Verizon is working with Nokia and to deploy a private 5G platform at the Port of Southampton to provide the hub with a private network connection.
Verizon is working with Nokia and Associated British Ports (ABP) to deploy a private 5G platform at the Port of Southampton to provide the hub with a secure low-latency private network connection.
With this new contract the Port of Southampton will become the first UK mainland port with a private 5G network.
According to the partners, private 5G technology builds the foundation for future deployment of Internet of Things (IoT) and Machine Learning applications for more effective operations, while addressing data communications problems caused by poor Wi-Fi connectivity.
Tami Erwin, CEO at Verizon Business, said: “Businesses such as ABP, are coming under more pressure to evolve their services at tremendous speeds in order to take advantage of new commercial opportunities.
“Along with Nokia, we have been able to equip ABP to take advantage of the immediate benefits private 5G offers, and most importantly prepare the Port of Southampton to take full advantage of new technology applications and real-time analytics which will digitally transform its services in the future.”
The platform will provide ABP with a secure private wireless data network across selected areas within the port’s east and west docks, enabling data communications to be consolidated onto a single network.
It is hoped that this will reduce previous complexity and help to improve the reliability and security of terminal communications.
The technology can help with the enablement of new service advancements including asset tracking, autonomous guided vehicles, workflow management, predictive maintenance and safety monitoring in the near future.
Henrik L. Pedersen, CEO at ABP, said: “Building flexible and resilient technology platforms to meet our customers’ needs is a key element of our strategy, and becoming the first mainland port operator in the UK to offer a private 5G network to our customers is a fantastic milestone for ABP.”
Verizon Business launched its international private 5G platform for global enterprises located in Europe and Asia-Pacific in October 2020.
Currently delivered in partnership with Nokia, the solution enables businesses to deploy a private industrial grade dedicated 5G network capability within their premises.
The network is on Nokia Digital Automation Cloud, an application platform providing high-bandwidth, low-latency, hyper-fast private wireless connectivity and local edge computing.
Brian Fitzgerald, SVP Verizon Business Group, Nokia, stated: “The 5G opportunity will be fully realized with Industry 4.0 as spectrum opens up and private 5G networks go into operation at industrial sites around the world.”
Originally published at Container Mag