RAI’s private 5G network will be available for the first time during the Cisco Live IT fair.
RAI Amsterdam is Europe’s first exhibition and conference organization with a private 5G network. With this new technology, available exclusively in the Netherlands from December 1, 2023, RAI is taking the next step as an innovation center. The private 5G network, currently the most secure, fastest and reliable mobile network, will be used for the first time during Cisco Live, one of the world’s largest IT events, from February 5th to 9th.
“We are increasingly developing from a traditional exhibition and conference venue into an innovation platform and knowledge center where events are held.”
Bret Baas, IT and Digital Manager at RAI Amsterdam:
“New technology is very important for both our customers and ourselves. It allows us to do more technically during events, such as flying with drones and displaying and transmitting the highest quality video. At the same time, we can It also helps make things smarter, which is important for crowd control and sustainability, for example.”
The next step in mobile internet development
The private 5G network is the result of the digital transformation initiated by RAI Amsterdam. According to Barth, this trade fair and conference organization is leading the way in Europe. “5G is the next step in mobile internet development. Secure and fast data transfer is guaranteed. One of the main advantages of private 5G networks is that, unlike WiFi, network overloads rarely occur. Additionally, no cables are required for 5G. And it provides exhibitors and customers with even more choices and ensures that we are very flexible with them.”
Thanks to collaboration partners NTT Data and Cisco, the new network for this pilot was quickly installed.
Jeroen van Hamesveld, General Manager of NTT Data Netherlands, said:
“5G will accelerate digital transformation in various sectors, including the conference and events industry. Thanks to our private 5G network, RAI and our customers can develop new concepts and innovations, such as the Internet of Things.”
Prepare for the future
RAI’s private 5G network will be available for the first time during the Cisco Live IT fair. According to Edwin Prinsen, general manager of Cisco Netherlands, the 5G rollout is an example of successful cooperation between Cisco, RAI and NTT Data. “Delivering a private 5G network within six weeks is a great achievement. This pilot will be beneficial for both RAI Amsterdam and us. If the launch is successful, we will be able to deliver long cables during Cisco Live in Amsterdam. Interactive real-time video can now be used for live streaming without having to use the app, making everything much simpler. Additionally, other innovations will help you better manage large-scale visitor flows, for example. This private 5G will also allow RAI Amsterdam to be future-ready.”
In addition to Cisco Live’s potential, Baas sees a lot of potential for other events as well. “For example, at Intertraffic Amsterdam and IBC, there is a lot of communication between equipment. And during Interclean cleaning events, we have a lot of cleaning robots running around. And our private 5G network allows us to do this smoothly. It is guaranteed that it will be done.”
Baas outlines what else is possible in the future. “Self-driving cars will use 5G networks. This is even more important because if the car has to react to traffic signs there should be no lag. Similarly, for TV broadcasting, 5G will be used to ensure that there is no delay in the transmission of increasingly heavy images and that everything is fully secure.”
