In partnership with Deutsche Telekom, container terminal operator EUROGATE has launched three dedicated 5G campus networks at its ports in Hamburg, Bremerhaven, and Wilhelmshaven. These private networks are designed to transform digital logistics within container terminals, raising performance, flexibility, and operational reliability across the maritime sector.
Called “Campus network L,” the solution delivers comprehensive 5G coverage across EUROGATE’s terminal sites, backed by exclusive spectrum allocation, high availability, and the low-latency, high-throughput capabilities of 5G technology. By operating on its own industrial 5G frequencies in the 3.7–3.8 GHz band, EUROGATE can further digitise handling workflows and tightly integrate control and process-management systems.
The project was officially launched at a kick-off event at the Port of Hamburg and is supported by the Port-As-A-Service initiative, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Digital Affairs and Transport. Port-As-A-Service focuses on advancing Logistics 4.0 by providing test environments for digital innovation within port operations. Through this initiative, EUROGATE plans to connect control systems, automate container handling, and integrate autonomous vehicles to drive efficiency and strengthen competitiveness.
Deutsche Telekom will provide coverage across a combined area of roughly 5.6 million square meters across the three terminals. To minimise new infrastructure requirements, the deployment uses existing light poles to host 5G antennas, reducing visual impact and installation work while accelerating rollout.
Hagen Rickmann, Managing Director of Telekom Deutschland’s Business Customers division, said:
“The 5G coverage of EUROGATE’s container terminals is one of our largest campus network projects to date. It will enable EUROGATE to leverage the full potential of 5G to further optimise logistics processes and drive the digital transformation of port terminals. In addition to high-performance 5G connectivity and exclusive bandwidth, the network architecture of the three campus networks will offer a particularly high level of control over critical data traffic on the terminal site in the future.”
Each terminal will use a dual-slice campus network architecture, providing precise control over network resources and traffic prioritisation. By operating on local 5G industrial spectrum, EUROGATE ensures that its internal operational traffic remains isolated from public mobile network usage, enhancing reliability and data security for mission-critical systems.
A virtualised, dedicated campus core network forms the backbone of the solution, delivering greater technical flexibility while reducing on-site infrastructure demands. This design leverages Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) to improve security, lower latency, and optimise data-path efficiency—important advantages for real-time automation and remote operations.
Michael Blach, Chairman of the EUROGATE Group Management Board, commented:
“An efficient and reliable technical infrastructure is the basis for making container handling at our terminals even more efficient and securing our competitiveness in the long term. Deutsche Telekom’s 5G Campus networks will provide us with the best conditions for further automating our processes and testing innovative logistics solutions based on 5G.”
By spring 2024, EUROGATE aims for its ports to demonstrate how 5G can revolutionise port logistics—from automated cranes and remotely monitored systems to integrated autonomous trucking and advanced coordination of handling processes. The collaboration with Deutsche Telekom highlights EUROGATE’s commitment to adopting advanced connectivity and shaping the future of maritime operations.
(Image Credit: Deutsche Telekom)
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