Vodafone said the new private 5G SA network will allow Ford to optimize its production processes
Vodafone Spain has deployed a private 5G Standalone (5G SA) network that will allow Ford to optimize production processes at its Almussafes factory in Valencia.
In a release, Vodafone said that this new deployment will enable the company to obtain early validation of components, functionality and software due to the collection of information through still images or videos that will be processed at the edge of the Vodafone network. This technology allows the application server to be brought closer to the network, so that latency is reduced. Thus, the system could stop the assembly line if an error is detected, minimizing the economic and environmental impact, the telco added.
In addition, through Radio Positioning System (RPS) techniques over 5G, real-time monitoring of components in the value chain has been carried out using low-latency technologies.
Use cases related to electrical risk protection and ergonomic improvements for assembly line operators are also being carried out. Specifically, this use case monitors, using Kinect sensors and the edge of Vodafone’s 5G network, the postural and ergonomic risks to operators, so that the system learns to detect risks of this nature and can notify the operator to correct their movements.
“We are proud to be part of this project along with six other companies with which we share the same desire for innovation. The project and our contribution to it are aligned with our strategy to position ourselves as a leading provider in Spain in private 5G SA networks,” said Laura Galián, territorial director for the Valencian Community, Murcia and the Balearic Islands of Vodafone Spain.
The project, which has already entered the final stretch, will conclude in June 2024. To date, it is the most complete project related to improving efficiency in Automotive Industry 4.0 since it covers practically the entire production process, from component design to final assembly, Vodafone said.
In November 2023, Vodafone announced it has successfully tested future mobile spectrum in the upper 6 GHz frequency band in Spain.
The telco highlighted that enabling this band for mobile use will ensure consumers and businesses receive even faster and more reliable 5G services over the next five to 10 years.
Using a smartphone tuned to the anticipated amount of 6 GHz spectrum band that will be made available in European countries, Vodafone engineers in Spain achieved download speeds of up to 5 Gbps and on average 2 Gbps across various indoor locations.
The telco explained that 6 GHz equipment was installed on an existing 5G site in Madrid covering Vodafone’s campus and the surrounding area, including several indoor locations. Massive MIMO antenna technology was used in this test.
