Private 5G is the next evolution of networks for mission-critical applications in factories, logistics centers and hospitals. Virtually any environment that requires the reliability, security and speed of a wired connection combined with the movement of people, things and data.

The mobile element is often a factor in Industry 4.0 digital transformation, and this is where private 5G shines.

Private 5G deployments as an extension of an organization's wide area network. It's fast, secure, reliable, and low-latency. You can rely on it to transfer data. But if you don't have an edge computing resource to gather data and create actionable intelligence in real time, you're missing out on revolutionary possibilities.

Edge computing unleashes the true potential of private 5G

Combining managed private 5G with managed edge computing enables businesses to analyze what's going on – no more waiting for data to be collected (often a slow process) and first sent to a data center for processing.

In manufacturing, this combined platform approach can quickly deliver the right information to where decisions must be made: on the factory floor. This means everything from incremental improvements in productivity and quality to greater flexibility and customization.

Organizations must also control data sovereignty, ownership and location. Private 5G can protect data by ensuring all traffic remains local.

While private 5G is a powerful tool, the use cases make it exciting

If you switch to private 5G, it helps avoid the proliferation of Wi-Fi access points and monitoring blind spots, because asset-based sensors can collect and transmit large amounts of data quickly, and we can achieve indoor positioning accuracy of less than one meter.

It's also a simpler exercise to reconfigure connections between devices and improve the timing and synchronization of data feeds from sensors.

Last year, the Cisco Executive Office of Strategy and Deloitte collaborated on a private 5G study titled "Vertical Use Cases Offer Development," which delved into the main applications of private 5G by use case.

They found that the highest demand for private 5G was in manufacturing, logistics, and government industries. Their findings align with our experience as these are the industries with the greatest demand for NTT's private 5G and Edge-as-a-Service.

Move from broad topics to specific applications

The research identified four themes: enabling hybrid connectivity; activation and policy setting of various sensor profiles; advanced intelligence with private 5G and edge computing stacks; and integrated applications and infrastructure to achieve business outcomes.

NTT's experience tells us that these themes translate into five main areas of application:

1. Group wireless communication (push-to-talk) enables employees to communicate across locations with real-time location tracking.

2. Private 5G supports augmented reality and virtual reality, and supports self-help, work assistance and remote assistance functions.

3. Private 5G enables real-time connection and control of automated guided vehicles.

4. Computer vision for automated video surveillance, inspection and guidance is faster and more efficient on private 5G networks.

5. Connected devices can remain reliably and securely connected to the corporate network throughout the shift without relying on Wi-Fi or portable hotspots.

Explore the impact of 5G on manufacturing

The study also explores how private 5G can optimize assets and processes in manufacturing, assembly, testing and storage facilities. Dedicated 5G allows for faster and more precise asset tracking, system monitoring, and real-time planning and process optimization using location and event data from sensors and plant systems.

The study provides two examples of private 5G use cases in factories:

• Factory Asset Intelligence: Part-to-Product Traceability with Added Sensor Support at Manufacturing, Assembly and Test Sites
• Dynamic Plant Scheduling: Enables closed-loop control and safety applications through real-time actuation, sensor fusion, and dynamic process scheduling.

As we continue to explore the potential of private 5G, it is clear that this technology has the power to transform manufacturing, paving the way for a more efficient and effective future.