European Broadband Competence Offices Network Support Facility
HOGENT University in Ghent is pioneering the use of private 5G networks to transform education and research, explains the university’s IT Director, Bart De Rouck, in this video. As part of the EU-funded 5GENIUS project under the CEF Digital programme for 5G for Smart Communities, the university is integrating next-generation connectivity to prepare students for the future. With 18,000 students and multiple research centres, HOGENT ensures that learners engage with industry-standard technology.
Unlike public 5G, a private 5G network gives the university full control over its configuration and dedicated spectrum, enabling high-speed, low-latency connections. This technology is already proving valuable across key sectors, including healthcare, logistics and agriculture.
In healthcare training, 5G eliminates delays in data transmission, allowing real-time monitoring through smart glasses. This enhances student learning and enables seamless remote guidance. In agriculture, 5G facilitates continuous data collection via drones and machinery, providing crucial insights for precision farming.
By embedding 5G into education and research, the 5GENIUS project is helping HOGENT bridge the gap between academia and industry. As Research Manager Jens Buysse explains, an essential goal is to familiarise students, teachers, and researchers with 5G’s potential.
Through EU support, the initiative is showcasing how 5G can revolutionise higher education and contribute to smart, connected communities, while shaping a future where education and industry work hand in hand, driving technological advancement and innovation.
Explore further through the 5G for Smart Communities online platform.
This video was filmed as part of the European Broadband Competence Offices (BCO) Network’s work to raise awareness of EU support for high-speed broadband deployment and share good practices in broadband projects. Discover more interviews in the BCO Network YouTube playlist and more broadband good practices, news and resources in the BCO Network Library.