Deutsche Telekom and Ericsson deployed a private 5G campus network at HHLA’s Container Terminal Altenwerder in the Port of Hamburg, creating dedicated wireless infrastructure for automated logistics and real-time terminal operations. The network covers approximately one square kilometer (0.39 square miles) and connects vehicles, sensors, mobile devices, and operational IT systems across the terminal.
The deployment uses Ericsson Private 5G technology to maintain stable communications under heavy network loads and support future expansion. HHLA plans to use the infrastructure for critical logistics processes, autonomous equipment, real-time applications, and testing new port technologies under operational conditions. The private architecture gives the terminal a controlled wireless environment designed around industrial availability and performance requirements.
The deployment forms part of PROCON-5G, a project supported through Germany’s Digital Test Fields in Ports funding program. The German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport established the program to help seaports and inland ports develop and validate digital infrastructure and operational technologies. TÜV Rheinland serves as the program’s project management agency.
• Network coverage: Approximately 1 square kilometer (0.39 square miles)
• Terminal operator: Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG
• Network provider: Deutsche Telekom
• Technology supplier: Ericsson Private 5G
• Connected systems: Vehicles, sensors, mobile devices, and operational IT platforms
• Target applications: Automated logistics, autonomous equipment, real-time communications, and technology testing
• Funding framework: PROCON-5G under Germany’s Digital Test Fields in Ports program
“This solution demonstrates how advanced mobile communications technology can make complex processes more efficient, transparent, and flexible,” said Klaus Werner, Managing Director Business Customers at Telekom Deutschland.
🌐 Analysis: The Hamburg deployment illustrates how private 5G networks can provide a deterministic wireless layer for industrial sites where Wi-Fi coverage, mobility, and traffic prioritization may not meet every operational requirement. Ports represent a strong private-network use case because automated vehicles, cranes, sensors, cameras, and control systems operate across large outdoor areas and require controlled connectivity as terminals introduce more autonomous processes.
