- Université Côte d’Azur, in partnership with Orange and Awabot, announced with the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Authority the launch of the “5G METRO” project on 29 May 2026, co-funded by the European Union. The project aims to make learning more inclusive through private 5G infrastructure and telepresence robots connected in real time.
- The initiative is primarily designed for students who are unable to attend classes in person due to hospitalisation or reduced mobility, enabling them to participate in lessons as if they were physically present.
- IMREDD (Mediterranean Institute for Risk, Environment and Sustainable Development, Université Côte d’Azur’s Institute for Innovation and Partnerships) is serving as the pilot site for the infrastructure.
- The initiative is the first of its kind in France to use a hybrid private 5G mobile network, and the first deployment of its kind at a higher education institution in Europe.
Private 5G infrastructure supporting inclusive education
In response to the challenges of inclusion in higher education, the “5G METRO” project (Merging Education, Telecommunications and Robotics Outreach) aims to create a learning environment accessible to everyone. The main technological challenge lies in the use of a private 5G network, 5G MPNH (Mobile Private Network Hybrid), to ensure real-time, low-latency interactions and enable telepresence robots to move seamlessly around the campus without interfering with the university’s existing network.
The project combines two areas of expertise. Orange is deploying a hybrid private 5G mobile network to provide high-performance connectivity. Awabot, a pioneer in telepresence robotics, enables students to attend classes remotely with a level of presence and immersion that goes significantly beyond traditional videoconferencing solutions.
Three use cases are being implemented: enhanced telepresence, enabling students to attend classes remotely and participate in group activities; mobile telepresence, allowing students to move around classrooms and the building through the robots’ remotely controlled screens; and virtual reality, providing access to all the university’s resources. The project also paves the way for augmented reality experiments.
A replicable model for cities and regions
Beyond education, the initiative paves the way for the deployment of hybrid private networks for businesses, cities and regions. These networks will provide a secure, low-latency environment suited to public buildings that need to accommodate both general public access and professional applications, including universities, hospitals and police stations requiring reliable and secure mobile coverage.
The project was launched on 29 May at IMREDD in the presence of Jeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d’Azur; François-Xavier Rey, Director of Orange South-East; Jérémie Koessler, President of Awabot; and Bernard Chaix, City Councillor representing the Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Authority.
The project demonstrates the Côte d’Azur’s ability to bring together academic research, major industry players and innovative companies around disruptive technologies. It forms part of the innovation ecosystem driven by Université Côte d’Azur, one of nine French universities to hold the IdEx excellence label and home to the 3IA Côte d’Azur Cluster.
Source: Press release – Orange, Awabot et Université Côte d’Azur (29 may 2026)
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