Orange and Nokia deploy 4G/5G private grid at Schneider Electric plant in France

2021: 4G/5G Private Network Plans with Network Layer Segmentation Functionality

July 1, 2021 it became known that the international service provider Orange Business Services and the company Nokia 4G private network deployed/with 5G network segmentation functionality network slicing at the Schneider Electric factory in French the city of Le Vaudreuil. Network segmentation is a key feature for integrated 4G/5G Quality of Service and Safety Management industrial processes, operations and applications in Industry 4.0.

Orange Business Services has chosen Nokia to create a segmented 4G/5G private network. It will allow you to develop your own reliable, Scalable and sustainable solutions for the industrial environment.

Nokia Network Segmentation Solution Supports Existing Devices LTE, 5G Standalone (5G SA, standalone) and 5G Non Standalone (5G NSA, non-standalone standard). Also includes software domain controller in RAN, main and transport layers to Ensure segment interaction.

Network layer continuity between LTE and 5G NR (New Radio) will allow Orange Business Services and Schneider Electric to manage internal network in industrial conditions. With this solutions both partners continue to implement and test management priorities, performance, and security features adapted to innovative use cases, optimizing at this is network resources.

Thanks to the network segmentation technology from Nokia, Orange Business Services, together with Schneider Electric, can continue to research the capabilities of a scalable 4G/5G private connection used in industry, "commented Arnaud Vamparys, senior vice president of radio networks at Orange Innovation.

With Nokia's network segmentation solution, telecom providers and enterprises can benefit from fast service launches for all end users equipped with 4G or 5G devices. As a long-term innovation partner, Nokia is pleased with the first achievement with Orange Business Services in the industrial production environment, "said Tommi Uitto, president of the Nokia mobile networks division.

2020: Testing the industrial application of 5G in a factory in France

Schneider Electric and Orange announced France's first deployment of an indoor 5G grid at an industrial facility. This became known on September 30, 2020. The joint project started in March 2020, its goal is to test the use of 5G in an industrial enterprise to create a reliable and scalable telecommunications solution that takes into account the future needs of industry.

The test passed two scenarios for using technologies using 5G: the application of augmented reality in the work of maintenance specialists, as well as testing a remotely controlled robot. The reference network and radio access network were built on Nokia equipment operating in the frequency range allocated for experimental use by the French regulator. Five 5G base stations were installed inside the plant, providing coverage of almost 2,000 m2 of production space with mobile Internet at a download speed of 1 Gbit/s.

The experimental architecture of the deployed network allows you to process data on subscriber devices using edge computing technologies. As such Orange devices suggested to use Latitude 9510 which recently appeared in the market industrial notebukdell with support 5G. This allows you to use the computing capabilities of the device throughout the network coverage area - regardless of where its user is located.

For the first test, the task of which is to test augmented reality technologies with minimal signal delays at maximum network throughput, the application EcoStruxure Augmented Operator Advisor (AOA) from Schneider Electric was used. It improves the efficiency of technical specialists, allowing you to overlay data and virtual objects both on individual equipment and on the entire plant.

Using an application installed on 5G-connected tablets, it is enough for a technician to put a camera on the equipment installed at the factory - and he will immediately receive information about its condition and required maintenance. The application reduces hardware downtime and minimizes maintenance errors. For example, temperature data from the coil winding machine may signal overheating and the need to replace the part.

The purpose of the second test was to control the AXYN tele-presence robot connected to the 5G network. In the future, it is planned that this robot will be used to organize virtual trips to the factory. 5G allows you to transmit video of very high quality with minimal delays, facilitating the interaction of the person managing the robot with the accompanying worker of the plant.

2019

On May 21, 2019, Orange Business Services announced that it was working together to explore the implementation and operation of 5G technology in industrial production with Schneider Electric. Testing will begin at the end of 2019 and will assess the real significance of 5G for real-time augmented reality solutions, which are used by maintenance specialists at the Schneider Electric plant in Le Vaudreuil (Er department).

Stefan Richard said:

5G is not just another development in the field of mobile communications. This is a technological leap, giving the start of a qualitative transformation of business models of all companies in all areas of activity. 5G technology offers advanced benefits and capabilities. To take advantage of them, companies must immediately explore ways to apply it, and we operators must fully mobilize all our resources to support them and develop solutions that meet their needs. We must write a 5G story together and make every effort to make France one of the leading countries in the development and implementation of 5G technology!.