Reliable, effective, wireless networks are essential to the economy in our pandemic environment, where social distancing is a necessity.
Beyond the needs dictated by our current emergency, a high- performance wireless network is a fundamental enabler for business growth across multiple sectors, from manufacturing to healthcare, education, transport and energy.
Especially when one considers IOT applications, whether connecting robots in manufacturing environments, remotely operated cranes at maritime ports, cameras monitoring automotive production lines or airport staff and vehicles for real-time updates, standard Wi-Fi does not offer the reliability or coverage needed by mission-critical industry requiring continuous operation, manageability, safety and security.
Take airports as an example, trying to resume normal operation, monitor passengers flow and minimise health risks to passengers, while promoting maximum flow; having a robust, industrial-grade private wireless network supporting AI analytics for temperature-sensing imagery analysis, mask usage and passenger flow monitoring through the terminal is a very real and urgent need.
Even in normal circumstances, wireless data connectivity for airport staff and machines makes for more efficient handling of processes like bus transfers, refuelling, baggage handling, de-icing and thanks to real-time updates, faster plane turnaround.
Maritime ports often suffer from patchy wireless coverage, leaving operators exposed to expensive claims in case of damaged containers. A private wireless network offering full coverage can enable crane mounted video cameras that can record the status of containers on arrival and provide conclusive evidence. A real-time overview of site assets, people and vehicles is useful to ensure both efficiency and security for the port as well as personal safety for its operators.
The healthcare sector, under pressure with heightened demand, can benefit from a reliable wireless network to enable the tracking of hospital equipment, staff and patients, as well as automation, in the form of robots assisting in the prompt delivery of medicines, for instance.
The education sector has intensive usage models that warrant industrial-grade private wireless networks: from complex research modelling applications, engineering and statistical projects requiring a stable, high-performance wireless network.
For the UK, with new post-Brexit regulations about import-export requiring hauliers to obtain customs clearance electronically ahead of travelling, fast and reliable wireless networks become essential.
Private wireless networks require access to a precious and finite commodity: spectrum. (Spectrum refers to the invisible radio frequencies that wireless signals travel over. Those signals are what enable us to make calls from our mobile devices, tag our friends on Instagram, call an Uber, pull up directions to a destination, and do everything on our mobile devices. The frequencies we use for wireless are only a portion of what is called the electromagnetic spectrum).
Countries like the UK and Germany have recently made available part of the national spectrum for private purchase, offering businesses and organisations the opportunity to build their own private wireless network, a high-performance efficient platform to aid the smooth running of operations in a disrupted and fluid environment.
Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud – (NDAC) is new technology and platform enabling this opportunity, with successful deployment across the USA, Europe and Asia by leading airport operators, automotive manufacturing and energy companies.
NDAC is designed for industrial-grade wireless networks and offers considerable gains in security and reliability compared to standard Wi-Fi. Beyond peer to peer connectivity, it enables IOT applications and makes for a more affordable deployment of 5G and related applications. It reliably and securely connects CCTV, walkie-talkies, drones, robots, self-driving vehicles, etc…
For more information on private wireless networks and NDAC join our forthcoming webinar. 20th January 2021, 10am GMT – Register Here >
Nokia and Nuvias Group
