Over the past decade, the manufacturing industry has undergone significant transformation driven by technological advancements, shifting consumer demands, and global economic fluctuations. More recently, Industry 4.0 was born as manufacturers race to upgrade to “smart factories” that connect all users and locations of manufacturing operations with cloud-based connectivity to improve efficiency, productivity, and continuity. By upgrading and adopting new technologies, manufacturers can stay competitive as they move to optimize processes, improve quality, and reduce costs.
As manufacturers become increasingly reliant on the latest technology, it’s clear that connectivity is truly the backbone of the industry. Maintaining fast, reliable networks is fundamental to adapting and maintaining business operations amid diverse economic, social and geopolitical contexts. Efficient data transmission is essential for fast, secure communication. This not only helps keep production lines running smoothly, but also enables manufacturers to make timely, informed decisions. Furthermore, seamless connectivity is essential to facilitate effective communication with customers and other areas of the supply chain.
Manufacturers looking to enhance connectivity have several options, but one that is growing in popularity is 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), a type of 5G technology that uses radio waves instead of fiber optic cables to broadcast high-speed signals over long distances, reducing the number of infrastructure challenges associated with traditional broadband access.
Better than broadband
FWA is starting to gain traction across the industry as one of the biggest use cases for 5G after mobile broadband. Global service provider revenue from FWA is expected to reach $67 billion by 2028, up from $27 billion in 2022. This is driven by increased consumer confidence in 5G and the increased reliability and resiliency that wireless promises.
Broadly speaking, 5G FWA has the potential to transform business and offers several advantages over traditional wired broadband solutions. 5G FWA provides high-speed Internet access with rapid deployment, improved accessibility, and guaranteed performance, all at an affordable price. Additionally, 5G FWA enables machines, devices, sensors, and people to communicate with each other, enabling better and faster decision-making.
The foundation of Industry 4.0
Why is 5G FWA especially attractive for manufacturers and Industry 4.0? 5G FWA delivers ultra-fast speeds that enable manufacturers to keep up with ever-changing conditions and ensure connectivity for everyone. This is a game changer for the manufacturing industry, especially for rural factories and plants that are hard to access, where it is difficult to establish wired solutions for primary connectivity. Manufacturers can also benefit from features such as:
- Easy Installation – Unlike traditional wired broadband infrastructure, which requires extensive cabling and installation, 5G FWA can be deployed relatively quickly, which is especially beneficial in remote areas where cabling is impractical or too costly.
- Reliability and resilience – 5G networks are designed for high reliability, with built-in features such as network slicing and redundancy to ensure consistent performance. This is essential to support mission-critical applications of Industry 4.0, such as remote monitoring, control, robotics and automation for floor safety and preventative maintenance. And with on-premise modems with dual SIM cards, FWA services are available across the footprints of two operators, allowing users to switch to the network that offers the best performance at any time.
- Reduce infrastructure costs – 5G FWA does not require large infrastructure investments associated with laying cables, making it a more cost-effective solution for both providers and consumers. This is particularly beneficial when retrofitting existing manufacturing facilities with advanced connectivity capabilities, allowing companies to rapidly adopt Industry 4.0 technologies without large upfront investments.
- Scalability – Industry 4.0 technologies often require scalable connectivity solutions to keep up with the growing number of devices and sensors connected in smart factories and industrial IoT ecosystems. 5G FWA networks can easily scale to support thousands of simultaneous connections, making them ideal for evolving industrial environments.
5G FWA will revolutionize the manufacturing industry and support the vision of Industry 4.0 by providing fast, reliable, scalable and cost-effective connectivity solutions tailored to the needs of modern manufacturing and industrial environments.
5G FWA: A look to the future
Manufacturers around the world have faced serious challenges in recent years. Skills gaps, supply chain disruptions, increasing need for automation, and the need for secure, high-performance networks to support manufacturing advancements are forcing manufacturers to turn to technology and external specialized partners to achieve their corporate goals.
But before manufacturers can fully harness the potential of 5G FWA connectivity, several considerations must be addressed, particularly around implementation. First, does your company have the skills and technical know-how to ensure a smooth rollout? From integrating existing infrastructure and mitigating potential network congestion to controlling costs and efficiently handling post-deployment operations.
Secondly, manufacturers need experienced partners who can deliver customized solutions. These partners should offer a combination of global reach and local knowledge while catering to each organization’s unique requirements. Working with the right partner also allows businesses to better track connection performance while maximizing their investments. A good partner can provide real-time reporting from 5G FWA enablement to identify areas for improvement and maintain visibility into connection levels. As a result, businesses can respond quickly to change, be more flexible, and consistently meet customer expectations.
With the advent of next-generation connectivity solutions, 5G FWA is at the forefront and poised to revolutionize the industry. Effectively implemented and managed, 5G FWA will enable manufacturing organizations to scale their operations, stay agile, ensure business continuity, and ultimately gain a competitive advantage.
