Siemens / Qualcomm
Standalone 5G network in an industrial environment
Together with Qualcomm, Siemens has implemented what the two partners claim is the first independent private 5G network in a real industrial environment using the 3.7/3.8 GHz frequency band.
The two companies have pooled their expertise: Siemens provided the real industrial test conditions and end devices such as Simatic controllers and I/O devices, while Qualcomm supplied the 5G test network and the associated test devices. The 5G network was installed in Siemens' automotive showroom and test center in Nuremberg. Driverless transport systems (DTS), which are primarily used in the automotive industry, are on display there. New production options and methods are co-developed, tested and presented before they are implemented for customers. Customers such as AGV manufacturers can experience the interaction of the products live.
"Industrial 5G opens the door to comprehensive wireless networking of production, maintenance and logistics," explains Eckard Eberle, CEO of the Siemens Process Automation Business Unit. "High data rates, ultra-reliable transmission and ultra-short latency times will enable a significant increase in efficiency and flexibility in industrial value creation." Enrico Salvatori, Senior Vice President & President of Qualcomm Europe, adds: "This project provides us with important real-world insights that both companies can use in future applications and is an important milestone on the path of 5G technology in industrial automation."
In Germany, the Federal Network Agency has reserved a total of 100 MHz of bandwidth in the frequency range between 3.7 GHz and 3.8 GHz for local use in industrial environments. This allows companies in Germany to rent spectrum for an annual fee and use it exclusively in a private 5G network within their own premises. On this basis, industrial protocols such as OPC UA and Profinet are also evaluated and tested in the Siemens Automotive Showroom and Test Center in combination with wireless communication via 5G.
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