An Ericsson report published in May 2023 looked into the future of ports and Private LTE. Not only did the company look at the challenges facing ports and how private wireless can address them, but also the new features offered by the networks. Shipping has always been an important part of the global economy, and it has not slowed down in recent years. The report cited that 67 percent of port providers see reducing operating costs as a key priority.

In order to do that, Ericsson found four areas that have to be improved to cut costs. First, run a tighter ship. This doesn’t mean a literal tighter ship or even a more compact ship, but ensuring ports are able to reduce downtime of equipment with better monitoring. Second, unlock gridlock and congestion. It is easy to see how congestion could affect a port, limiting progress and limiting the amount of flow that can go through. The third task was to make ports safer for people, especially workers. Ericsson cited that almost 42% of marine casualties take place in a port area. The last was to get greener. Port emission cuts are supposed to be drastic in order to address climate change, and it is key that this is addressed in order to continue to get support. 

That is where private networks step in. Not only is it cost-efficient, with Ericsson estimating that it is 10x less expensive than Wi-Fi covering the same area. The performance is predictable and able to handle a large amount of various systems at once. A port is a busy place, with the constant loading and unloading of ships, vehicles, cranes, workers, and much more. All of those can be covered by a single private network, allowing that information to remain secure and in control of those running the port.

Ericsson also promoted drones for surveillance and deliveries on a port. Theft is an issue, and drones are able to help limit that exposure. Besides that, they also noted that smart cranes help move cargo faster, minimizing the risk of human harm, while also increasing the amount of work that can be done at once. A 5G private network can ensure that all of that is able to happen. To read more on drones and smart cranes, check out ericsson.com. To continue reading about Private LTE, return to locallte.com.