Analyze, from a technical and economical point of view, the use of private 5G networks technology in the Industry 4.0. This is the purpose of the agreement recently signed between CPQD (Research and Development Center) and the partners who have been conducting the Open Lab 5G project: Brazilian Agency for Industrial Development (ABDI), Anatel and WEG / V2COM Group. 

The starting point for this project was a technical cooperation agreement, signed in November, between Anatel and ABDI, with a focus on conducting tests of private 5G networks in industrial production areas. The first trial test is taking place in one of WEG's factories, located in Jaraguá do Sul, state of Santa Catarina, where CPQD will be providing consulting services and technical analysis (performance) and economic viability of this application. 

“The objective is to evaluate different connectivity solutions to be used in Industry 4.0”, says Gustavo Correa Lima, leader of the Wireless Communications Platform at CPQD. "This includes benchmarking between public and private 5G networks and comparing these solutions with other connectivity technologies, both wired and wireless, such as Wi-Fi and fiber optics," he explains. 

The place where the tests will be carried out is one of the most robotized factories with the highest level of automation and monitoring of WEG's shop floor. As stated by Guilherme Spina, director of V2COM, a WEG Group company, this real operating factory will allow to test more than one 5G network. “We will have different network architecture implementations, one conventional and one virtualized, and we will also test antennas and 5G devices using millimeter waves, as well as sub 6 GHz. These tests will provide data and information to Anatel to support the process of defining requirements and conditions for the use of frequency bands for the regulation and authorization of private networks for industrial use”, says Guilherme. 

Expected to be concluded within seven months, the project to be carried out in partnership with CPQD should also generate data for new types of business, considering different environments, which may help companies in other economic segments.