Nokia launches first private 5G SA network product for enterprise customers

Nokia IoT factory.
(Image credit: Nokia)

Nokia has launched its first 5G standalone (SA), industrial-grade private networking product. Aimed at enterprise customers, this new networking solution will enable companies to take advantage of 5G use cases in an industrial setting, for the very first time (outside of trials which a number of companies have been running this year).

Nokia currently has more than 180 private wireless enterprise customers worldwide, of which more than 30 are utilizing 5G. And the company hopes that through the use of the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), it can help new and existing customers improve their production processes, security, robotics, analytics, and beyond.

“With the introduction of 5G SA, we set a new standard for our enterprise customers with a world-class line-up of private wireless solutions to meet their digitalization needs, no matter their entry point or connectivity requirements,” said Raghav Sahgal, President of Nokia Enterprise. 

"By delivering 5G SA, we’re paving the way to accelerate digitalization in the most demanding of use cases."

Raghav Sahgal, Nokia.

“Private wireless connectivity is central to our customers realizing their long-term digital transformation goals," Sahgal continued. "By delivering 5G SA, we’re paving the way to accelerate digitalization in the most demanding of use cases such as automotive manufacturing, where cloud, robotics and autonomous machine operations create mission-critical demands for reliable low latency and high data rate.”

Sandvik is Nokia's first customer

Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) is an industrial-grade digital automation service platform, which will work alongside Nokia’s Modular Private Wireless product, and has been designed to be used alongside Nokia’s 5G standalone equipment. 

"5G opens the door to new opportunities in robotics, remote and autonomous operations, full-fleet automation, analytics and enhanced safety."

Patrick Murphy, Sandvik.

“By deploying a Nokia 5G SA private wireless network with Nokia Digital Automation Cloud, we can showcase an entirely new range of game-changing capabilities here in our Tampere [Finland] test mine,” explained Patrick Murphy, president at Nokia’s first 5G SA private network customer, Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology. “As we work with our customers to help them leverage technology to digitalize their operations, the introduction of 5G opens the door to new opportunities in robotics, remote and autonomous operations, full-fleet automation, analytics and enhanced safety. As such, it comprises a breakthrough in the digital transformation of mining.” 

5G standalone networks not only provide the speed and latency benefits that mobile network operators have been so keen to promote, but they also support the two technologies which will power the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT devices): narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and Cat-M (officially known as LTE Cat-M1). And it’s predicted that industrial use cases will overtake the likes of wearables, home security, and digital home products, by 2025.

“It’s an honor to work with a world-class company such as Sandvik on leading-edge digital automation solutions for the mining industry,” said Stephan Litjens, General Manager, Nokia Digital Automation Cloud. “With 5G SA, its high speed, low latency performance, and edge computing the next steps on this journey can be taken. Through our plug-and-play Nokia DAC platform we’re supporting Sandvik to realize not only its own digital transformation goals, but also those of the wider industry as it continues to deliver value to mining customers worldwide.”

For more information you can visit Nokia’s industrial grade, private networking page.



Dan Oliver

Dan is a British journalist with 20 years of experience in the design and tech sectors, producing content for the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, Dell and The Sunday Times. In 2012 he helped launch the world's number one design blog, Creative Bloq. Dan is now editor-in-chief at 5Gradar, where he oversees news, insight and reviews, providing an invaluable resource for anyone looking to stay up-to-date with the key issues facing 5G.