The dynamic duo of BT and Ericsson have announced a multi-million-pound new joint partnership to provide commercial 5G private networks for the UK market.
Hailed as the “first agreement of its kind in the country”, there are no financial details or information on the duration of the contract.
The telecommunications and technology firms have signed a multi-year contract that will enable BT to sell mobile network technology products to businesses and organisations in sectors such as manufacturing, defence, education, retail, healthcare, transport and logistics.
Marc Overton, BT’s Managing Director for Division X, Enterprise, explains: “Unlike a public network, a private 5G network can be configured to a specific business’s needs, as well as by individual site or location. They also provide the foundation to overlay other innovative technologies such as IoT, AI, VR and AR, opening up a multitude of possibilities.”
The deal comes just after BT announced it was investing almost £100 million over the next three years in its ‘Division X’ unit for the development of customer solutions which integrate technologies like 5G, IoT, edge compute, cloud and AI.
- Altice’s Stake in BT under UK National Security Probe – read the news here
It also follows on from last week, when the UK government revealed it is checking out French telco Altice’s acquisition of 6% of shares in BT for national security reasons.
BT and Ericsson explain that private networks are wireless solutions that provide indoor and outdoor 5G cellular coverage. For example, they could be used in environments such as factories, education campuses and other large sites.
Possible applications and IoT capabilities – through a private 5G network – could entail asset tracking, predictive maintenance, connected sensors, real-time data processing, automation and robotics.
The two companies cite a forecast from MarketResearch.com, which reckons 5G private networks are predicted to grow at an average rate of 40% a year between 2021 and 2028, by which time the market will be worth $14 billion (£10.7 billion).
While today’s (31 May) news is the “first agreement of its kind in the country”, BT and Ericsson have already worked together on several projects incorporating private 5G networks – such as Belfast Harbour in Northern Ireland.
The two tech companies point out they have installed a 5G private network across 35 acres of operational port.
