Ericsson, Telia launch Baltics enterprise EP5G

  • May 23, 2023
  • William Payne

Ericsson and Telia have launched the Baltic region’s first enterprise 5G private network, Ericsson Private 5G. The private cellular network went live in May at Ericsson’s Supply Site in Tallinn, Estonia. It will enable new Industry 4.0 capabilities and drive efficiencies in productivity, agility and sustainability. It will also serve as a platform for innovation at the smart factory.

Through improved reliability, predictable latency, security and speed, the new 5G private network is enabling a variety of use cases such as asset condition monitoring and management, computer vision, digital twins, collaborative robotics, as well as new feature capabilities like 5G precise indoor positioning.

The supply site in Tallinn plays a strategic role in Ericsson’s global supply chain footprint, accounting for nearly half of the company’s New Product Introductions (NPIs). These NPIs involve extensive research and development (R&D) to improve product competitiveness and scalability.

The new network has already had an impact at the supply site, improving operational automation, safety, and agility. It has enabled monitoring and management of numerous devices in a defined area, providing better coverage with less infrastructure and also ensuring connectivity through a rapid increase in wireless sensors on the shop floor.

Ericsson began manufacturing in Estonia in 2009. The Tallinn supply site today employs smart manufacturing practices that use 5G technology to develop and produce cutting-edge 5G products and solutions for global distribution. The primary objective of this approach is to industrialise the Ericsson Radio Systems portfolio.

The implementation of Ericsson Private 5G throughout the factory is reducing dependency on wires to improve agility of production layout and design, while delivering greater mobility of key solutions such as automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

Ericsson Private 5G provides 4G and 5G connectivity through its single server dual mode core. The solution comes pre-integrated to ensure rapid time to use and enabling advanced and intelligent operations in any environment. The product is designed to serve as a platform for innovation and Industry 4.0 allowing facilities to modernise ways of working.

According to Andre Visse, CTO of Telia Estonia, the close partnership between Telia and Ericsson has been working for decades, and in the process, different generations of mobile networks have emerged in Estonia. “In cooperation with Ericsson, we have always been the first to open new generation mobile networks in Estonia, from the very first 1G to the latest 5G generation. We are very happy that we can now jointly contribute to the establishment of the first 5G private networks. Thanks to this, we can show business customers what advantages and opportunities today’s technology can offer them in order to digitise their business processes even smarter, more efficiently and more securely. The introduction of new mobile communication technologies paves the way for the Industry 4.0 solutions, and helps us to create more environmentally friendly and sustainable future,” said Visse.

Sirli Männiksaar, Country Manager of Ericsson Estonia, said: “The implementation of Ericsson Private 5G at our Supply Site in Tallinn is a testament to our commitment to connected manufacturing and emerging data-driven technologies – after all, in today’s highly competitive manufacturing environment, keeping up with the latest technological capabilities is essential to stay ahead of the curve. Our 5G private network enables advanced use cases such as real time video analytics, immersive technologies, digital twins, collaborative robotics and multiple mobile equipment tracking and control capabilities that empower our daily operations. As a leading adopter of advanced cellular technologies supporting Industry 4.0 implementations, Ericsson’s Supply Site in Tallinn is proud to play a key role in the industry’s continued growth and success, delivering new products and smart solutions to customers worldwide.”