Campus5G is a campus-wide private 5G research network at the University of Edinburgh, designed to accelerate innovation in the next generation of mobile communications. Covering the University’s central campus, it is one of the world’s first large-scale Open RAN deployments in a real, dense urban environment.
Unlike conventional mobile networks, Campus5G uses an open, programmable architecture. Researchers can experiment with every layer of the network while users access it with ordinary 5G smartphones. This flexibility makes it possible to develop, test and validate new ideas under realistic conditions—bridging the gap between laboratory research and real-world deployment.
The testbed supports research in intelligent and AI-driven network management, Open RAN systems, private 5G, edge computing, network sensing and emerging 6G technologies. Campus-wide coverage, together with the dynamic environment created by thousands of students, staff and visitors, creates a unique setting for evaluating technologies in demanding real-world conditions.
Campus5G was established with funding from the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). It has been recognised through a publication in ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review and the Best Demonstration Award at ACM MobiCom 2025.
Beyond being a research platform, Campus5G is evolving into a living laboratory that connects academia, industry and the wider innovation ecosystem. It provides real-world infrastructure for collaborative research, technology demonstrations, education and skills development—helping shape the future of wireless communications while enabling new applications and services.
From August 2026, the Campus5G team is conducting a user trial alongside the Edinburgh Fringe and Book Festivals, which have multiple venues across the University’s central campus. The trial will help us understand performance under high user density and traffic surges, and inform the effective configuration of private 5G networks for demanding campus-scale deployments.