The UK east coast Port of Felixstowe, owned and operated by Hutchison Ports, will be the largest port in the UK to deploy 5G technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance productivity, efficiency and safety across its core operations.
[s2If is_user_logged_in()]Using a 5G private network installed by Three UK, a British telecommunications and internet service provider, the port’s installation has been selected as part of the UK Government’s 5G Trials and Testbeds Programme to drive investment and innovation in 5G and to support the development of new use cases and commercial deployment.
The £3.4 million (US$4.6 million) project, brings together the UK’s largest holder of 5G Spectrum with the UK’s largest container port, according to Three UK’s managing director, Mike Tomlinson. The project has received £1.6 million (US$2.2 million) from the UK Government as part of 5G Create, competition to support innovators exploring new uses for 5G to improve people’s lives and boost British businesses.
Matt Warman, minister for digital infrastructure said, “We want to unlock 5G’s potential to revolutionise a wide range of UK industries and 5G Ports is just one project the government is backing to achieve this,” and he added, “Our ports will be more vital than ever as we forge an ambitious new global trading position for the UK post-Brexit, so I’m eager to see what 5G can do to maximise efficiency at Britain’s biggest and busiest container port in Felixstowe.”
Working with its partners Three UK, Cambridge University and Blue Mesh Solutions, a system integrator, along with key subcontractors Ericsson and Siemens, the project will test the potential of 5G across two use cases.
The first one will be to enable remote-controlled cranes via the transmission of cliosed-circuit television (CCTV). The second case will be to deploy IoT sensors and artificial Intelligence (AI) to optimise the predicative maintenance cycle of Felixstowe’s 31 quay-side and 82 yard cranes.
Harnessing the speed, low-latency and high-capacity of 5G, the project will demonstrate the productivity and efficiency gains of such technology, whilst reducing unplanned outage, according to a Port of Felixstowe announcement.
The introduction of a 5G network at Felixstowe “Ties in well with Government policy to create a network of Freeports to act as hotbeds for innovation and to act as hubs for global trade,” commented Hutchison Ports UK CEO, Chris Lewis.
Furthermore, Richard Brooks, managing director and CTO of Blue Mesh Solutions believes that “Connecting IoT sensors into high speed, low latency 5G networks creates a new paradigm for automation and fast decision making.” He also noted that “5G telecommunications infrastructure needs large industry partners, but the creation of new IoT devices and solutions can be commercially exploited by small fast-moving innovative businesses.”
The Port of Felixstowe, together with Hutchison Ports’ ro-ro port, Harwich International, is part of the Freeport East project team to create a major Freeport centred on the two East Coast ports.[/s2If]
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