Ericsson and Vodafone Deploy 5G Standalone Private Networks in Heavy Industry

Ericsson and Vodafone Portugal pioneer 5G Standalone Private Networks at CIMPORโ€™s cement plant, enabling IoT, drone inspections, and smart devices for enhanced efficiency, safety, and sustainability in industrial operations.
Ericsson and Vodafone Deploy 5G Standalone Private Networks in Heavy Industry
Image Credit: Ericsson and Vodafone

Expanding industrial capabilities with 5G Standalone Private Networks

Ericsson and Vodafone Portugal have partnered to deploy a cutting-edge 5G Standalone Private Network at CIMPORโ€™s cement plant in Alhandra, Portugal. This initiative highlights the transformative potential of 5G in heavy industry, enabling greater agility, efficiency, and sustainability. The Alhandra plant, operating for over 130 years, is now integrating advanced communication and automation technologies, marking a significant milestone in its journey toward digitalization and decarbonization.

Key Challenges Addressed by 5G in Cement Manufacturing


Industries like cement manufacturing face unique challenges, including:

  • Monitoring and maintaining vast assets under extreme operational conditions.
  • Ensuring worker safety while performing high-risk inspections.
  • Reducing environmental footprints in energy-intensive processes.
  • Managing costs associated with downtime, spare parts, and labor.

The deployment of 5G Private Networks offers tailored solutions to these challenges by facilitating real-time monitoring, seamless communication, and advanced automation.

Innovative Industrial Use Cases Enabled by 5G Standalone Private Network

The new network at CIMPORโ€™s plant supports several innovative use cases:

  1. Machine Health Monitoring
    IoT sensors monitor vibration, temperature, and noise, ensuring proactive maintenance. This approach minimizes downtime, improves equipment reliability, and reduces costs associated with spare parts and labor.
  2. Drone-Assisted Inspections
    Indoor drones powered by 5G enhance safety and efficiency by conducting rapid, precise inspections. These inspections reduce stoppage periods and improve worker safety in hazardous environments.
  3. Smart Glasses for Remote Assistance
    Smart glasses equipped with AI-powered voice recognition enable hands-free operations and advanced support for fieldwork, fostering continuity and safety.
  4. HD Wireless Cameras
    High-definition cameras eliminate monitoring dead zones, enabling real-time observation and early detection of potential equipment failures.
  5. Digital Twin Visualization
    A virtual representation of the facility allows better infrastructure planning and operational decision-making.

Technology Enabling CIMPORโ€™s Digital Transformation

Ericssonโ€™s 5G solutions, including its radio access network (RAN) and core technologies, play a pivotal role in this transformation. The project integrates Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) technology, allowing resource sharing while maintaining dedicated, high-performance connectivity for industrial use. Additionally, the cloud-based management capabilities of Ericssonโ€™s Private 5G solution ensure scalability and robust network security.

ย Advantages of 5G in Enhancing Safety, Efficiency, and Sustainability

CIMPORโ€™s adoption of 5G yields multiple advantages:

  • Operational Efficiency: Real-time monitoring and automation reduce downtime and optimize costs.
  • Enhanced Safety: Smart devices and drones improve worker safety during high-risk tasks.
  • Sustainability: Digital tools indirectly contribute to decarbonization, with even a 1% efficiency gain equating to nearly 140,000 tons of CO2 reduction annually.
  • Industry 4.0 Enablement: The network supports autonomous devices, remote equipment monitoring, and advanced worker safety protocols.

ย Scaling 5G Innovation Across Heavy Industries

This deployment not only strengthens CIMPORโ€™s position in the market but also sets a benchmark for other heavy industries in Portugal. The ongoing installation of similar 5G networks at additional CIMPOR plants underscores a broader strategy to modernize cementmanufacturing, paving the way for a sustainable and competitive future.

The Collaborative Effort Behind Industrial 5G Solutions

Ericsson and Vodafoneโ€™s collaboration highlights the synergy between advanced telecom solutions and industrial needs. Ericssonโ€™s tailored 5G technologies and Vodafoneโ€™s network expertise deliver a scalable and secure communication backbone for industrial applications.

The implementation of a 5G Standalone Private Network at CIMPORโ€™s cement plant demonstrates the potential of 5G in revolutionizing heavy industries. Through enhanced operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability, this project not only transforms CIMPOR but also sets the stage for widespread adoption of similar technologies in the industrial sector. As 5G continues to evolve, partnerships like these will define the future of industrial innovation.


Recent Content

Vodafone is expanding its role in the UK smart metering upgrade by providing fixed-line connectivity between energy suppliers and the Data Service Platform (DSP). This move complements its existing mobile network role and positions Vodafone as a critical telecom partner in the UK’s digital energy transition, helping to advance national net-zero and smart grid goals.
AI agents are transforming enterprise operations, acting as autonomous digital coworkers that enhance productivity, reduce costs, and support strategic decision-making. With a projected 327% growth by 2027, enterprises must adopt AI agents to remain competitive in an AI-first economy.
Financial institutions are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate complex regulations, transforming compliance into a competitive advantage. AI’s ability to process vast amounts of data quickly is proving transformative in meeting these challenges, automating tasks and improving efficiency. This shift allows compliance professionals to focus on strategic initiatives while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Whitepaper
Telecom networks are facing unprecedented complexity with 5G, IoT, and cloud services. Traditional service assurance methods are becoming obsolete, making AI-driven, real-time analytics essential for competitive advantage. This independent industry whitepaper explores how DPUs, GPUs, and Generative AI (GenAI) are enabling predictive automation, reducing operational costs, and improving service quality....
Whitepaper
Explore the collaboration between Purdue Research Foundation, Purdue University, Ericsson, and Saab at the Aviation Innovation Hub. Discover how private 5G networks, real-time analytics, and sustainable innovations are shaping the "Airport of the Future" for a smarter, safer, and greener aviation industry....
Article & Insights
This article explores the deployment of 5G NR Transparent Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), detailing the architecture's advantages and challenges. It highlights how this "bent-pipe" NTN approach integrates ground-based gNodeB components with NGSO satellite constellations to expand global connectivity. Key challenges like moving beam management, interference mitigation, and latency are discussed, underscoring...

Download Magazine

With Subscription

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Scroll to Top