5G in Transport and Logistics

5G provides a layer of insight not previously possible, for smarter, more productive operations. Its high bandwidth capability enables a greater density of sensors, meaning more data – and with machine learning, greater and quicker insights and analysis. Monitoring occupancy levels on public transport facilitates dynamic scheduling, improving passenger experiences and optimising costs, while smart rerouting can minimise delays and optimise journeys. 5G also allows a far greater density of sensors, providing a granularity of insight that can be the difference between tracking a shipping container and tracking every item in the shipping container, taking the guesswork out of logistics.

In terms of infrastructure, 5G allows for the real-time collection of huge environmental data sets, powering digital twins that can simulate entire ports, airports, rail networks or potential changes to a transport network.

5G’s increased bandwidth and reduced latency enables high-quality video monitoring, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications and real-time control of operations. Operators can better monitor vehicle and railway safety, intelligent control systems can redirect traffic in real-time away from traffic or hazards, advise on optimum speeds to reach green lights, and prioritise emergency services traffic and delivery vehicles.

V2X communications can also help to protect all road users – especially the most vulnerable – with cyclist and pedestrian alerts, notifications of accidents ahead, junction assistance and ultimately, cooperative manoeuvres between autonomous vehicles. 

Drones can also be deployed to conduct vital safety inspections and checks to ensure the safety of passengers and minimise dangers to workers – increasing efficiency, reducing disruption and ensuring safer journeys for everyone, no matter your mode of transport.

More than any other sector, transport and logistics has a duty to reduce its environmental impact. 5G can play an important role, with its ability to power sensors and connected IoT devices that can monitor, calibrate and adapt transport systems. Intelligently controlling traffic to ensure vehicles aren’t held in queues and optimising freight routes can ease congestion and idling, helping to reduce CO2 produced by traffic jams. Similarly, predictive maintenance can ensure vehicles spend are kept in premium conditions, associated with less hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides emissions. Remotely controlled drones for last mile deliveries could further reduce road miles and subsequent carbon emissions. Making public transport more efficient, more comfortable – and therefore more appealing – can further aid the easing of congestion across our towns and cities.

In a digital-first world, with smart vehicles, cities and depots, 5G supports the volume of data that needs to be shared, at speed, between vehicles, rolling stock, ships, aircraft, infrastructure and people. In addition, while self-driving vehicles still require a human safety driver, the low latency and ultra-reliability of 5G allows for a single operator to manage multiple vehicles remotely, helping to tackle skills gaps and reduce costs. 5G also enables the experiences that passengers expect, powering digital technologies and providing information in a highly personalised, real-time manner over a reliable connection – improving accessibility, increasing passenger numbers and boosting confidence across multi-modal journeys in the process.

Transport and Logistics organisations need certainty that the networks and connectivity they deploy will maintain a stable and secure connection at all times. If data is compromised or lost, supply chains can very quickly become disrupted and delayed. It’s particularly important to ringfence mission-critical data flows in environments such as public transport, where members of the public or other users will be accessing the network. Network slicing allows these organisations to effectively preserve the passenger experience without jeopardising the quality or safety of a digitally-enabled transport service and its workers.

5G allows organisations to create a universal, flexible network across physical locations, rather than assorted networks and inconsistency or patchy connectivity. This makes it easier to manage networks holistically and grant access to third-parties in the case of remote maintenance, training or security. Compared to existing solutions, 5G also makes it easier to share data across multiple sites and organisations. This supports seamless collaboration and innovation, helping to close the skills gap in logistics management, and level up the UK’s transport and logistics sector as a whole.

It’s true that not all of these benefits are instantly accessible, but as 5G matures and innovation continues we expect to see these open up to the Transport & Logistics sector.