One of the world’s biggest companies and a major supplier of private 5G networks and infrastructure, NTT DATA, has deployed a private 5G network in 50 Cargill manufacturing and processing sites. Most of the sites are in the US, with additional deployments in Europe, and the company has stated it is planning more instances, due for completion in 2026.
Private 5G uses dedicated mobile network infrastructure in a defined area like a factory or processing plant, with some installations consisting of discrete networks forming an organisation-wide private communications network. Operators deploy private 5G where wired networks are difficult to extend and where WiFi coverage is inconsistent or unreliable in the specific environment.
Cargill operates agricultural processing plants, food manufacturing facilities and other industrial sites, often with large production floors, moving machinery and structures that interfere with radio signals, making WiFi less than ideal.
Workers on the sites brought online by NTT DATA use smartphones and ruggedised tablets to get access to enterprise applications and live data. Cargill has recently transitioned to the cloud version of SAP, 4/HANA, and the company’s connectivity ambitions are part of the migration.
As manufacturers increase their use of connected devices and automated systems in industrial settings, the means of data communication become an important consideration. Consistent wireless coverage across production lines, warehouses and other facilities can determine the quality of operations at the level of individual pieces of equipment. NTT DATA’s work with the Cargill deployments means its client can look at wider initiatives, for example the greater use of robotics and physical AI.
At Cargill’s Amsterdam facility, the company has deployed a quadruped robot known as Spot the Dog. The robot performs visual inspections and monitors hazards, including equipment overheating. According to NTT DATA, the primary focus is safety and operational efficiency, with the robot operating in hazardous or hard-to-reach areas.
The scale of the rollout and the different environments inside the Cargill facilities mean that a single connectivity provider can ensure a homogeneous network that’s integrated with the company’s core ERP. A common network design can simplify security policy, device management and the deployment of digital tools regardless of their geographic locations. Multi-site private 5G deployments increase requirements and necessary standards when considering systems integration, lifecycle management, and operational support – but the means of data communication is not among the impediments to operators.
Robert Greiner, director platform engineering for customer, commercial and business operations digital technology at Cargill, described the deployment as part of the company’s wider digital transformation efforts. “Our work with NTT DATA is a true partnership, allowing us to confidently advance our global digital transformation strategy. Private 5G gives us a secure, scalable foundation to support connected workers, robotics and edge AI use cases in our operations.”
Shahid Ahmed of NTT DATA cited Cargill as an example of private 5G deployment in environments where traditional wireless networks have proven difficult to manage at the scale necessary in a multi-sector industrial company.
NTT DATA introduced its enterprise private 5G platform in 2021, an offering that combines full-stack design, deployment, and managed operations delivered from the cloud.
(Image source: “Urban fringe market garden” by Indigo Skies Photography is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. )
Want to learn more about IoT from industry leaders? Check out IoT Tech Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is part of TechEx and co-located with other leading technology events. Click here for more information.
IoT News is powered by TechForge Media. Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars here.
