Viswanathan Ramaswamy, Vice President, 5G and Digital Solutions Incubation, Tata CommunicationsUntil recently, manufacturing was unable to grasp the breakthrough capabilities of 5G and was limited by the public nature of current deployments. However, the advent of private 5G networks for manufacturing presents an opportunity to embrace a new wave of innovation and capabilities.
5G’s significantly higher data rates, much lower latency, and increased capacity for connected devices create exciting possibilities for manufacturers to digitize their operations in new and innovative ways. Private 5G also allows businesses to take advantage of these capabilities while maintaining full control of their networks.
This gives private 5G networks the unique potential to revolutionize manufacturing. Reliable and consistent connectivity on the factory floor is essential to support automation efforts, predictive maintenance, and efficient monitoring of machinery. It can also be used to radically improve employee experience and job satisfaction.
No wonder, then, that IDC predicts the global private 5G market will reach $5.2 billion in 2027. Manufacturers also need better security and the ability to customize and slice networks in specialized ways. This is what private 5G networks, like many networks, enable. Other features this sector can benefit from.
advantage
Private 5G networks offer several benefits that are particularly beneficial to the manufacturing sector. This includes features such as:
- Efficient and flexible deployment
- Secure communication and data separation
- real time service
- Time Sensitive Network (TSN) capabilities for time-critical applications
- Customized coverage and scalability to reduce potential network congestion and interference.
The ability of private 5G to integrate with public networks is also important for manufacturers, including the ability to provide continuous connectivity to critical services as you move between networks, and the ability for the right partner to integrate a company’s network into its own. Unlock many benefits, including features that allow you to tailor it to your needs. specific needs.
Other benefits include deployment efficiency and device movement flexibility, especially when compared to cable setups, high-quality and reliable coverage and capacity, and the opportunity to enable real-time services.
Network Management Platform – Take 5G to the next level. The benefits of 5G are immense, but deploying a private 5G network for large multinational companies with different objectives and priorities and requiring different network requirements can be a complex task. there is.
Communications technology providers with network management platforms can now provide solutions to facilitate the level of network orchestration required to achieve automation and realize the benefits of edge computing using the 5G edge. These systems can be made interoperable with legacy technologies.
This approach ensures centralized access to each plant’s equipment while allowing each plant to operate autonomously. This provides complete visibility into connectivity, devices, and edge applications, as well as control across all manufacturing sites, allowing each site manager to run their own production line.
The world of manufacturing is moving from the world of part-time jobs to the world of things. A high-bandwidth connection means smart devices can communicate more, both as part of the production process and with other devices. This evolution is having a transformative impact across industries, and private 5G will enable this transformation.
The ability to implement multi-site private 5G, edge computing, and private-to-public connectivity handover are all part of the new industrial revolution in manufacturing.
The future is hyper-connected
The vision of the future of manufacturing may seem like a distant dream, but with today’s technology it’s very much within reach. A future in which central access to various factory equipment is possible, yet each can operate autonomously. A future where all devices and applications are connected through a digital fabric, providing agile and secure experiences for businesses and their customers. This is a future where field managers have full visibility into all connected devices and edge applications, giving them control over the production line.
This future is already accessible to this sector if leaders do what it takes to digitally transform their factories, unlock the benefits of high-bandwidth connectivity, and chart the path to the next industrial revolution.
The author is Viswanathan Ramaswamy, Vice President, 5G and Digital Solutions Incubation, Tata Communications.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely those of the authors and ETCIO does not necessarily agree with them. ETCIO is not responsible for any damage caused directly or indirectly to any person/organization.
