Emergency services, city and port authorities are joining forces to develop and test a 5G network at a Belgian port.
The City of Antwerp, Port of Antwerp, the Antwerp Police and the Antwerp Fire Department are working with iSea and Ericsson to develop and test the new network, named ‘Minerva’, expanding their existing digital applications and exploring new ones.
This latest initiative follows an earlier project in tandem with Proximus, still ongoing, to test the physical development of a private 5G network.
“This 5G trial network with Ericsson technology covers the entire port,” explained Annick De Ridder, port alderman. “It will support our future operations in terms of shipping, safety and ecology. But it is also the ideal basis for the development of high speed 5G applications for automation, logistics, safety and security,” she added.
A private 5G network increases the speed, reliability and security of the port authority, the police and the fire brigade's digital applications. The network is not dependent on public providers and is therefore thought to be better protected against potential breakdowns, as well as overload during large events or mass gatherings.
