Private 5G Network Deployment at Tawesco – Revolutionizing Industry 4.0

T-Mobile and Ericsson collaborated to roll out a private 5G network for Tawesco, a Czech manufacturer, operating in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, enhancing Industry 4.0 initiatives. The ambitious plan includes extending the network across the primary facility and to affiliated companies under the Promet Group umbrella.

Key Highlights:

• Main Plant Activation: T-Mobile and Ericsson’s private 5G network now operational at Tawesco’s main site
• Expansion Strategy: Promet Group aims to replicate the innovative network model in other subsidiaries
• New Technologies: Several Industry 4.0 devices already integrated with more in the pipeline to realize the vision of a ‘smart factory’

The private 5G standalone (SA) infrastructure introduced by T-Mobile and Ericsson at Tawesco, a key player in the Czech manufacturing landscape and a part of the local conglomerate Promet Group, covers an extensive area of approximately 5,000 square meters at the principal plant in Kopřivnice, Czechia. This network is branded as a live ‘proof-of-concept,’ showcasing its functionality and benefits. The upcoming phases involve scaling the network to encompass the entire facility and eventually the associated companies within the group.

Currently, Tawesco has successfully connected various devices, including mobile gadgets, production machinery, and material handling tools, to the exclusive 5G network. The scope of connectivity spans numerous types of equipment, such as conveyors, forklifts, cranes, hoists, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs). AGVs, a notable application for private 5G networks, are scheduled to leverage this new network for enhanced automation capabilities.

The deployment utilizes the 3400-3800 MHz band with spectrum permissions obtained from T-Mobile. In 2020, the Czech government mandated local operators, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and O2, to allocate their spectrum assets in the 3.4-3.8 GHz range for enterprises to establish private 5G infrastructures, endorsed by the Czech telecoms office (TCU).

Several notable entities in the Czech Republic have already adopted private 5G networks. Škoda Auto, under Volkswagen, and the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, both utilize private 5G setups with Vodafone. The prevailing trend underscores the prevalence of standalone 5G structures in private settings compared to the predominantly public infrastructure prevalent in network operation.

Tawesco’s operational footprint encompasses at least three manufacturing facilities in Úvaly, near Prague, and Nový Jičín, within the Moravian-Silesian region, totaling 50,000 square meters of production space. The company specializes in engineering components like press tools, stampings, and weldments for various industries, notably automotive, agricultural, forestry, and logistics.

The parent company, Promet Group, headquartered in Ostrava, manages over 40 entities in machinery, metallurgy, and engineering sectors with a sizeable workforce both in Czechia and internationally. The ongoing project at Kopřivnice portends significant expansion potential across the entire group, promising substantial gains for their service providers. The collaboration between T-Mobile and Ericsson in the initial setup underscores T-Mobile’s design and implementation responsibilities, coupled with Ericsson’s expertise in radio and core networks.

According to a statement,