Who we are!
MERCI is a publicly funded French-German project that focuses on the development of innovative solutions for private wireless networks. To this end, companies and academic partners from Germany and France have joined forces. The total budget of the project, which will run until April 2025, is 5.52 million euros. Around three million euros of this will come in the form of funding. The funding bodies are the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and the French Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty.
MERCI is the abbreviation for “Media and Event Production via Resilient Communication on IoT Infrastructure”.
The consortium consists of the German companies and organizations Sennheiser, RFmondial, R3 Solutions, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences and the French companies Ateme, Vitec and Wirepas.
You can find out more about the consortium here.
What we want!
The aim of the project is to use the DECT NR+ standard to create a non-cellular network (in contrast to 5G mobile communications) for everyone, anytime and anywhere. We want to ensure that DECT NR+ is established as a technology for so-called private networks so that people can set up and operate their own undisturbed networks for specific applications in a self-determined manner.
One envisaged scenario is, for example, the production of event content (including audio and video) based on nomadic (non-location-bound) DECT NR+ devices that are integrated into the DECT NR+ IoT infrastructure such as lighting or HVAC systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) of a venue or location (e.g. sports arena, conference center, theater, studio). This also enables other applications such as controlling the ambience (room temperature, wind, fog), stage automation and lighting effects that create immersive experiences for visitors.
We want to show that there is a wireless standard that does not require a large provider in order to use smart meter applications, for example. This standard requires no infrastructure, no SIM card and no per-minute billing. We want to create a wireless network that can be used by anyone, that fulfills specific applications and can be used immediately.
We want to demonstrate and assess the potential of the purely European-developed alternative to cellular 5G. Our focus is on professional audio/video applications and (I)IoT ((Industrial) Internet of Things).
DECT NR+ enables 5G private networks to be made possible for everyone, even with dense roll-out without business difficulties and economic burdens, so that they can really contribute to productivity gains through the industry-driven, flexible implementation of value-adding and sustainable solutions. The MERCI project aims to make a decisive contribution here.
The technology behind it!
DECT NR+ stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications New Radio Plus. This is the successor technology to DECT, which is used in cordless telephones to enable communication between the base station and the handset.
In simple terms, this means that DECT NR+ is an improved version of cordless phone technology, greatly expanding the range of applications. It brings improvements in sound quality, range and stability of the connection. It is a further development to open up completely new applications, to enable professional and industrial communication and thus to meet and optimize the performance and functions of all necessary wireless communication requirements and to leave the sovereignty of the data with the user.
Here are some applications and benefits of DECT NR+ in this context:
- Telephony: The primary purpose of DECT NR+ is to support cordless phone applications. It enables clear and reliable voice communication between the base station and handsets.
- Smart meter: DECT NR+ can also be used in home automation (smart meters). This includes wireless control of devices such as smart thermostats, light switches and security systems.
- Baby monitors: Cordless baby monitors often use DECT technology to establish a reliable connection between the parent device and the baby device. DECT NR+ could offer improved performance here.
- Data transmission: In addition to voice communication, DECT NR+ can also be used for wireless data transmission. This can be useful if, for example, wireless headsets or other devices communicate with the base station.
- Office communication: In office environments, cordless telephone systems can rely on DECT NR+ to increase employee mobility while ensuring clear communication.
