Clear5G · Project

Reliable 5G Wireless Networks That Keep Factory Machines Connected Without Delays

manufacturingTestedTRL 5

Imagine a factory floor with hundreds of robots and sensors that all need to talk to each other instantly — like a crowded stadium where everyone tries to make a phone call at once. Clear5G built a wireless system that handles massive numbers of connected factory devices without dropping signals or adding delays. They redesigned the communication layers from the ground up so that critical commands — like "stop that robotic arm now" — get through in milliseconds. The whole thing was prototyped and tested on real testbeds in Europe and Taiwan.

By the numbers

1000-fold

Targeted connection density improvement over previous generation networks

Consortium partners involved in development

Countries represented in the consortium

Total project deliverables produced

Demonstrated prototype deliverables

Testbeds used for validation (5GIC Europe, III Taiwan)

The business problem

What needed solving

Factories moving to Industry 4.0 need wireless connectivity that can handle hundreds or thousands of machines and sensors communicating simultaneously — but current wireless technology cannot guarantee the split-second reliability required for safety-critical operations like robotic control and remote maintenance. A single dropped signal or delayed command on a production line can mean damaged products, equipment failures, or safety incidents.

The solution

What was built

The project built and validated a complete 5G wireless communication system tailored for factories, including PHY layer, MAC layer, and network architecture prototypes with working source code and libraries. These were integrated into a Factory-of-the-Future demonstrator tested on two international testbeds (5GIC in Europe and III in Taiwan).

Audience

Who needs this

Automotive and electronics manufacturers automating production lines with hundreds of connected robots and sensorsFactory automation system integrators deploying wireless Industry 4.0 solutionsTelecom equipment vendors building 5G products for industrial customersIndustrial IoT platform companies needing ultra-reliable machine-to-machine communicationManufacturing technology scouts evaluating next-generation factory connectivity

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Automotive Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Car manufacturers and Tier-1 suppliers running automated assembly lines

If you are an automotive manufacturer dealing with unreliable wireless connections on your factory floor — this project developed a converged 5G wireless system specifically for mission-critical machine communication. The prototyped solution addresses ultra-low latency for closed-loop control systems like robotic arms, and was validated on testbeds with real factory-of-the-future scenarios. With an 11-partner consortium including 6 industrial players, the technology was designed for dense device deployments targeting 1000-fold connection density.

Electronics and Semiconductor Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: High-precision electronics manufacturers with cleanroom automation

If you are an electronics manufacturer struggling to connect hundreds of sensors and machines in a single facility — this project built PHY, MAC, and network architecture enhancements that handle massive device density without sacrificing reliability. The system was prototyped with structured code libraries and tested for remote maintenance and closed-loop control scenarios. The consortium included partners from both the communications and manufacturing domains, ensuring the solution fits real production needs.

Industrial Equipment and System Integration

any

Target: Factory automation integrators deploying Industry 4.0 solutions

If you are a system integrator helping factories go wireless but your clients worry about reliability and latency — this project delivered a validated 5G architecture combining multiple wireless technologies into one converged network. The final prototype included cross-layer integration software with libraries, header files, and source code ready for system-level integration. Testing was performed on the 5GIC testbed in Europe and the III testbed in Taiwan.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement this 5G solution in my factory?

The project's EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset, so specific development costs cannot be estimated. The technology was built as a research prototype tested on university and institute testbeds. Implementation costs would depend on the scale of your facility and the density of connected devices you need to support.

Can this scale to a full production facility with thousands of devices?

The project targeted ITU-R objectives including 1000-fold connection density improvement for next-generation mobile networks. The architecture was designed specifically for massive deployment of connected devices in factory settings. However, the validation was performed on research testbeds (5GIC in Europe and III in Taiwan), not in full-scale production environments.

Who owns the intellectual property and can I license this technology?

The consortium of 11 partners across 6 countries jointly developed the technology under an EU Research and Innovation Action. IP ownership is shared among consortium members including University of Surrey as coordinator. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated directly with the relevant consortium partners who developed each component.

How does this compare to standard commercial 5G equipment?

Clear5G specifically enhanced PHY, MAC, and network architecture layers to meet factory requirements that standard 5G doesn't fully address — particularly ultra-low latency and ultra-high reliability for mission-critical machine communication. The project contributed to standardisation in both communication and manufacturing domains. Some of these enhancements may have been adopted into 5G standards through the consortium's standardisation work.

What exactly was delivered and can I test it?

The project produced 16 deliverables including 4 demonstrated prototypes: PHY layer implementation, MAC layer implementation, radio network architecture, and a final Factory-of-the-Future integrated prototype. The final prototype included software with libraries, header files, and source code. Access to these would require contacting the consortium partners.

Is this proven in a real manufacturing environment?

The system was validated on two testbeds — the 5GIC testbed in Europe for proof of concepts and the III testbed in Taiwan for final system demonstration showing integration of manufacturing and the enhanced network. These are controlled research environments, not commercial production floors. The project ended in May 2020.

Does this comply with European 5G regulations and standards?

The consortium partners contributed to relevant standardisation in both communication and manufacturing domains. The project aligned with ITU-R objectives for next-generation mobile networks. Based on available project data, specific regulatory certifications are not mentioned, which is typical for research-stage technology.

Consortium

Who built it

The Clear5G consortium brings together 11 partners from 6 countries (Greece, France, Netherlands, Turkey, Taiwan, UK) with a strong 55% industry ratio — 6 industrial partners alongside 2 universities and 3 research organizations. This industry-heavy composition signals that the technology was developed with real manufacturing needs in mind, not just academic interest. The EU-Taiwan partnership is notable: proof of concepts were tested in Europe while the full factory demonstration ran in Taiwan, giving the results cross-continental validation. The coordinator, University of Surrey, hosts the 5GIC — one of Europe's leading 5G research centres — which provided the European testbed infrastructure. Only 1 SME participated, suggesting this is large-player technology that would likely reach the market through established telecom and industrial automation vendors rather than startups.

UNIVERSITY OF SURREYCoordinator · UK
WINGS ICT SOLUTIONS TECHNOLOGIES PLIROFORIKIS KAI EPIKOINONION ANONYMI ETAIREIAparticipant · EL
NEDERLANDSE ORGANISATIE VOOR TOEGEPAST NATUURWETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK TNOparticipant · NL
COMMISSARIAT A L ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVESparticipant · FR
NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITYparticipant · TW
TOSHIBA EUROPE LIMITEDparticipant · UK
Institute for Information Industryparticipant · TW

How to reach the team

University of Surrey, UK — hosts the 5GIC testbed centre. Look for the project's principal investigator in the Institute for Communication Systems.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITY OF SURREY profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with the Clear5G team about licensing their factory 5G technology? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and help you evaluate fit for your manufacturing environment.

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