Nokia announced an agreement with Tideworks Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carrix, to deploy Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) at the Port of Seattle, Terminal 5.
The vendor said that deployment of Nokia’s digital automation service platform with LTE/5G private wireless networking will deliver increases in efficiency, worker safety and terminal handling performance by reducing the complexity of port flow.
Nokia said that the private wireless network is capable of delivering seamless connectivity indoors and out across Terminal 5 operations, cranes, trucks and lifts and will also enhance communication between logistics parties. The Nokia DAC also incorporates ruggedized tablets and smartphones for terminal-wide, mobile voice communications and yard inventory applications, the vendor added.
Nokia noted that the agreement follows a successful Nokia DAC proof-of-concept trial at SSA Terminal’s (SSAT) Oakland International Container Terminal (OICT). The trial established that a small number of Nokia DAC private LTE radios, transmitting over a mix of shared and dedicated spectrum, provided superior coverage and reliability compared to approximately 200 existing Wi-Fi access points located across two Oakland sites.
“The Nokia DAC platform proved its worth in rigorous testing at SSAT’s OICT Oakland terminal. It’s a logical next step to improve our terminal operating system reliability and ramp up future operational applications that require reliable and secure high-bandwidth performance. We look forward to securing and supporting the same kind of mobility, safety and productivity gains at SSAT’s Terminal 5 facility in Seattle,” said Amanda Gress, vice president of IT at Tideworks Technology.
Matt Young, vice president of U.S. enterprise sales for Nokia Cloud and Networking Services, said, “These use cases illustrate the benefits of private wireless in a port or intermodal terminal operation. Delivering new standards in network performance, Nokia DAC enables fast, resilient, cable-free operational connectivity. It also incorporates voice services and an edge computing platform that can handle terminal operating system data and industry-specific applications.
“We look forward to helping Tideworks Technology usher in a new era, where LTE/5G capacity and performance provide a future-proofed infrastructure that enhances terminal capabilities for yard management, worker safety, video surveillance and voice communications,” Young added.
The Nokia private network will be deployed over Band 53 (Globalstar-licensed) and Band 48 (CBRS) to enable seamless switching between bands and cells, while also providing multiple layers of redundancy. Additionally, an on-premise geo-redundant core provides secure, highly available and low-latency data connectivity and control, Nokia said.
Port of Seattle, Terminal 5 is part of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, one of the largest container gateways in North America by total combined inbound and outbound TEU volume. Terminal 5 is undergoing a major modernization project to handle ultra-large container ships.
Nokia said that a total of 30 of its more than 220 large enterprise customers across industries worldwide have already incorporated 5G.
