Digitalization is not just a technical issue, but above all a social one that is leading to far-reaching changes in all areas of life. This is why we will also be focusing on this topic in detail on the third and final day of the trade fair. In the morning, visitors were given an insight into the diverse possibilities of networking using concrete examples from practice. Jan-Philippe Schilt, project manager of the eco Association of the Internet Industry, presented some of the results of a Smart City study. The study by eco and Arthur D. Little forecasts strong growth in various market segments over the next five years. Particularly high growth is expected in the education sector, which has received little attention to date. Public administration, the energy sector and tourism can also benefit from the smart city concept and contribute to making cities more efficient and improving the quality of life. The exchange of data between the sectors plays a decisive role in this. Schilt also emphasized a number of success factors for the smart city, such as a clear vision, holistic platforms and cooperation strategies between smart city providers or the exchange of knowledge across different segments. Dr. Peter Pascher from the German Farmers’ Association then addressed the topic of smart rural regions from the perspective of German farmers. The goal is the digital farm, where all data flows together on the mobile device and can be accessed and used from anywhere. According to the German Farmers’ Association, agriculture is the economic sector in which digitalization and data integration are developing at a particularly rapid pace. In his presentation, Pascher addressed the fields of action in digital agriculture. Test and experimental fields, innovation funding, start-up funding and training and university education are needed to make digitalization tangible for farmers. In the following presentation, Romy Pützschler, Project Manager at aconium GmbH, introduced the European WiFi4EU project, which supports the nationwide introduction of free WiFi. Citizens and visitors to thousands of EU communities can now enjoy high-performance Internet access. The projects are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The priority is to equip places where there is currently no free private or public Wi-Fi hotspot. 5G smart world – more than just mobile communications: The ubiquitous networking of people, things and processes through 5G infrastructures, an intelligent communication and convergent 5G network as well as the evolution of today’s network infrastructure and the gradual introduction of 5G components and 5G applications were key topics in the presentation by Cornel Pampu, Senior Project Manager at aconium GmbH. The 5G network and the intelligent 5G world enable a modern, mobile and networked society and are the ecosystem for innovation and digitalization.
Photo above: Romy Pützschler, Project Manager, aconium GmbH during her presentation on 26.10.2017 in Berlin at the “Digital Regions – Today and Tomorrow” trade fair. Photo credits: aconium GmbH / Florian Schuh