Private 5G Network Deployment at Tawesco – Revolutionizing Industrial Connectivity
T-Mobile and Ericsson have successfully implemented a private 5G network for Tawesco, a Czech manufacturer, utilizing the 3.4-3.8 GHz band to enhance Industry 4.0 operations. The project aims at extending the network coverage to the entire plant and sister companies under the Promet Group.
Key Highlights:
- Main Plant Activation: Tawesco’s primary facility now operates on the private 5G network established by T-Mobile and Ericsson.
- Expansion Plans: Promet Group intends to replicate the setup across its associated companies.
- Smart Factory Vision: Numerous Industry 4.0 devices are currently operational, with more slated to join, aligning with the ‘smart factory’ concept.
The deployment involves a private 5G Standalone (SA) network by T-Mobile and Ericsson at Tawesco’s main site in Kopřivnice, Czechia. Spanning an area of approximately 5,000 square meters, this live ‘proof-of-concept’ initiative lays the groundwork for future expansions within the plant and sister entities.
Tawesco has already integrated ‘dozens of devices’ into the 5G network, including mobile gadgets, production machinery, and material handling tools. The network serves a broad spectrum of equipment, encompassing conveyors, forklifts, cranes, hoists, stackers, and sorting systems. Additionally, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are on track to join the network soon.
This deployment operates within the 3400-3800 MHz band, utilizing spectrum licensed from T-Mobile post the Czech government’s 2020 decree. Local operators, including T-Mobile, Vodafone, and O2, comply with the directive to make this spectrum range accessible for private 5G networks deployment, with the approval of the Czech telecoms office (TCU).
Across the Czech Republic, various entities have embraced private 5G networks. For instance, the Czech Technical University in Prague collaborates with T-Mobile, Škoda Auto has a Vodafone-backed network, and even the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant aligns with Vodafone’s solution. Notably, standalone 5G SA networks in private operation surpass public infrastructures.
Aside from the Kopřivnice plant, Tawesco operates in Úvaly, Nový Jičín, showcasing the large-scale production space of 50,000 square meters. The company specializes in producing engineering components for automotive, agricultural, forestry, and logistics industries.
Promet Group, headquartered in Ostrava, leads over 40 companies in machinery, metallurgy, and engineering sectors, employing thousands across regions. The group’s project expansion at Kopřivnice signifies a significant milestone for its partners, with T-Mobile handling design and implementation, alongside Ericsson for the network architecture.
Stating that Tawesco pioneers such projects in Czechia, the company supplies crucial tools to prominent European car, agriculture, and forestry machinery manufacturers, facilitating a glimpse into the future of smart factories.
Key figures at Promet Group express enthusiasm, with plans to expand device connectivity and develop AI-based control structures for real-time machinery coordination. The envisioned network extension aims for a comprehensive plantwide implementation and outreach to all group companies, perceiving the 5G network as a vital nerve center for coordinated operations.
Emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between humans and technology, the directors highlight the importance of technological adaptation for enhancing industry competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.
T-Mobile’s Lukasík underscores the private 5G deployment’s benefits in terms of response time and security, conveying a resounding message on the integration of advanced technology within the Czech industrial landscape.
