The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has launched a Vodafone-designed private mobile phone network at the Piraeus Container Terminal (PCT) as part of its goal to make its operations more efficient through digitalisation.
In a statement, the PPA said the network will be the first of its kind in Greece and follows an international tendering procedure and will lay the foundations for a fully digital maritime hub.
“PPA and PCT were in search of a comprehensive digital solution that would make it possible to holistically increase the total service capacity of all operations in the port,” a statement read.
The PPA continued by saying its aim is to make the PCT “the region’s most digital terminal and a vector of future applications”.
The network was successfully built in three months and it will cover traffic data from all the PPA’s container terminals and piers, while offering a guaranteed network capacity to support maritime operations, such as loading and unloading, cargo distribution and precision functions.
“This state-of-the-art 4G / LTE network presents unique innovations and can also support the use of NB-IoT technology, thus enabling installation of sensors and implementation of digital applications,” the PPA said.
“The technological upgrade of the Piraeus Container Terminal contributes to the improvement of its operations and the upgrading of the services it provides to its end customers.
“Moreover, thanks to the highly responsive and zero-latency architecture of this network, it is possible to continuously transmit data and process it in real time, which paves the way for future technological applications.
“Furthermore, through additional security protocols and thanks to the closed structure of the first private mobile network, top security is achieved in the data that it transfers.”
The PPA, which has an investment partnership COSCO Shipping Ports, is the Mediterranean’s busiest container shipping port and is currently upgrading its infrastructure and container handling capacity.
