Nokia has launched a new platform for industrial companies developing their own 5G standalone private networks. Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology is among the first to use it, at a test mine in Tampere, Finland.
Nokia has been testing the platform with customers and mobile operators since Q1 2020. The company already has more than 180 private wireless enterprise customers worldwide, of which more than 30 are working on 5G. Companies deploying private 5G networks with Nokia include Deutsche Bahn, Lufthansa Technik and Toyota Production Engineering.
With Nokia’s new 5G SA platform, enterprise customers have the choice of deploying the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud – a compact, plug-and-play system with automation enablers – or, they can customize their network according to their needs with Nokia Modular Private Wireless.
Sandvik is using the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud to try out new capabilities at the Tampere site. The 5G capability will be used for automated mining processes, such as enabling remote machine operations over 4K video links between deep underground and the surface control centre.
Nokia said it expects LTE will continue to meet most companies needs in terms of private networks for some time. With the new offering, customers have the option to migrate gradually to 5G as the ecosystem matures, or go direct to 5G and help OEM and industrial asset vendors to develop the 5G market.
