Nokia, OMRON, and NTT DOCOMO have launched joint field trials at their respective facilities to evaluate 5G technology as a solution to pressing manufacturing challenges.
NTT DOCOMO will lead the tests, which address the growing need for robust wireless communications on factory floors. Manufacturing environments increasingly rely on stable links between IoT devices, but factors such as heavy machinery noise and worker movement can degrade wireless signals. The trials will verify the reliability and stability of 5G by performing radio-wave measurements and transmission experiments under real-world conditions.
OMRON will contribute factory automation equipment while Nokia will provide 5G infrastructure and expertise. Together, the partners aim to demonstrate a layout-free production concept that uses Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). These AMRs would receive real-time instructions from production-line equipment and deliver components precisely where they are needed, enabling more flexible, efficient manufacturing layouts.
Earlier industry collaborations highlight the broader interest in next-generation mobile technologies. For example, partnerships among major vendors and operators are exploring 6G research as well as advanced 5G capabilities. Research themes commonly include Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communications (URLLC), distributed MIMO, applying AI to network management, high-frequency bands such as 28 GHz, and full 5G Standalone (SA) deployments — all aimed at maturing these technologies for commercial use.
These field trials are intended to build practical confidence that 5G can meet the performance and reliability needs of modern factories, enabling automation, flexible production layouts, and tighter coordination between machines and mobile robots. Demonstrating consistent connectivity in noisy, dynamic industrial settings will be a crucial step toward wider adoption of 5G-powered manufacturing solutions.