Port of Tyne, a leading UK trust port, has gone live with 4G and 5G private network access, bringing together its aim to become a leading smart port.
The port has constructed a private network with coverage over the whole estate in collaboration with partners BT and Ericsson, making it the UK’s first site-wide deployment of 4G and 5G standalone connectivity for smart port applications.
READ: BT’s ‘Connectivity Cake’: Charting a Sustainable Future for Ports
The infrastructure is based on an Ericsson Private 5G solution and BT spectrum, and both 4G and 5G will run concurrently to support older devices while also powering new 5G applications in the port’s future transformation.
The first set of live use cases will begin in November, with video and sensors installed at each gate on the site to securely manage and track vehicle access, as well as 5G-enabled cameras with a 360-degree view at the quayside combined with AI-driven software to provide automated container inspection and identification.
READ: Port of Tyne container volumes surge by a fifth in latest results
The port is positioned itself to incorporate a number of future 5G applications and sophisticated technologies to satisfy new client requirements and facilitate the transition to a green smart port by constructing a private 5G wireless network.
Port of Tyne also has an ambitious vision to become a leader in 5G maritime innovation and provide an industry eco-system testbed to help build a future blueprint of 5G-enabled smart applications to automate manual tasks, improve decision-making and reduce CO2 emissions.
The future of maritime industry innovation will be further discussed by the Port of Tyne across three days from 7-9 November at Maritime Innovation Week 2023.
Matthew Beeton, Chief Executive Officer, Port of Tyne said: “I believe that 5G is going to play a crucial role in helping Port of Tyne achieve our goals. We can streamline our operations, improve safety and sustainability, and drive growth and innovation throughout the entire maritime industry and beyond.
“With seamless connectivity, we can link shipping companies, logistics providers, and regulatory bodies from around the world, enabling us to work together more effectively to address global challenges like climate change and cybersecurity threats.”
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Ashish Gupta, MD, Corporate and Public Sector at BT, stated: “What makes 5G so exciting is it allows innovative use cases which help businesses do things quicker, safer, smarter, better.
“At Port of Tyne, it’s about taking people out of harm’s way, where autonomous machines could instead be used in dangerous environments, and laying the digital foundations to introduce new technologies and improve efficiency at the port.”
Duncan Hawkins, VP Dedicated Networks & Enterprise Wireless Solutions, Ericsson, said: “Together with BT and the Port of Tyne we are turning the vision of a 5G port into a reality, and this deployment serves as a great model of maritime innovation for the UK and the world.
“5G brings the essential characteristics such as coverage, speed and low latency to leverage new applications and use cases required to transform port operations, drive business efficiencies, and build a blueprint for sustainability success and future economic growth.”
