As part of the 5G Metro project, Orange is deploying a cutting-edge 5G Standalone (SA) network to enhance digital inclusion and enable innovative use cases, such as telepresence robots for remote students.
To better understand the impact of this technology, we asked Sylvain Leroux, Smart Territories Marketing and Innovation Director at Orange and 5G Metro project coordinator, three key questions about the benefits of 5G SA, the choice of a Hybrid Private Mobile Network for the university campus, and how 5G Metro aligns with Orange’s broader vision for 5G innovation and digital inclusion.
Telepresence robotics is transforming the way students access education, breaking down barriers for those unable to attend classes in person. As part of the 5G Metro project, Awabot is bringing its extensive expertise in telepresence to enhance the learning experience for remote students. We spoke with Jérémie Koessler, President of Awabot, to understand how their technology is evolving with 5G Standalone, the challenges of seamless indoor navigation, and the potential applications of these advancements beyond education.
How does Awabot’s expertise in telepresence robotics enhance the learning experience for remote students in the 5G Metro project?
Awabot has been deploying telepresence robots for many years to support students who are unable to attend school in person. Over time, the company has developed extensive expertise, both technical and human, in the challenges of inclusion in education. Awabot understands students’ needs and helps them make the most of the telepresence experience to enhance learning and maintain social connections.
Awabot is behind the world’s largest deployment of telepresence robots through the TED-i program, led in France by the Ministry of National Education. With a fleet of over 1,500 robots, students facing serious illnesses or disabilities can continue their education remotely while staying connected to their school environment.
The 5G Metro project is therefore an opportunity to further improve the experience of thousands of users and to democratize the use of telepresence across Europe.
What are the key technical challenges in implementing seamless indoor horizontal and vertical navigation for telepresence robots, and how does 5G Standalone help overcome them?
5G Standalone will ensure that telepresence users have a permanent, secure, and low-latency connection, making basic and physical building functions accessible. This includes opening doors, passing access controls and other security systems, interacting with lighting, and communicating with elevators. All these interactions will be displayed through an interface enhanced with augmented reality.
Beyond education, how could the advancements in telepresence robotics developed for 5G Metro be applied to other sectors, such as healthcare or industry?
The 5G Metro project will also benefit other verticals facing similar challenges related to digital transformation. Beyond the advantages of 5G Standalone in enhancing the telepresence experience by reducing latency and ensuring reliable performance during connections, the goal is also to empower users, enabling a shift from tele-presence to tele-action through IoT. For example:
in healthcare, interactions with connected medical devices (blood pressure monitor, thermometer, stethoscope, etc.) could allow the transmission of patient health data and enable doctors to perform remote diagnostics.
in industry, telepresence users will be able to interact with machines and industrial site information systems to perform remote actions, such as verifying alarms or communicating with elevators and doors within the industrial site.
The 5G Metro project is an innovative initiative designed to enhance educational inclusivity through 5G-powered telepresence robots. To achieve seamless, real-time interactions for remote students, the project relies on the latest advancements in 5G technology. But not all 5G networks are built the same. A key distinction exists between 5G Standalone (SA) and 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) networks. Understanding this difference helps explain why 5G SA is essential to delivering the high-performance, low-latency connectivity required by 5G Metro.
Understanding the Difference Between 5G Standalone and Non-Standalone Networks
5G Non-Standalone (NSA): The Transition Phase
5G NSA is an early form of 5G deployment that builds on existing 4G LTE infrastructure. Instead of replacing the entire network, it uses the 4G core network while adding new 5G radio access capabilities. This allows mobile operators to introduce 5G more quickly without fully upgrading their systems.
Key Features of 5G NSA:
Relies on 4G Core: Uses existing LTE networks for managing connections.
Limited Latency Improvements: While faster than 4G, latency remains higher than a fully 5G-based system.
Faster Deployment: Telecom providers can roll out 5G NSA faster by upgrading existing networks.
Good for Early 5G Use Cases: Works well for improved mobile broadband but lacks the ultra-reliable low-latency capabilities needed for advanced applications.
5G Standalone (SA): The Full Potential of 5G
Unlike NSA, 5G SA operates independently of 4G infrastructure. It is built on a dedicated 5G core network, unlocking the full potential of 5G technology, including ultra-fast speeds, minimal latency, and massive device connectivity.
Key Features of 5G SA:
New 5G Core Network: Optimized for low latency, high reliability, and better security.
Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (uRLLC): Essential for applications requiring real-time responses, such as telepresence robots.
Higher Capacity and Efficiency: Supports more connected devices with better performance.
Future-Proof: Provides a foundation for cutting-edge innovations like edge computing, IoT, and smart cities.
Thinking of 5G like a train system
To help users understand the difference of 5G NSA and SA, it might be useful to imagine 5G as a train system :
5G Non-Standalone (NSA) is like a modern high-speed train using old railway tracks. It can go faster than before, but it is still limited by the old infrastructure.
5G Standalone (SA) is like building a brand-new high-speed rail network. The tracks, stations, and trains are all designed to work together for the smoothest, fastest experience possible.
While NSA is a great step forward, only SA can deliver the full benefits of 5G, just like a high-speed train running on a purpose-built network.
Why 5G Standalone is Critical for the 5G Metro Project
The 5G Metro project aims to enhance education through telepresence robots, allowing remote students—especially those in hospital or home care—to actively participate in university life. To ensure a truly immersive and seamless learning experience, the robots must move freely across campus, delivering real-time, high-quality video and audio without delays or connectivity issues.
This level of performance is only possible with 5G Standalone, which provides:
Ultra-low latency for real-time interactions.
Seamless mobility across campus without connection drops.
High reliability and network slicing, ensuring stable performance even in high-demand environments.
By using 5G SA, 5G Metro is paving the way for the future of inclusive, technology-driven education, ensuring that no student is left behind due to physical limitations.
Conclusion: 5G SA Unlocks the Future of Education
While 5G Non-Standalone helped kickstart the 5G revolution, 5G Standalone is the key to fully unlocking the technology’s potential. With its high-speed, low-latency, and reliable connectivity, 5G SA is essential for the success of the 5G Metro project, ensuring that telepresence robots can provide a truly engaging and interactive experience for remote students.
As education continues to evolve, 5G SA will play a fundamental role in bridging the digital divide, making learning more accessible, immersive, and inclusive than ever before.
As part of her visit to IMREDD on February 3rd, Clara Chappaz, the French Minister Delegate for Digital Affairs and Artificial Intelligence, was introduced to the 5G Metro project by Paulo Moura (IMREDD) and Franck Lavagna (Orange). This initiative, led by Orange in partnership with IMREDD and Awabot, is pioneering the deployment of a 5G Standalone (5G SA) network on the IMREDD campus, with a strong focus on inclusion and accessibility in education.
At the heart of the project is an innovative use case: telepresence robots developed by Awabot. These robots, connected to the ultra-fast, low-latency 5G SA network, will enable students facing health-related or mobility challenges to actively participate in classes and campus life remotely. By navigating classrooms and interacting with peers and professors in real-time, students in situations of isolation will have equal access to education.
During the presentation, the Moura and Lavagna highlighted the importance of inclusive digital transformation and the role of 5G technology in bridging gaps in access to education. The project also aligns with broader initiatives supporting the digitalization of learning environments, leveraging emerging connectivity solutions to foster innovation in higher education.
The 5G Metro project is a key step toward integrating advanced connectivity into academic settings, demonstrating how 5G technology can enhance accessibility, inclusion, and the overall learning experience.
The 5G Metro project aims to revolutionize inclusivity in education by deploying a cutting-edge 5G Standalone network infrastructure at the IMREDD campus of Université Côte d’Azur in Nice, France. By integrating telepresence robots developed by Awabot, the project seeks to enhance the learning experience for remote students, particularly those facing social isolation due to hospitalization or home care.
Addressing the Challenges of Distance Learning
In today’s digitally connected world, distance learning has become essential for ensuring accessibility and flexibility in education. However, students confined to their homes or hospital settings often experience social isolation, which prevents them from fully participating in educational activities. The 5G Metro project addresses this critical challenge by leveraging the high speed and low latency of 5G technology to create an engaging and inclusive learning environment.
What the Project Will Achieve
The 5G Metro project, funded by the European Commission, is set to span three years and will deliver:
A fully functional 5G Standalone network within the university campus.
Integration of telepresence robots designed specifically for educational purposes.
Development of tailored use cases to support students who cannot physically attend classes.
This infrastructure will empower remote students to seamlessly participate in lessons, interact with their peers and teachers, and access educational resources. By doing so, it will foster an inclusive and engaging learning experience for all.
Driving Innovation with AI and Mixed Reality
In addition to deploying 5G and telepresence robots, the project will develop mixed reality applications to enable innovative pedagogical approaches. Through collaboration with the I3S laboratory, these solutions will leverage artificial intelligence and immersive environments to create:
Interactive and adaptive educational content tailored to each student’s needs.
Dynamic learning experiences that optimize engagement for all students, including those attending remotely.
By merging 5G technology, robotics, and mixed reality tools, 5G Metro becomes a powerful driver of inclusive education and the future of pedagogy, offering immersive and participatory learning experiences that ensure equal access to knowledge.
Advanced Navigation for Telepresence Robots
The 5G network will also deliver exceptional quality of service for robot navigation, enabling:
Vertical and horizontal mobility to traverse complex university environments.
High-speed, low-latency performance for fluid and efficient navigation.
This capability is crucial for telepresence robots to overcome obstacles and reach diverse locations across the campus, ensuring a seamless and adaptive experience for students.
Building the Future of Education
5G Metro signature at the Salon des Maires in Paris, November 19th 2024.
With its focus on merging education, telecommunications, and robotic outreach, the 5G Metro project represents a groundbreaking step toward inclusive and innovative education. By creating a scalable and replicable model, the project aims to inspire similar initiatives across Europe and beyond, contributing to the EU’s mission of fostering accessible, community-connected educational institutions.
5G Metro is funded by the European Union through Connecting Europe Facility. The project was signed at the Salon des Maires in Paris in November 2024 by Jean-François Fallacher, CEO of Orange France, Jeanick Brisswalter, president of Université Côte d’Azur, and Jérémie Koessler, president of Awabot. Stay tuned for updates as 5G Metro reshapes the possibilities of distance learning and inclusive education!
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