Ericsson has launched a cellular connectivity solution, called Industry Connect, that enables communications operators to offer dedicated cellular 4G LTE networks for industrial applications.
Ericsson Industry Connect is purpose-built for industrial environments such as warehouses and factories, offering coverage with high device density and predictable latency. The solution is capable of linking large numbers of devices wirelessly and managing connected devices and machines more securely. Customers can manage the solution through a cloud portal that provides an overview of all connected sites, network equipment and devices.
“Ericsson Industry Connect is built on design thinking to meet industrial customers’ requirements on speed, reliability and security, while being easy to install and manage,” said Åsa Tamsons, SVP and head of business area technologies and new businesses at Ericsson, in a statement. “It complements service providers' offerings to enterprises with a solution that is easy to scale.”
Ericsson said it anticipates that the solution will be used for Industry 4.0 use cases such as digital twin inspection, which creates a real-time digital replica of a physical object using massive amounts of sensors; mobility for human-machine-interface instructions for workers; remote controls for autonomous guided vehicles; and collaborative robotics for automated operations.
“Industry 4.0 offers tremendous opportunities for industry. Connected factories alone can generate up to $3.7 trillion a year in value by 2025, representing the single largest opportunity for economic gain among industries,” said Zia Syed, CTO and head of product engineering of advanced industries at Ericsson, in a blog post explaining the new product, referencing McKinsey & Company data.
Ericsson said the solution will help make cellular networks rapidly deployable in these environments. Swedish transport solutions provider Scania has already implemented Ericsson Industry Connect in its smart production lab in Södertälje, Sweden. The solution offers 4G LTE connectivity, but Ericsson said the solution can be upgraded to 5G.