IMDEA Networks Deploys Cutting-Edge Smart Lamppost with 5G Millimeter-Wave and WiFi 7 Technology with NEXTONIC Partners

• IMDEA Networks has deployed an innovative smart lamppost featuring 5G millimeter-wave and Wi-Fi 7 access.

 

• The 5G equipment, supplied by Ericsson, operates in Stand Alone mode with dual connectivity to a mid-band (3.5 GHz) gNB.

 

• Telefónica has provided the spectrum required to operate the network, while ANDREW supplied the smart lamppost infrastructure, which combines advanced engineering with sleek urban design to simplify network densification. Ruckus provided the Wi-Fi 7 access point.

 

• The deployment is funded by the ADVANCE-6G project under the UNICO I+D 6G 2022. Programmed and connected to the NEXTONIC core network.

 

• Initial tests demonstrate the superior capacity of millimeter-wave bands for outdoor coverage compared to low and mid-band 5G.

 

 

Madrid, 9 de febrero de 2026.- IMDEA Networks Institute has successfully deployed a state-of-the-art smart lamppost at its outdoor facilities in Leganés, Madrid, marking a significant milestone in the research and development of advanced wireless connectivity solutions. The deployment integrates next-generation technologies including Wi-Fi 7 and 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) operating at 26 GHz frequency band, demonstrating the potential of these technologies for high-capacity outdoor coverage.

 

The smart lamppost, designed and provided by ANDREW, can conceal all site electrical connections and mid-band radio equipment within its base, ensuring a clean and unobtrusive installation. At the top, a custom lamppost integrates street lighting for seamless aesthetics while offering mounting provisions for next-generation 5G and future 6G technologies. This innovative design accommodates a Ruckus WiFi 7 access point, a 5G millimeter-wave gNB, and a 10-port ANDREW antenna delivering high-capacity connectivity without compromising the visual harmony of public spaces.

 

The new 5G mmWave equipment deployed at the lamppost has been supplied by Ericsson, configured in Stand Alone (SA) mode with Dual Connectivity (DC) interworking with a second Ericsson’s gNB operating in the mid-band (3.5 GHz). This configuration enables the network to combine the ultra-high capacity of millimeter-wave frequencies with the broader coverage characteristics of mid-band spectrum, optimizing both throughput and reliability. In the deployed system the millimeter-wave radio layer is dedicated exclusively to user-plane traffic, while the mid-band layer (FR1, operating at 3.5 GHz) serves as the anchor for control-plane signalling. This architecture ensures that all data traffic benefits from the high capacity of the mmWave link whenever coverage is available, while maintaining robust control-plane connectivity through the mid-band layer. During the tests, no user-plane aggregation between FR1 and FR2 was applied, for allowing a clear assessment of the standalone performance of each radio layer. When the user equipment moved beyond the effective mmWave coverage area, the system seamlessly transitioned to mid-band-only operation for both user and control planes, demonstrating the resilience of the dual connectivity approach.

 

The measurement campaign, carried out at six outdoor locations at increasing distances from the smart lamppost, evaluated the system under two bandwidth allocations: Single carrier (100 MHz bandwidth) and eight aggregated carriers (800 MHz total bandwidth for Downlink and 400 MHz total bandwidth for Uplink). Under line-of-sight conditions, the eight-carrier configuration achieved stable average downlink user throughput of 3.9 Gbps, with uplink reaching up to 239 Mbps, confirming the substantial additional capacity that can be achieved by millimeter-wave technology over conventional mid-band deployments.

 

Latency measurements revealed average end-to-end round-trip latency of 4.5 milliseconds across all measurement points within millimeter-wave coverage, regardless of the carrier configuration and under both line-of-sight and moderate non-line-of-sight conditions, highlighting the performance benefits of maintaining millimeter-wave connectivity for latency-sensitive applications.

These findings validate the suitability of smart lamppost-based mmWave deployments for high-capacity outdoor scenarios where line-of-sight/near line-of-sight can be ensured, such as pedestrian areas, public venues, and university campuses, and may provide valuable insights for the planning and optimization of future dense urban network deployments.

 

The equipment installed on the smart lamppost has been connected to the NEXTONIC 5G core network, provided by Ericsson. This integration will allow researchers to test and validate advanced network functionalities in a real-world outdoor environment, leveraging the full capabilities of the laboratory’s 5G SA infrastructure.

 

The deployment has been funded through the ADVANCE-6G project (Acquisition of Equipment for the Scientific Infrastructure of Computing and Communications for Advanced Experimentation in 6G Networks), which was awarded to IMDEA Networks under the UNICO I+D 6G 2022 Programme, within the framework of the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (PRTR), funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. The project aims to provide IMDEA Networks with the scientific and technical infrastructure required to address advanced 5G and 6G experimentation in an integrated manner. Further information about the project is available here.

 

Within the framework of this same project, a more extensive network deployment is currently underway at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) campus in Leganés. This expanded deployment will include three additional smart lampposts, also provided by Andrew and Ericsson, creating a broader testbed for research on outdoor millimeter-wave coverage, mobility scenarios, and advanced network features in a university campus environment.

 

The deployment has been made possible through the support of Telefónica, which has made available the radio spectrum required to operate the network. This collaboration underscores the strong partnership between the telecommunications industry and research institutions in advancing the development and validation of cutting-edge wireless technologies.

 

“This deployment is a clear example of how the UNICO I+D initiative has enabled IMDEA Networks to enhance its research infrastructure for advanced wireless technologies,» said Carlos Bernardos, Full Professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid and part-time researcher professor at IMDEA Networks. «Through this project, we have been able to test key capabilities of 5G Advanced—such as millimeter-wave access and dual connectivity—in real-world outdoor scenarios, paving the way for future 6G experimentation. Achievements like these strengthen our scientific foundation and help accelerate the translation of research into practical solutions, ultimately delivering societal benefits.”

 

“By giving researchers at IMDEA Networks direct access to 5G mmWave, innovative outdoor use cases and applications can be unlocked through open experimentation. Industry-academia collaboration is key to speeding adoption and expanding the real-world impact of breakthrough technologies like mmWave,” says Manuel Lorenzo, Head of Technology & Innovation, Ericsson R&D Spain

 

“At ANDREW, our research and development efforts focus on enabling the evolution of mobile networks through multi-technology integration and simplifying network densification. Participating in this programme reflects our commitment to advancing connectivity and delivering innovative solutions that make next-generation networks more efficient and scalable,” commented Pedro Torres Martos, CTO Europe at ANDREW.