Nokia and Liberty Global Join Forces to Develop New Maritime Use Cases at Port of Antwerp
Nokia and Liberty Global have announced a strategic partnership to harness the power of Network-as-a-Service (NAAS) technology in order to explore innovative maritime applications at the Port of Antwerp. This exciting collaboration, which was highlighted at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, includes a successful trial that used high-definition video streams to assist captains in navigating busy shipping areas remotely.
Telenet, Liberty Global’s Belgian subsidiary, is utilizing Nokia’s Network as Code platform with a developer portal to drive operational efficiency and services at the Port of Antwerp, a major global port. Developers can take advantage of the platform’s APIs and SDKs to create custom applications tailored to various use cases, which they can then market to their customers.
In a recent trial, Liberty Global, through Telenet’s 5G standalone network with slicing capabilities, demonstrated how these cutting-edge technologies could enhance the safety and efficiency of vessel operations. By providing real-time data via ultra-low latency network capabilities and zero-touch automation, in collaboration with Seafar NV and imec, Belgian entities, the trial proved that vessels can navigate more safely and efficiently.
The trial also explored the use of dynamic geofences with high-definition cameras and sensors on board vessels, with the aim of integrating AI and machine learning algorithms in the future. This technology ensures that as vessels enter areas requiring increased situational awareness, network capacity is automatically allocated to maintain high-quality live video feeds. This breakthrough innovation allows for safer maneuvering of vessels, improved operational efficiency, and reduced fuel consumption.
This partnership exemplifies a practical application of the GSMA’s Open Gateway initiative, which aims to standardize APIs for developers to foster innovation. Additionally, it leverages NAAS technology to create an ecosystem with standard CAMARA APIs on imec’s applications, ensuring efficient and reliable network resource usage without the need for costly mobile communication infrastructure.
Nokia and Liberty Global are committed to expanding this collaboration, harnessing advanced technologies to drive digitalization in the maritime and other industries. This initiative is set to unlock significant market opportunities and foster the development of additional use cases beyond shipping, utilizing the convergence of 5G, cloud, and edge computing technologies.
Analyst comment
Positive news: Nokia and Liberty Global’s partnership to develop maritime use cases at the Port of Antwerp is a significant step towards harnessing advanced technologies in the maritime industry. This collaboration will improve safety, efficiency, and operational effectiveness, potentially leading to market growth and development of further use cases.
