The port of Salerno in the digital age with a private 5G network

The port of Salerno is preparing to make a technological leap that could significantly affect the port's overall efficiency. At the heart of the Salerno Container Terminal, a private 5G Stand Alone network is in fact being deployed, built by Wind Tre on behalf of the Federico II University of Naples and the terminal itself. A choice that comes in line with the guidelines of the National Centre for Sustainable Mobility (Cnmost) and that looks to digitalisation as the backbone infrastructure to deal with the growing pressure of traffic and the complexity of operations.

The 5G Mobile Private Network - based on the band used in advanced industrial environments - will be the common service platform for a range of critical applications: from gate automation to vehicle recognition, from container flow management to the evolution of internal communications. Not a tactical superstructure, but a strategic investment, because it allows IoT systems, edge computing and operational security applications to work in synergy.

The first use case enabled by the network is Automated Container Handling. This is a system that fully digitalises the processes of entering and leaving the terminal, today still partly based on manual controls. 5G enables real-time, low-latency data transmission, making possible operations such as automatic vehicle recognition, immediate cargo verification, dynamic queue management and constant supervision of activities

No less important is the adoption of the new Push-to-Talk system on the 5G network. The tool aims to introduce more reliable communications, with guaranteed bandwidth and reduced response times. Instant voice and text communications, enabled by the private network, allow more reactive management in case of emergencies and more efficient coordination between operators and the control centre.

These functions are essential in contexts characterised by continuous handling, heavy vehicles and the need for continuous safety supervision. The possibility of also integrating data exchange and dedicated applications also opens up a new level of operational control.