In a significant collaboration, Deutsche Telekom is joining forces with Eurogate, a leading container terminal operator in Europe, to bring 5G campus networks to key port terminals in Germany. This endeavor aims to revolutionize container handling and digital logistics within the port industry, enhancing efficiency and flexibility.
5G Revolution in Port Terminals
Deutsche Telekom is set to roll out 5G campus networks at Eurogate’s pivotal port terminals in Germany, specifically in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven. The deployment is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2024, ushering in a new era of port operations.
Funding Support
This ambitious project, known as “Port-As-A-Service,” receives funding from the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV) as part of the “Digital Test Fields in Ports” initiative. This support is instrumental in creating real-world testing environments for logistics innovations, with a special focus on port settings.
Utilizing 5G Frequencies
Eurogate will leverage its dedicated 5G industrial frequencies alongside Deutsche Telekom’s public mobile network. These frequencies, situated in the 3.7 to 3.8 GHz range, will be instrumental in handling critical data traffic, further advancing digitalization in handling processes and equipment networking. Essentially, Eurogate will have access to two 5G frequency bands, providing a total bandwidth of around 190 MHz.
Objectives of the Collaboration
The collaboration between Deutsche Telekom and Eurogate is poised to achieve several objectives. These include establishing connections for control and process control systems, automating container handling through autonomous equipment, integrating autonomous trucks for container arrivals and deliveries, and implementing cloud-connected industrial port handling equipment.
Cost-Effective Infrastructure Utilization
Notably, the 5G campus networks will cover approximately 5.6 million square meters across the three terminals. An innovative approach involves utilizing existing light poles as supports for 5G antennas, minimizing the need for new infrastructure. Deutsche Telekom plans to expand its mobile communications systems on-site, installing three additional 5G radio sites at each terminal site in Bremerhaven (2.9 million square meters) and Hamburg (1.4 million square meters), as well as two in Wilhelmshaven (1.3 million square meters).
Enhanced Network Architecture
The 5G networks will employ a dual-slice campus network architecture. One slice will cater to the public, while the other, leveraging the local 5G industrial spectrum, will provide a private network for Eurogate’s internal data traffic. This separation ensures data security and dedicated network resources. Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) is a key aspect of this architecture, combining a central 5G core network managed by Telekom with a local user gateway for Eurogate. This setup guarantees data stays on-site while being securely managed.
Benefits of the Collaboration
Eurogate stands to benefit significantly from this collaboration. The implementation of high-performance 5G connectivity, exclusive bandwidth, and logistical flexibility will enhance container handling efficiency and competitiveness. The network’s architecture prioritizes security, low latencies, reliability, and offers dedicated SIM cards and service level agreements for networked devices.
In summary, Deutsche Telekom’s partnership with Eurogate represents a significant step towards digitizing and optimizing port operations in Germany. By harnessing the power of 5G technology, this collaboration is poised to revolutionize the container handling and logistics industry, paving the way for greater efficiency and competitiveness.
