Ports & Maritime
Private 5G networks for container terminals, cargo operations, and maritime logistics. Autonomous vehicles, crane automation, and real-time tracking — accessible to ports of every size.
Container terminals, cargo operations, and maritime logistics depend on real-time connectivity across vast outdoor sites. Traditional WiFi can't cover a port reliably, and enterprise 5G contracts are priced for the world's largest operators. Private 5G brings smart port capabilities within reach of regional ports and terminals.
What Private 5G Enables
Real-time connectivity across every part of port operations.
Autonomous Vehicles & AGVs
Autonomous guided vehicles, straddle carriers, and container trucks need guaranteed sub-10ms latency for safe operation. Private 5G provides the ultra-reliable connectivity that autonomous port vehicles require across entire terminals.
Remote Crane Operations
Ship-to-shore and gantry cranes operated remotely from a centralised control room over real-time HD video feeds. Removes operators from dangerous elevated positions while improving throughput.
Container Tracking & Yard Management
IoT sensors on containers reporting position, temperature, door status, and shock events in real time. A large terminal may have 50,000+ containers — private 5G handles the density that WiFi cannot.
Digital Twin & Port Operations
Real-time data from thousands of sensors, cameras, and vehicles feeds into a digital twin of the entire port. Enables predictive scheduling, congestion management, and operational optimisation.
5G in UK Ports Today
Private 5G is already transforming port operations across the UK.
Belfast Smart Port
Private 5G enabling bulk freight automation and smart port operations through the DCMS 5GIR programme.
Port of Felixstowe
The UK's largest container port exploring private 5G for crane automation and yard management. Handles 4 million TEU annually.
Sunderland 5GIR
Port safety improvements and road efficiency gains using private 5G in the North East.
UK Freeports Programme
Several of the UK's 12 Freeports are exploring private 5G as enabling infrastructure for smart port operations.
Why Aerix
The world's largest container terminals have private 5G. But regional ports, smaller terminals, and cargo operations are stuck with fragmented WiFi or legacy radio systems. Advanced wireless connectivity can transform port operations at any scale — the same autonomous vehicles, remote cranes, and real-time tracking, without the enterprise overhead.
Related Reading
Green Ports: Shore Power, Emissions Monitoring and the Network Behind Net Zero
Cold ironing, electrified cranes and continuous emissions monitoring all depend on one wireless layer across the quay.
How Private 5G Is Powering the Next Generation of Smart Ports
From autonomous vehicles to remote crane operations, private 5G is transforming how ports move cargo.
Common questions
Why are UK ports adopting private 5G?
Ports are large, busy outdoor environments where Wi-Fi struggles, public 5G is congested or absent, and operations increasingly depend on real-time data — container tracking, autonomous vehicles, remote crane operation, perimeter security, and connected workers. Private 5G is the only wireless technology that handles all of these at the scale and reliability port operations need.
Does it work with autonomous straddle carriers and remote cranes?
Yes. The sub-10ms latency and dedicated capacity of a private 5G network is exactly what these systems require. Aerix supports terminals running automated stacking cranes (ASCs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes over the same private network.
How does it compare to leased lines, fibre or DAS for terminal coverage?
Fibre and leased lines are great for fixed infrastructure but useless for mobile assets — vehicles, cranes, container handlers, workers. DAS extends public mobile coverage but does not give you control or guaranteed capacity. A private 5G network gives you wide-area mobile coverage with the reliability of fibre and full control over priority and policy.
What scale of port operation justifies a private network?
Anything from a 10-hectare container yard upwards. Smaller operations get most value from broadband + asset tracking + CCTV; larger terminals add autonomous vehicles, remote crane control and connected-worker apps on the same network. We size the deployment to the operation.
How long until we see ROI?
For most ports the network pays for itself within 12–24 months through reduced downtime on autonomous equipment, faster turnaround times, lower CCTV/leased-line costs, and improved health-and-safety outcomes. We can model the specific business case for your terminal based on current operations data.
Ready to connect your port?
Whether you run a container terminal, a cargo facility, or a regional port, we can build a private 5G network that fits your scale and budget.