BT and Ericsson announced a multi-million-pound new partnership to provide commercial 5G private networks for the UK market, the first agreement of its kind in the country. The two companies have signed a multi-year contract that will enable BT to sell next-generation mobile network technology products to businesses and organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, defense, education, retail, healthcare, transport, and logistics.

Ericsson Private 5G is a fit-for-purpose, dedicated, and agile private network solution that provides guaranteed high-performing indoor and outdoor 5G cellular coverage, making it suitable for a range of uses - particularly in environments such as factories, education campuses, and other large sites where security and ultra-low latency connectivity are important. New applications and IoT capabilities can be enabled through a private 5G network to improve productivity, optimize business operations and drive cost savings, such as asset tracking, predictive maintenance, connected sensors, real-time data processing, automation, and robotics.

According to a forecast from MarketResearch.com, 5G private networks are predicted to grow at an average rate of 40 percent a year between 2021 and 2028, by which time the market will be worth $14 billion. Both BT and Ericsson believe there is significant demand from UK businesses looking to take advantage of the benefits the new technology can provide.

BT and Ericsson have already worked together on several major projects incorporating private 5G networks, including Belfast Harbour in Northern Ireland, as they accelerate its ambition to become the world’s best regional smart port. The partners have installed a 5G private network across 35 acres of the operational port. This is helping to drive operational efficiencies and accelerate its digital transformation through optimizing processes across transport, logistics, supply chain, and shipping, as well as boosting productivity through the smooth running of the Port’s operations.