5G Technology Solutions

What is 5G?

5G is the fifth generation of cellular networks, specified by 3GPP. For industry, the high data rates matter less than three other properties: low latency, highly reliable connections and the ability to operate very many devices in one cell. Also new compared with earlier generations: companies in Germany can apply to the Federal Network Agency for their own spectrum and run a private 5G campus network on their own site, in the 3.7 to 3.8 GHz range and at 26 GHz.

How 5G is used in the IIoT

Typical applications are automated guided vehicles and mobile robots that move freely through the hall and need a stable connection without drops when switching cells. Others include wirelessly connected machines that need to be rearranged flexibly, video analytics and quality inspection with high data rates, augmented reality for maintenance and assembly, and remote maintenance of equipment at customer sites over the public network. On large areas such as ports, industrial sites or construction sites, 5G partly replaces extensive cabling and many individual Wi-Fi access points.

How a 5G campus network is structured

A campus network consists of radio units in the hall or on site, a core network running locally in the plant or at a service provider, and SIM cards or eSIMs in the devices. Industrial routers with a 5G modem connect existing machines via Ethernet. A campus network can be run in-house, through a system integrator or as an operator service, either with its own spectrum as a standalone network or as a reserved part of the public network (network slicing).

5G or Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is inexpensive, widespread and entirely sufficient for many stationary applications. However, it operates in licence-free bands shared by all devices, and handover between access points is often the weak point for fast-moving vehicles. 5G offers predictable capacity in exclusive spectrum, seamless handover and better coverage of large areas, but is considerably more expensive to build and operate. In many plants the two complement each other: Wi-Fi for offices and stationary devices, 5G for mobile and critical applications.

What to consider when choosing

Start with the question of which application actually needs 5G. Without a concrete use case with requirements for latency, mobility or reliability, a campus network rarely pays off. Next come the operating model, the spectrum application, the availability of 5G-capable devices and industrial routers, and integration into existing IT security. Many projects start with a limited pilot area and take measurements there before rolling the network out across the whole plant.