Commissioning of 5G logistics campus
Arvato relies on state-of-the-art mobile technology in its logistics centers and has now commissioned a 5G standalone campus network from O2 Telefónica at its Marienfeld site in Ostwestfalen-Lippe.
This is not connected to a public network and transmits over an area of 32,000 square meters. For example, the 280 employees as well as scanners and logistics systems at the site are supplied with state-of-the-art mobile communications technology, which makes daily work easier. In addition, the new digital networking solution accelerates logistics processes and shortens throughput times. The products can be registered, sorted and shipped to the end customers more quickly in the warehouse.
Jannine Schrön, Vice President Industry Vertical Tech at Arvato Supply Chain Solutions, explains: "5G technology is an important building block for further advancing our digitalization strategy and expanding our innovation leadership in logistics. It not only brings speed advantages in everyday life, but also enables us to develop and try out other digital applications." Currently, Arvato and O2 Telefónica are already planning the use of 5G-networked logistics drones and autonomous transport systems as part of their partnership.
Alfons Lösing, Chief Partner and Wholesale Officer at O2 Telefónica, explains: "Our 5G solutions open up a new digital logistics era for Arvato. At the same time, with the 5G campus network, we are consolidating our position as one of the leading partners for private 5G networks in Germany."
Maximum flexibility in the mobile network
The 5G campus network with fast and efficient mobile connections is the basic prerequisite for the planned digital logistics solutions. In addition, compared to common WLAN solutions in logistics, the 5G network easily covers all areas of the hall without any problems. In this way, parcels can be identified and scanned in every corner of the logistics center within a very short time. The short response times of up to 10 milliseconds ensure that the data generated during the scanning process is processed even faster – a clear productivity advantage in high-volume logistics processes. At the same time, 5G connects more mobile devices in a confined space than would be possible with Wi-Fi. Another advantage is that the 5G campus network is scalable and can be rolled out to other parts of the distribution center and at other company locations if required.
Partnership on a new level
O2 Telefónica has been a customer of Arvato Supply Chain Solutions for many years. For the telecommunications provider, O2's entire range of articles, from SIM cards, accessories and smartphones to televisions, is sent to shops and end customers from the Harsewinkel site. With the launch of the 5G campus network, the companies are now also deepening their partnership cooperation on a technological level. "As a telecommunications provider, we support partner companies in increasing the potential of their ecosystems by enabling them to expand their service portfolios with standardized 5G campus networks," says Alfons Lösing, underlining the objective. For example, the telecommunications provider not only serves 47 million customer lines in Germany with its mobile network, but also plans, builds and operates private 5G networks for its business customers and partners. This offers companies new digital opportunities – whether in the automotive industry, the healthcare industry, the public sector, science and research or logistics.
About O2 Telefónica:
O2 Telefónica is a leading full-service provider of telecommunications services for private and business customers. The portfolio of the core brand O2 as well as various secondary and partner brands includes classic telephony and Internet connections as well as innovative digital services in the field of Internet of Things and data analysis. In mobile communications, O2 Telefónica manages around 47 million mobile lines (including M2M - as of 30.09.2022). No network operator connects more people in this country. The company's high-performance and award-winning mobile network reaches over 99% of the population. In the fixed network, O2 Telefónica offers its customers the greatest technological diversity and geographical availability of all providers in Germany. Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG is listed on the TecDAX and MDax and has been part of the Eurostoxx 600 since June 2022. In the 2021 financial year, the company generated sales of 7.8 billion euros with around 7,400 employees. The company is majority-owned by the Spanish telecommunications group Telefónica S.A., based in Madrid, one of the largest telecommunications groups in the world.