Africa Industrialisation Day – 20 November 2023

• In the context of industry digitisation and the adoption of 5G, how can private 5G networks address infrastructure challenges and facilitate efficient communication and information sharing for businesses across various industries?

Private 5G networks provide various advantages for businesses spanning different industries.  Mobility is a cornerstone in almost every industry and at the heart of every one of those mobility solutions is a wireless network which is evolving.  These new networks, including 5G and Wifi 6, tackle infrastructure challenges, boost communication efficiency, and serve as a foundation for the integration of advanced technologies. As industries continue to undergo digitisation, these networks are positioned to play a pivotal role in the acceleration of Africa’s industrialisation. Several notable ways in which Private 5G contributes to this transformation include:

Improved Connectivity and Bandwidth:

• 5G’s major increase in bandwidth provides support for significantly more than the number of devices that 4G LTE could support.

Lower Latency for Critical Applications:

• The networks deliver lower latency, which is particularly beneficial for critical applications where real-time responsiveness is essential. This ensures the information from a mobile device to the server and back determines real time applications.

Reliable and Secure Communication:

• Private 5G networks prioritise the latest security protocols, enabling stronger authentication and increased crypotographic strength.  Ideal for industries such as healthcare and retail to safeguard sensitive data. 

Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR):

• Since 5G coverage is consistent throughout a coverage area, companies can depend on the availability of apps like augmented reality, virtual reality and cross reality to ensure maintenance and repairs are performed properly and any dangerous activities can be conducted with robots and augmented reality to help keep workers safe — for example, during the cleanup of hazardous materials or removal of explosive devices in the mining and industrial sectors.

IoT and Smart Devices Integration:

• Private 5G networks serve as a robust platform for the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart technologies. IoT devices are now common, improving operations by providing instant visibility into new levels of information — from the temperature in a cold storage warehouse to visibility into areas in a retail store filled with customers.

• How are the ongoing developments in 4G and 5G networks influencing the strategic decisions of companies in different industries, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness, reduced infrastructure requirements, and improved connectivity for technologies such as real-time tracking and automation?

The expansion of private 5G and its enhanced performance has prompted numerous manufacturers to address issues related to inconsistent or non-existent connectivity in their manufacturing sites. 

Larger sites benefit significantly from the cost-effectiveness of achieving complete facility coverage more easily, making the implementation of real-time tracking throughout the facility a more feasible option.

Growing levels of automation in manufacturing and transportation/logistics, facilitated by autonomous vehicles and robots, necessitates improved connectivity, a capability provided by 5G for these sensitive applications.

• Can you provide specific examples of how private 5G networks can benefit companies in Africa in diverse industries by supporting technologies like IoT, automation, and real-time Top of Form

Similar to how steam played a pivotal role in igniting the first industrial revolution in the 1800s, private 5G stands poised to be a catalyst for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It serves as an underlying technology supporting IoT sensors, escalating the automation we are seeing today in business, and the imperative to visualise and analyze real-time data through dashboards for prompt decision-making. This advancement holds the potential to accelerate businesses in Africa, propelling them towards the realms of smart factories, dark warehouses, and the transformative digital health journey in the healthcare sector.

Zebra has been working with Cisco to pilot private 5G and Wi-Fi 6 technology in the Zebra distribution centre in Georgia, US. You can listen to this podcast about why Zebra felt, as a manufacturer and distributor, that implementing Cisco’s private 5G solution alongside Wi-Fi would be best for our business.

• How can private 5G networks enhance the implementation of RFID and RTLS technologies, leading to improved operational efficiency and visibility for businesses operating in various sectors?

Private 5G networks can significantly enhance the implementation of radio-frequency identification (RFID) and real-time location systems (RTLS) technologies, leading to improved operational efficiency and visibility for businesses in various sectors. These technologies together contribute to more accurate and timely tracking of assets, enhanced supply chain management, and overall optimisation of business processes.

There are now ultra-low latency networks that can be used for programmable logic controller (PLC)-controlled environments, like on manufacturing lines. Ultra-high bandwidth can now be used for machine vision and video-based applications. Excellent response times are also crucial when operating in a PLC-controlled environment, as there can be a higher number of clients per access point, including those required for RTLS.

5G can save some organisations a lot of money by reducing the amount of access points for the different technologies they are trying to deploy, including RTLS, machine vision and more. A colleague told me that a customer said, “If I have to wire one metre of network cable, it’s more than R19,000 per metre ( $1000 per metre). But, with 5G, I have a lot less infrastructure, and it still gives me the same result most of the time.”

In fact, 35% of OEMs who participated in Zebra’s Automotive Ecosystem Vision Study believe radio frequency identification (RFID) is one of the technologies that will help improve supply chain management. And nearly one-third of all surveyed decision-makers say they will prioritise connecting real-time data systems to enable a holistic view of operations and increase visibility across production and throughout the supply chain over the next five years.

• What products and solutions does Zebra Technologies offer to 5G networks in terms of preparedness?

Recognising that businesses will soon need to transition to 5G devices for their enterprise applications, Zebra Technologies has launched a number of its new enterprise mobile solutions equipped with 5G connectivity (and are in the process of further expanding this 5G product range). These include Zebra’s TC15, TC78 and TC58 handheld mobile computers, ET45 tablet and ET85 rugged 2-in-1 tablet for heavy-duty environments.