DEVELOPMENT 5G GERMAN INDUSTRY EXAMPLE FOR THE NETHERLANDS

German industry is at the forefront of the development and adaptation of 5G. Years ago, industry 4.0 began here, as part of the German Government's innovation programme. Now the immensely large industry is being prepared for the future with 5G. The smart factories that are now created, can serve as an example for Dutch companies. In this blog I give a glimpse into the kitchen how 5G accelerates the fusion of digital technology with the classic industry among our eastern neighbours. Also attention to a public-private co-creation project between business and a number of major German cities around applications and roll-out of 5G. 

De Nederlandse versie van het BLOG vind je hier.

In its ‘5G, A Catalyst for innovation’ report, Gartner states that in particular companies with large business sites, such as manufacturing plants, will be the first to reap the benefits of 5G. This includes automated guided vehicles (AVGs), robots and the interaction between man and machine via Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. Typically applications that only work with very powerful radio technologies. 

In the same report the introduction of 5G is linked to three developments, including edge computing and the development of private networks. However, the biggest advantage that 5G has over 4G in the corporate world is 'network slicing'. This technology offers the option to create virtual (sub) networks, each with their own functionality. A factory, a large distribution center, as well as major locations such as Schiphol or the Port of Rotterdam, for example, can offer separate virtual networks for production, supply chain, employees and also potentially visitors. This makes it possible to separate critical and less critical processes or data streams from each other based on security criteria.

On top of that 5G's performance is significantly better than that of 4G or WiFi. For example, it offers considerably improved latency (delay between sending and receiving). Thanks to 5G, combined with 'edge', hundreds of thousands of devices, machines, sensors, cameras and robots can be connected to the network. This enables remote management and repair of equipment and makes it possible for machines to operate autonomously through rapidly exchanging information between themselves. This is necessary in order to be able to control the movement of robots down to the millisecond. It also makes 'Time Sensitive Networking', which is used for the efficient synchronization of machines and real time communication of sensors over hundreds of meters, possible. 

AUTOMOTIVE UP A GEAR

The fact that industry is going to be the first to use 5G, is already evident from what is happening with our eastern neighbors. In Germany, as part of Industry 4.0, the world of business and the government have been working hard since 2011 to speed up the digital transformation of their manufacturing sector. Our parent company, Deutsche Telekom, is one of leaders in this. For the German automotive industry improving their production processes and making them more flexible - from linear to modular - is an important objective, for instance. They have already made quite a bit of headway here in terms of getting automation, communication technology, software development, virtualization, data analysis and electronics to work together in a real-time environment. In such an environment consisting of cloud, big data, IoT and AI, 5G is going to speed up developments. 

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR OSRAM'S DIGITAL FACTORY

It is advisable for large-scale production companies to study what 5G could bring. But in this case too, 5G should mainly be seen as a catalyst and as further intensifying the digitization strategy, not as a cure-all or just as a faster network. A high-tech company like light manufacturer Osram is a shining example of 'digital' thinking. In recent years it has already implemented quite a number of things from Industry 4.0. They are transforming their existing line production process, where products are assembled step by step, into a modular production process, which mainly focuses on getting smaller quantities to the customer more quickly and in an efficient and safe manner.

With T-System's 5G Campus as a backbone, the digital factory where everything, such as IT production, Industry 4.0, lean, engineering and production concepts, works together in a single organization unit is getting closer. Osram uses VR glasses, for instance, to carry out remote maintenance with employees on the shop floor receiving assistance from specialists in the United States. The huge amounts of data generated in a smart factory are ideally suited for 'predictive maintenance' based on AI applications. This way unseen problems are being detected earlier and reduces not only production downtime but also waste. 5G is able to offer the increased processing power and network speeds required for AI, higher data transmission capacities and the many new applications. 

A SAFER AND CLEANER PORT OF HAMBURG

The 5G MoNarch project in the port of Hamburg is another good example of network slicing. This project is a blueprint for how complex industrial applications with a wide range of requirements can work reliably across a common physical infrastructure. For example, the port has a priority circuit for emergency services that is activated during a storm surge. Sensors have also been placed on ships to monitor movements in the port and environmental data real time and 3D information is sent to an augmented reality solution with 3D glasses. As a result, it is possible for maintenance teams to receive additional information such as data about buildings or to be given remote assistance from an expert, for example. It also ensures a more efficient flow in the port because ships can be better 'scheduled'.

SMART CITIES

Developments related to Smart Cities have been taking place in the Netherlands for many years, but in terms of number and size they are not only lagging behind expectations, but in particular also compared to many other countries in Europe. 5G will accelerate this in the coming years. When it comes to this, it is important that we think in terms of solving social and urban problems and not in terms of technology or a single Proof of Concept. Closer cooperation between large cities, national government and the business community is crucial for this. 

A number of large German cities and Deutsche Telekom, for example, have started a co-creation process in a public-private ecosystem. After identifying the main public challenges, 22 ideas were put forward for testing. These include projects relating to smart traffic management, air quality and waste processing. Deutsche Telekom has developed a Smart Cities Co-Creation Toolbox to support this type of collaboration. 

In the Netherlands, T-Systems is working with Dura Vermeer and various government departments in what is known as the Spotten partnership to tackle parking and mobility problems. We do this by using smart parking sensors in Amsterdam and Utrecht, among other things. Maintaining disabled parking spaces and loading and unloading, as well as connecting to public transport and electric charging are concrete applications that will be rolled out further in the near future.

THE NETHERLANDS MUST NOT BE LEFT BEHIND

In the Netherlands we are working hard on the introduction and further development of 5G both from a network perspective (T-Mobile) and from the point of view of the development of corporate business applications (T-Systems). This unique pooling of knowledge enables us to look beyond mere connectivity and to develop new creative solutions, integrated into the existing IT infrastructure. T-Mobile Netherlands is busy preparing for its nationwide rollout in 2020 with several pilots and test sites for example in The Hague and soon also in Utrecht. At the moment there are numerous ongoing discussions with representatives of (larger) companies and government departments about how 5G fits within their digitization strategy. We are also providing various workshops and guided tours in our innovation center. 

FINALLY

In the coming years, 5G will undeniably give many organizations a major boost in terms of their digital transformation. Companies, consumers and citizens are really going to notice this. To effectively benefit from this, a clear digital vision translated into a clear strategy and the right mindset are absolutely vital.

The only way to make progress is by really getting to understand 5G and drawing up a roadmap for digital transformation, together with the business, IT, production and supply chain, but especially also in consultation with other partners in the ecosystem. Start with pilots, focused on real business applications, on a small scale, learning and then scaling up. With innovation, we discover step by step what the future is going to look like. For now, it is largely a matter of getting on with it.