Nokia’s partnership with Rockwell Automation is pivotal towards the digital transformation of industrial networks through private wireless. Together, we enhance industrial connectivity, improve operational efficiency and increase network customization and security. The combination of Rockwell’s industrial automation solutions and Nokia’s wireless technologies supports emerging technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI). This capability is vital for industries looking to innovate and stay competitive.

A key current focus for Nokia and Rockwell Automation is the use of licensed, or lightly licensed, spectrum as an enabler for private cellular performance and robustness. In the United States, Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) provides 150 MHz of lightly licensed spectrum for use with private LTE and 5G Networks. This spectrum can be requested in 10 MHz increments and used at no cost. Additionally, guaranteed access of up to 20 MHz of spectrum can be purchased via Priority Access Licenses (PALs). Private 5G is validated and ready for industrial use today, with an increasing number of customers showing trust in 5G. Consequently, the transition to 5G standalone (SA) and CBRS is a hotter topic than ever.

Nokia and Rockwell Automation partnership enhances industrial connectivity

Nokia and Rockwell Automation have teamed up to evaluate private 5G SA networks using CBRS spectrum for real-time industrial control with EtherNet/IP™ protocols. This partnership enhances industrial connectivity, leveraging Nokia's robust 4G LTE and 5G technologies to optimize manufacturing operations with high-speed, reliable connectivity. This setup supports multiple automation devices behind a single wireless router, without any of the special tunneling or extra equipment that is required for other industrial Ethernet protocols.

By integrating Rockwell's industrial automation expertise with Nokia's wireless technology, the collaboration improves operational efficiency through greater automation, real-time data collection and analytics. This synergy streamlines processes, reduces downtime and increases overall efficiency. Additionally, the partnership helps ensure a secure and dedicated network infrastructure, crucial for industrial applications.

The above illustration represents an untethered stationary industrial asset application use case, consisting of one area controller and two distributed areas representing skids, machines or equipment. Nokia supplies a full private 5G solution, comprising of 5G radio access network (RAN) operating in n48 spectrum band (CBRS) with Nokia AirScale baseband unit (BBU) and two AirScale radio units (RUs), 5G Core operating in the on-premises MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) server and two Nokia Industrial 5G SA routers.

The testbed developed by the partnership successfully validated low latency and jitter in the current industrial 5G setup, supporting EtherNet/IP standard and safety I/O communications. Nokia’s 5G solutions, including the AirScale baseband unit, radio units, and the MX Industrial Edge server, worked seamlessly without special tuning, demonstrating the ease of deployment and integration. Importantly, aside from typical IP address assignment and network setup, no special tuning or configuration was needed on the Nokia equipment: everything worked “out of the box.”

This collaboration drives continuous innovation, supporting emerging technologies like IIoT, AR and AI, helping ensure industries and enterprises across North America remain competitive and future ready.

5G SA and CBRS provide a cost-effective method for US-based enterprises to enjoy benefits of licensed spectrum

Using CBRS spectrum helps ensure interference-free operation for critical automation equipment, maintaining uninterrupted performance. A private network with on-site hardware keeps data on premises, minimizing latency and enhancing privacy and security. Additionally, private cellular uses SIM cards, simplifying device management on your network.

Standalone (SA) 5G networks operate without a legacy LTE network, reducing costs and complexity while providing faster connections. As a result, using 5G for all network traffic (control plus user data) greatly reduces initial connection and handover times. For use cases requiring both 5G and LTE, LTE can be integrated with 5G SA networks.

CBRS private cellular offers several advantages over Wi-Fi:

• Up to 10x wider coverage, indoors and outdoors.

• SIM-based authentication for easy device management.

• Seamless mobile device handover for improved mobility.

Key use cases for private 5G SA include:

• Edge-to-cloud connectivity: 5G’s low-latency, high-speed connectivity enables real-time data transmission and reliable coverage for AI and ML applications.

• Connected worker applications: 5G’s excellent coverage and bandwidth enhance mobile tools like analytics, digital twins, and AR.

• Mobile asset applications: 5G SA’s fast handover times and low latency improve connectivity for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) and Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs).

• Untethered stationary industrial assets: 5G reduces the need for wired communications, increasing agility and reducing retooling time for industrial operations.

Outside the US, industrial private wireless networks often use licensed spectrum. The performance observed with CBRS is consistent with results using other licensed sub-6 GHz bands as used in other countries, making these findings globally applicable.

Join us at Rockwell Automation Fair in November

Interested in learning more? Join Nokia and Rockwell at the Rockwell Automation Fair® in California, USA this November to experience our demo in action! Click here for further details about this event and how to register.