MasOrange said the rollout of its 5G virtual private network will require a total investment of €3.6 million over the next five years.
The new private 5G Standalone (SA) network deployed by Spanish telecommunications group MasOrange in the port of Barcelona, Spain, is now operational, the company announced in a release.
Orange announced last July that it had developed a 5G SA virtual private network for the Port of Barcelona, with the goal of providing advanced mobility services to the entire port area and its users.
Spanish telecommunications operator Orange said the deployment of its 5G virtual private network will require a total investment of €3.6 million (currently $3.9 million) over the next five years. Orange noted that the project will require the addition of 5G SA architecture to the port’s existing network infrastructure.
The private network is intended to provide ultra-low latency to enable operations that require high precision, such as operating cranes and other machinery.
The Spanish carrier said the new infrastructure will also provide the capacity and scalability needed for the large-scale connection of sensors and devices, facilitating the real-time location of ships, goods and other assets, as well as providing voice and data services to businesses and port users.
MasOrange also cites some immediate benefits from the new infrastructure, including the availability of a support network in case the main system at the port’s critical facilities fails, and the ability to quickly and efficiently install cameras and sensors in areas without fiber optic access.
The company added that the 5G SA deployment will cover the entire Port of Barcelona, extending within two nautical miles around the port.
The Port Police and various security and emergency agencies based at the Port of Barcelona are also expected to benefit from the new network. MasOrange noted that the network’s high capacity and reliability will allow them to integrate terminals with which their agents communicate and receive real-time information from more than 400 CTTV cameras distributed throughout the port area, as well as to coordinate with aerial surveillance drones connected to the 5G network.
“The introduction of this new 5G SA network is a pioneering project in Europe, making the Port of Barcelona a more efficient and innovative infrastructure, allowing us to offer our customers the technology they need,” said Luis Salvado, President of the Port of Barcelona. “The use cases we saw today are just one example of the potential of 5G technology. I am sure that with the collaboration between companies in the port community and members of the Port of Barcelona’s innovative ecosystem, we will soon see many more applications,” he added.
In April, MasOrange, which became Spain’s largest mobile phone operator following the merger of local operators Orange Spain and MasMóvil, announced plans to invest 4 billion euros in Spain over the next three years.
The new company said its investments would be primarily focused on the rollout of 5G, fiber optic networks and new services.
The 50:50 joint venture, which currently has more than 30 million mobile customers, said it expects to generate annual synergies of more than €490 million by the fourth year after closing.
