Launch of the 5G METRO project, a first in France for higher education
- Innovation
- Institutional
Published on June 4, 2026
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Updated on June 4, 2026
Dates
on the May 29, 2026
On May 29, Université Côte d’Azur, in partnership with Orange and Awabot, launched the European 5G METRO project at IMREDD. This pioneering initiative combines a private 5G network with telepresence robots to enable students who are unable to attend classes in person to participate remotely as if they were there.
Enabling every student to pursue their studies, regardless of health or mobility constraints: that is the goal of the 5G METRO project, officially launched on May 29 at IMREDD (Mediterranean Institute for Risk, Environment, and Sustainable Development) at Université Côte d’Azur.
Co-funded by the European Union and carried out in partnership with Orange, Awabot, and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area, this project—the first of its kind in France—relies on the deployment of a hybrid private 5G mobile network and the use of telepresence robots connected in real time. Thanks to this cutting-edge infrastructure, students who are unable to attend in person can participate in classes, interact with their instructors and peers, and move virtually through campus spaces.
Three use cases form the basis of this experiment: augmented telepresence for participating in remote learning, mobile telepresence allowing users to navigate buildings via a robot, and the integration of virtual reality to access immersive educational resources.
This technological innovation relies on a private 5G network that ensures smooth, latency-free communication and the service continuity essential for these applications. This system goes beyond the limitations of traditional videoconferencing tools by offering a genuine sense of presence and interaction.
This first-of-its-kind initiative in French higher education paves the way for new inclusive educational models and expanded applications in other public sectors such as healthcare and security.
The official launch was attended by Jeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d’Azur; François-Xavier Rey, Director of Orange Sud-Est; Jérémie Koessler, President of Awabot; and Bernard Chaix, City Council member representing Éric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis.
Co-funded by the European Union and carried out in partnership with Orange, Awabot, and the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolitan Area, this project—the first of its kind in France—relies on the deployment of a hybrid private 5G mobile network and the use of telepresence robots connected in real time. Thanks to this cutting-edge infrastructure, students who are unable to attend in person can participate in classes, interact with their instructors and peers, and move virtually through campus spaces.
Three use cases form the basis of this experiment: augmented telepresence for participating in remote learning, mobile telepresence allowing users to navigate buildings via a robot, and the integration of virtual reality to access immersive educational resources.
A genuine sense of presence and interaction
This technological innovation relies on a private 5G network that ensures smooth, latency-free communication and the service continuity essential for these applications. This system goes beyond the limitations of traditional videoconferencing tools by offering a genuine sense of presence and interaction.This first-of-its-kind initiative in French higher education paves the way for new inclusive educational models and expanded applications in other public sectors such as healthcare and security.
The official launch was attended by Jeanick Brisswalter, President of Université Côte d’Azur; François-Xavier Rey, Director of Orange Sud-Est; Jérémie Koessler, President of Awabot; and Bernard Chaix, City Council member representing Éric Ciotti, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis.
