITEDthirdparty · UK
TELEFONICA INVESTIGACION Y DESARROLLO SAparticipant · ES
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOLparticipant · UK
PANEPISTIMIO PATRONparticipant · EL
EGMparticipant · FR
UNIVERSIDAD CARLOS III DE MADRIDparticipant · ES
UNIVERSIDADE DE SAO PAULOparticipant · BR

How to reach the team

EURESCOM GmbH (Germany) — a European telecom research institute. Use SciTransfer's coordinator lookup service to find the right contact.

Order a report on this consortium See EURESCOM-EUROPEAN INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC STUDIES IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS GMBH profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how 5GINFIRE's testing platform or MANO orchestration tools could accelerate your 5G product development? SciTransfer can connect you with the right team members and provide a tailored briefing.

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