What is 5G technology used for in concrete terms? The port of Le Havre offers a very concrete example.
The new generation of mobile telephony never ceases to raise questions. What is it really going to be used for? Is it really necessary? However, many companies, industries, local communities have started to work on the subject, with concrete use cases. “The Port of Le Havre offers concrete examples of the use of 5G, far from the esoteric debates on the subject», Underlines Cédric O, Secretary of State for digital and telecoms.
5G: the kick-off given this Friday in Paris by Orange and SFR
At the port of Le Havre, a “5G Lab” was created, intended to test the concept of a smart port. The stakes are considerable for the leading French port, subject to competition from Antwerp or Rotterdam. To remain competitive, it must reinvent itself. And that goes through access to the channel for container ships. These giants of the seas have all the greater drafts as Le Havre is often the first port in which they dock, loaded with goods from Asia. At the exit, they are less heavy. The port must be accessible at all times. So we have to dredge the channel. Up to two million cubic meters of sediment are dredged each year. But 5G can improve these operations.
Prior to dredging operations, a vessel maps the seabed. In one day, the hydrographer collects up to 20 gigabytes of data, impossible to transmit in 4G. “Every time it crashes», Testifies Ronan Schoubel, responsible for underwater mapping at the Port of Le Havre. The data is therefore transmitted to the harbor master’s office on a hard disk, then to the dredge vessel. 5G will allow data transmission in real time and therefore instantly control the dredge’s compliance with needs. The dialogue between the dredge and the hydrographer will take place in real time. Sometimes the dredge has to make a second pass. This repetition will be avoided, resulting in significant fuel savings. “We also want to limit the impact on funds and therefore, remove only what is necessary», Adds Baptiste Maurand, the director of the port of Le Havre. The collection of information in 5 should also help to improve this point.
New services
«We will offer new services that will allow us to make a difference with our competitors», Promises Baptiste Maurand. Trades are set to evolve, such as that of crane operator. With 5G, work will no longer be carried out in a cabin 50 meters from the ground since the machine can be driven from the ground, offering both less risk and more comfort to the operator. Likewise, sensors on lone workers, such as night watchmen, may provide better security. “5G saves time for alerting in the event of an accident but also for emergency response“, Explains one at Orange. It’s the accumulation of all those seconds in minutes saved that can save a life.
Massive data processing, for example, for preventive maintenance of ships is needed. However, 4G does not offer enough speeds to collect all this information. Likewise, the new generation of mobile telephony is more suitable for piloting drones, whether they are floating to clean the basins or flywheels, to inspect the containers. With 5G, the port of Le Havre will be able to continue playing in the big league.
– .
