Verizon, Nokia to deploy private 5G nets across Thames Freeport

The Freeport is intended to rejunvenate the Thames Estuary to the east of London in partnership with local councils, the Port of Tilbury, Ford Dagenham and logistics centres

Nokia, Verizon Business and Thames Freeport [1] announced a partnership to deploy Verizon Private 5G Networks across multiple logistics, manufacturing and innovation sites along the Thames estuary in the UK. The Verizon Private 5G Networks is intended to be the tech foundation for a multi-year, multi-billion pound operational transformation and economic revival for the region, one of the busiest maritime logistics hubs in the country. To that end, the Private 5G Networks will support deployments for data, AI, edge compute and IoT infrastructure.

For example, industrial sites can leverage IoT for autonomous yard tractors and quay cranes and for near real-time tracking, smart routing, and condition monitoring for cargo. That can allow tenants to intake cargo, assess quantity and condition, and ship it out faster and more efficiently, losing less to damage or misplacement. AI with edge computing can help manage environmental impact through edge-connected smart sensors and AI-driven analytics that monitor and optimize port operations and asset performance, including near-real time monitoring of emissions, air and water quality, and noise levels.

Rejuvenation is the aim Thames Freeport has already created 1,400 jobs and plans to reach 5,000 by 2030, with a focus on high-skilled training for local communities. Thames Freeport will manage the use of the private 5G infrastructure and its tenant shareholder organisations.

The plan is that combining AI with edge computing can help manage environmental impact through edge-connected smart sensors and AI-driven analytics that monitor and optimise the port's operations and asset performance. This could include near-real time monitoring of emissions, air and water quality, and noise levels. Nokia is the sole hardware and software provider for the networks, which will incorporate the Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) platform and Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE).

The Verizon Private 5G Networks will be deployed at the sites of these Freeport partners [2]:

DP World London Gateway and DP World Logistics Park, the UK's largest and most integrated deep-sea container port and logistics facility, with the capacity to handle over 3 million units per year. The hub includes a rail terminal with 20 daily services and a 9.25 million square feet-logistics centre.
The Port of Tilbury (deployment at two sites) is the largest of the mixed-use Thames Freeport ports. It handles 16 million tonnes of cargo per year across 31 independent working terminals.

It is operated by Forth Ports. The sites comprise a logistics hub for the construction, automotive, and food and drink sectors.
Ford Dagenham, the largest manufacturing site in London, has access to regional manufacturing clusters, proximity to suppliers and "brings key production closer to the end market," according to the press statement.

Scale is the key Jennifer Artley, SVP, 5G Acceleration, Verizon Business, commented, "Our partnership with Thames Freeport and Nokia shows the full promise of private 5G at scale.

Thames Freeport is developing one of the most technologically advanced commercial corridors in Europe to enable forward innovation and economic revitalization for an entire community. "We're not just driving operational improvements to help a partner stay ahead of the curve; we're laying the groundwork for new revenue streams, community development, and further commercial and technological investment." Martin Whiteley, CEO, Thames Freeport, said, "A flexible, high-performance connectivity platform is critical to our long-term vision.

Our investment in private 5G is not an incremental network upgrade--it's the backbone of a technological transformation fuelling our long-term multi-stakeholder mission, which includes operational excellence for tenants; ROI for shareholders like Ford, DP World and Forth Ports; innovation leadership for public and private benefit; circular economy models supporting efficient energy models; empowering community development by enabling high-value job creation and training; and transforming public services with near-real time diagnostics at health-service sites."

Time will tell.

References

^ Thames Freeport (thamesfreeport.com)
^ the sites of these Freeport partners (thamesfreeport.com)