Posten, the Norwegian postal service, has recruited the local division of Swedish operator Telia to deploy a private 5G network at its new terminal in Oslo Logistikkpark Drøbak, northwest of Oslo. The firm said it expects to run all its operational data over the network, both inside and outside the depot building itself. The 5G network is backed-up (“in case of “connection issues”) with a satellite link. Posten also has two fibre cables to the greenfield facility to connect to cloud services and its own central systems, it said.
The vendor has not been named, but Telia works with country-mate Ericsson on most of its private cellular projects. The implication, in the press note announcing the deployment, is that Posten was motivated to reduce downtime, raise cybersecurity levels, and enable the kind of network flexibility to support varied warehouse operations. It noted “optimal performance and enhanced security”, and the timing of the project, also, which is live for the busy Christmas period. Telia has worked with Posten (as its “technology partner”) since late 2021.
Arne Erik Berntzen, chief information officer at Posten, said: “When we were going to build a new terminal, we wanted to see if it was possible to base all data communication on the mobile network. It provides secure communication for all our devices – both inside and outside the terminal. Providing coverage in a building such as [this] can be difficult, as the demands change depending on what is on the shelves…. We are completely dependent on our equipment being connected at all times. Downtime is costly and stops production. With this… we will be connected in the best possible way.”
Jon Christian Hillestad, head of enterprise at Telia Norway, said: “The advantages of such a facility is that it ensures full availability and capacity for the equipment that Posten is completely dependent on in its operation of the terminal. A private 5G network is also the safest form of wireless communication, and offers a completely different level of security, mobility, and performance that you don’t get with – for example – Wi-Fi. It is very inspiring to work with a customer like Posten, which challenges us and has ambitions to become even more digital and wireless. [Its] new terminal is a perfect example of that.”
