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Government backed 5G-ENCODE launches Phase One network
websitebuilder-hub • Oct 23, 2020
Government-backed 5G-ENCODE launches Phase One network
- 5G-ENCODE switches on the first phase of its network at the National Composites Centre.
- This will test existing technologies and provide a baseline against which the 5G network capabilities will be compared.
- The project will establish and test 5G use cases to make the benefits of 5G a reality for UK manufacturers.
London, 22nd October 2020:
Today, 5G-ENCODE, a pioneering project that aims to make the benefits of 5G a reality for UK manufacturers, announces the switch on of its
Phase One Industrial Private 4G Network at the world leading National Composites Centre (NCC), to establish a baseline for existing technology. This comes ahead of its
Phase Two Industrial Private 5G Network, which will go live in 2021.
The Phase One 4G network has been designed and developed by leading partners, Zeetta Networks and the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab, and installed at the
National Composites Centre. It will be used to establish a baseline for existing cellular technologies, against which results from the private 5G network, which will be installed
in Phase Two of the project, can be benchmarked. The goal is to prove the value of 5G for use case performance and user experience and demonstrate the extent to which
businesses will get a real return on investment from deploying private cellular networks within manufacturing.
5G-ENCODE is part of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme and is one of the UK government’s biggest investments
in 5G for manufacturing to date.
New technologies, particularly 5G, hold the key to unlocking significant benefits for manufacturers, including streamlining operations and increasing productivity. The project
has been set up to establish clear business cases and value propositions for the application of 5G technology in manufacturing. The cellular network will be used to
explore new business models and 5G technologies, including network slicing and splicing, within an industrial environment. Specifically, activity will focus on three areas:
- Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality (AR/VR) to support design, manufacturing and training.
- Monitoring and tracking of time sensitive assets.
- Wireless real-time in-process monitoring and analytics.
In the Phase One 4G Network, the focus will be on testing the asset tracking and AR / VR use cases. Each use case will be tested and data gathered on network performance, user
experience and business benefit realisation. This process will be repeated for the Phase Two 5G Network and the data between 4G and 5G will be compared and analysed.
Vassilis Seferidis, co-founder and CEO at Zeetta Networks says:
“Zeetta Networks is proud to be the leading partner for the 5G-ENCODE project. The use cases being
explored will be integral to accelerating Industry 4.0. Phase One is just the beginning, and we’re confident that this project will be key to revitalising the UK’s manufacturing
industry and safeguarding it against the next global recession”.
Marc Funnell, Head of Digital, and Director of DETI, National Composites Centre, says:
“As a world-class research centre, the NCC is delighted to be the industrial test bed for the 5G-ENCODE consortium of leading industrial innovators. Today’s announcement marks the start of this project delivering real-life impact through the development of specific use cases for the 5G-ENCODE and Digital Engineering Technology & Innovation (DETI). We look forward to testing and sharing the results”.
Xavier Priem, Senior Research Fellow at Smart Internet Lab says:
“Smart Internet Lab is proud to support and provide expertise to the 5G-ENCODE consortium. We are delighted to be working alongside communities, telecom and Industry 4.0 experts in this project by providing knowledge on 4G & 5G technologies on the delivery of use cases. Our work will be fundamental in introducing new capabilities into Industry 4.0 processes and systems which will provide more flexibility.”
--ENDS--
About 5G-ENCODE
5G-ENCODE is a £9 million collaborative project aiming to develop clear business cases and value propositions for 5G applications in manufacturing. The project is partially
funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the UK Government as part of its 5G Testbeds and Trials Programme. It is run by a consortium of nine partners:
Zeetta Networks, National Composites Centre, Mativision, Plataine, Solvay, Toshiba, Telefonica, Siemens and the University of Bristol’s Smart Internet Lab.
5G-ENCODE showcases 5G standalone network and use cases at launch event at the UK’s National Composites Centre
5G-ENCODE switches on the second phase of its network at the National Composites Centre moving a step closer to realising the commercial benefits of 5G in manufacturing.
5G-ENCODE switches on the second phase of its network at the National Composites Centre moving a step closer to realising the commercial benefits of 5G in manufacturing.
Advanced performance monitoring capabilities will be deployed at government-backed 5G-ENCODE project testbed at the National Composites Centre
A joint interview with Vassilis Seferidis, co-founder and CEO at Zeetta Networks, a UK network provider, and leading partner of 5G-ENCODE, and Marc Funnel Head of Digital, National Composites Centre. Original source: https://www.businesschief.eu/top10/top-10-global-5g-predictions-2021
Vassilis Seferidis, CEO and Co-Founder of Zeetta Networks Original source: https://www.mobile-magazine.com/5g-and-iot/zeetta-networks-5g-review
Vassilis Seferidis, CEO and Founder of Zeetta Networks Original source: https://www.theengineer.co.uk/comment-5g-manufacturing-resilience/
Mike Conradi, co-chair for international telecoms at DLA Piper and associate Christian Keogh, explore the importance of 5G and manufacturing in driving industry 4.0
5G-ENCODE is a pioneering project looking to make the benefits of 5G technology a reality for UK manufacturers. The project is one of the UK government’s biggest investments in 5G for manufacturing to date and has been set up to establish clear business cases and value propositions for the application of 5G technology in manufacturing. Led by Zeetta Networks, activity started in early 2020 and will run until March 2022. The key objective is to design and deliver a private 5G network within the National Composites Centre. This will be used to explore new business models and 5G technologies, including network slicing and splicing, within an industrial environment. Specifically, activity will focus on three areas: AR/VR to support design, manufacturing and training Monitoring and tracking of time sensitive assets Wireless real-time in-process monitoring and analytics These use cases will be sector agnostic and will be deployed across a range of industries enabling new business models and opportunities, streamlining operations and creating additional revenue streams. This is especially important as the nation navigates economic turbulence brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The manufacturing industry has suffered particularly, with many manufacturers still operating at between 25% and 50% of normal levels. As the industry starts to get back on its feet, it is time to focus our attention on how we can use this as an opportunity to rebuild even stronger. Technology, specifically private 5G networks, have the opportunity to play a critical role in the recovery of the manufacturing sector. At O2, we want to be part of this rebuilding process. That is why, through the DCMS-funded 5G-ENCODE project, we are helping to build a 5G-powered smart factory. Working with partners including Zeetta Networks, Siemens and Toshiba, the project will create clear use cases that demonstrate the power of private mobile networks to help businesses build back better. A key focus of the trials at 5G-ENCODE will be ‘network slicing’ in industrial settings. Network slicing gives manufacturers the capability to divide the private 5G network in line with demands of particular users and applications. But what does this mean in reality? In short, it means that systems will operate more efficiently and resource allocated where it is needed rather than wasted. As a result, system output will improve and cost of ownership of assets will reduce. Private mobile networks present one of the most exciting opportunities for UK industry. They deliver highly secure, ultra-reliable connectivity that allows for the automation of a number of business processes. Not only does this dramatically enhance productivity, but the use of Automated Intelligence (AI) also makes workplaces safer by alerting workers to faults before they have a chance to become an issue. At O2, we are invested in rebuilding Britain. A core part of this is finding new ways to use technology, specifically 5G, to drive efficiencies. That is why we continue to invest in projects and initiatives that explore exactly this. For example, we recently set up a private 5G network for Northumbrian Water Group. The connectivity provided by the network meant that experienced technicians could remotely guide on-the-ground teams through complex tasks by relaying real-time infrastructure data and instructions. Not only did this dramatically improve communication within the business, it also boosted productivity. Private mobile networks will be truly transformational for manufacturers. They offer a unique opportunity to build a more resilient, safer and environmentally friendly business. Interested in taking advantage of the latest 5G technologies? Get in touch to see how we could work together.
