Singtel and Ericsson have announced a partnership to deploy 5G advanced connectivity solutions at Tuas Port in Singapore.
This is in support of PSA Singapore’s (PSA) plans to build the world’s largest fully automated port by the 2040s to meet the rapidly rising demand for global transhipment.
Existing automated vehicles deployed at the port, such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) will be upgraded to 5G to enhance real-time shipment tracking and further streamline crane operations to enable seamless transportation of cargo from berth to ships and vice versa.
To support these enhancements, Singtel will activate a network slice from its 5G network to provide the dedicated resources, like high speeds, high bandwidth, and low latency, needed for mission-critical applications to run smoothly around the clock. The company will also create secure private networks tailored to the port’s specific security needs, to help mitigate the risk of data breaches and unauthorised access.
According to Ericsson, 5G will be an enabler for PSA to achieve an annual handling capacity of 65 million TEUs, almost double the current demand, when Tuas Port is fully completed.
Over the next three years, PSA will also be exploring 5G applications in areas such as predictive maintenance, which involves drone-based surveillance and extended reality applications, to detect potential issues early and pre-empt equipment failure, thereby improving efficiency and reducing costly downtime.
From 2025, guided by Singtel’s 5G network slicing capabilities, the PSA’s driverless AGVs will reportedly be capable of independently transporting containers, thereby optimising yard operations and reducing labour costs.
The ultra-reliable and low-latency communication enables operators to manoeuvre massive cargo with precision from a safe distance, using remote-controlled cranes with the fastest response time. PSA will also be able to better process real-time shipment tracking data so berth planners can optimise scheduling and traffic flow for greater operational efficiency, even during high congestion periods.
Ng Tian Chong, CEO Singtel Singapore, said: “5G’s high speeds and low latency help to improve real-time communication and data transfer which enables highly efficient port operations.
“With network slicing, these capabilities are augmented with increased security features and higher performance assurance.”
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Nelson Quek, Regional CEO, Southeast Asia at PSA International said: “We are pleased to be working with Singtel and Ericsson to deploy a 5G network at Tuas Port to support our growing fleet of Automated Guided Vehicles.
“Leveraging 5G’s rapid data transmission and connectivity capabilities, PSA aims to further streamline operations and optimise resource utilisation through real-time monitoring, enabling us to respond agilely to the evolving needs of our customers and stakeholders.”
