Vodafone has announced its new 5G standalone Mobile Private Network (MPN) offering. MPNs allow businesses and organisations to customise network performance and characteristics to suit their own connectivity needs.
By installing dedicated equipment on-site, the customer can tailor the connectivity experience as only its own devices and applications can connect to the network. MPNs remove risk of network congestion, while network functionality can be customised to use case requirements and security is enhanced as data never needs to leave the customer premise.
Nick Gliddon, Business Director, Vodafone UK, said: “Mobile Private Networks are an opportunity for our business customers to accelerate innovation at an unprecedented scale. By installing a private and customisable network, Vodafone can support innovation by cultivating new use cases in an environment which brings the best opportunity. That could be delivering on low latency requirements, enhanced security or enabling massive-IoT models. Whatever the use case, Vodafone can deliver a tailored experience to act as a catalyst for innovation.”
Vodafone has already deployed several MPNs across the UK, including:
- Horiba Mira’s test track in Nuneaton, Warwickshire: A secure 5G Non-standalone-enabled MPN that covers two autonomous vehicles testing tracks, with five outdoor masts and on-site MEC.
- Ford’s E:PRIME factory in Dunton, Essex: a 5G wireless network to power autonomous operations and ensure real-time analysis via visual inspection AI software of automated production lines for electronic vehicle motors and batteries. This deployment has won multiple industry awards including 5G Week and the GLOTEL awards
- Scotland 5G Centre’s innovation hubs in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, and Kilmarnock East Ayrshire: The two 5G MPN sites act as testbeds to develop advanced use cases for segments that include energy and smart cities.
- The Smart Sound Connect in Plymouth, Devon: the worlds’ first marine-focused 5G testbed, powered by a 5GNSA MPN to deliver use cases such as driverless boats, connected buoys, clean propulsion, smart ports and shipping, as well as environmental monitoring
- Centrica’s natural gas plant in Easington, Yorkshire: a 4G MPN to enable real-time indoor and outdoor monitoring of the plant and its equipment will improve maintenance and safety. Workers will be alerted to any gas emissions, for example, or receive early warnings of any equipment on the point of failure.
