For ports preparing for AI, automation and real-time operations, connectivity is quickly becoming a strategic infrastructure question. PTI’s latest webinar, hosted in partnership with Nokia and now available on demand, explores how Thames Freeport, Verizon Business and Nokia are applying Private 5G and edge computing to support the next stage of smart port development.
Watch the webinar on demand: Beyond Connectivity: How Thames Freeport is Powering the Next Generation of Smart Ports and Industrial AI.
For ports preparing for AI, automation and real-time operations, connectivity is no longer a background issue. It is becoming part of the core infrastructure needed to make smarter, safer and more resilient operations possible.
PTI’s latest webinar, hosted in partnership with Nokia and now available on demand, explores this shift through the example of Thames Freeport, where Private 5G, edge computing and AI-ready infrastructure are being applied across ports, logistics and manufacturing environments.
The session brought together speakers from Thames Freeport, Verizon Business and Nokia to examine what digital infrastructure needs to look like when industrial sites move beyond isolated technology trials and begin planning for wider operational transformation.
The Thames Freeport deployment spans DP World London Gateway, the Port of Tilbury, DP World logistics parks and Ford Dagenham. This makes it a useful case study for the port sector because it is not limited to one terminal or one type of operation. It covers container handling, mixed cargo, logistics facilities and manufacturing, each with different connectivity demands.
One of the clearest takeaways from the discussion was that Private 5G should not be treated as a standalone technology project. The value comes when reliable connectivity supports practical use cases, from asset tracking and worker safety to video analytics, equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance.
For ports, this is where Nokia’s contribution becomes particularly relevant. The discussion moved beyond the network itself to the role of mission-critical industrial edge infrastructure, which allows applications and AI workloads to run closer to live operations. This matters because many port use cases depend on low latency, resilient processing and the ability to turn operational data into timely decisions.
In a port environment, that data may come from cranes, vehicles, cameras, sensors, containers, workers and other connected assets. Connectivity creates the foundation, but the wider opportunity lies in using that data to improve visibility, reduce delays, support safer working and make maintenance more predictive.
The webinar also offered a practical reminder that ports are difficult environments to connect to. Large outdoor areas, metal-heavy infrastructure, container stacks, moving equipment and varied operational workflows all affect network design. Speakers stressed that coverage planning must begin with how people, assets and vehicles move across a site, rather than simply placing radios and looking for use cases afterwards.
Security and resilience were also central to the discussion. As ports connect more operational systems, the ability to protect data, segment networks and maintain continuity becomes increasingly important. For critical infrastructure, this is not a secondary consideration but part of the business case for private wireless networks.
The wider lesson from Thames Freeport is that smart port development depends on more than adopting individual technologies. It requires infrastructure that can scale, integrate with existing systems and support future applications as operational needs evolve.
For port operators, the webinar provides a useful starting point: before AI and automation can deliver real value, the digital foundations need to be strong enough to support them.
