Betacom Unveils Private 5G Ecosystem to Accelerate Industry 4.0 Adoption with Private Wireless Networks

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Private wireless pioneer Betacom unveiled the Betacom Private 5G Ecosystem that brings together leading technology companies to accelerate Industry 4.0 initiatives powered by private 4G/5G wireless networks. Betacom and its partners, including Google Cloud, Intel, Ingram Micro Inc. and Qualcomm Technologies, are collaborating to design, validate and deploy solutions for a variety of enterprise applications – setting the stage for the next phase of economic and business evolution driven by connectivity, automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning and real-time data.

Private wireless networks are gaining momentum as the backbone for many industrial automation and IoT deployments especially in the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing/logistic sectors. The partner initiative will help to expedite solutions through open collaboration aimed at building an ecosystem of pre-tested Industrial IoT devices and applications, integrated with mobile edge compute, supported by established system integrators and powered by private 5G.

The ecosystem currently includes 15 leaders from across the technology spectrum – each with unique domain and industry expertise. Charter members include:

• Industrial IoT Solutions: ADB SAFEGATE Americas, Axis Communications, Evolon, Ingram Micro Inc., Qualcomm Technologies, Solis Energy, SVT Robotics, and Vecna Robotics
• Mobile Edge Compute: Google Cloud, Ingram Micro Inc., and Intel
• System Integrators: CDW, Ingram Micro Inc., and QuayChain
• 5GaaS Technology: Airspan, Druid Software, FibroLAN, Intel, and Qualcomm Technologies

The Betacom Private 5G Ecosystem will provide opportunities for joint technology development and validation, sales incentives, tools, training, and joint go-to-market initiatives. Partners also will have access to Betacom’s innovation showcases at MxD, the national Digital Manufacturing and Cybersecurity Institute based in Chicago, and at Teltech Group, a nationally recognized leader in logistics/supply chain services, asset management and technology solutions based in Dallas.

Betacom 5G as a Service (5GaaS), the industry’s first fully-managed, end-to-end private wireless service, gives U.S. enterprises access to their own cost-effective, high-performance and lightning-fast 4G/5G networks, with network management delivered from Betacom’s cloud-based Security and Service Operations Center (SSOC) built on Zero Trust design principles. The company has a long and successful history of building wireless infrastructure for mid-to-large enterprises and the expertise to meet the private wireless needs of the manufacturing, transportation and warehousing sectors.

Ecosystem Deployments Underway

At MxD, Betacom has deployed both 4G and 5G private networks, and is working with Google Cloud and Ingram Micro, Inc. to test and showcase automation and security technologies that will help to modernize U.S. manufacturing.

“5G is an enabling technology that will unlock potential for manufacturers to be more efficient and competitive – which is core to MxD’s mission,” said Berardino Baratta, CEO of MxD. “With Betacom testing, documenting best practices, and securing 4G and 5G networks on MxD’s factory floor, it will answer many questions for manufacturers looking to implement these technologies and offer exceptional options.”

Teltech is running Betacom 5GaaS to automate its warehousing operations. The company is deploying robots, drones and automated forklifts using equipment from ecosystem members that include Axis Communications, Evolon, and Qualcomm Technologies products. Betacom was able to design, install and integrate the network in a matter of weeks in partnership with Teltech.

According to Teltech Group CEO Lisa Hanlon, “Over the years, Teltech’s collaboration with partners has resulted in the development and deployment of many innovative solutions that positively impact our customers. This ecosystem of partner companies Betacom has assembled is exciting as we unlock the full potential that 5G technologies offer now and in the future.” 

“Building a partner ecosystem is exactly what’s needed to further accelerate the transition to Industry 4.0,” said Johan Bjorklund, CEO of Betacom. “This movement will enable businesses to tap into advanced solutions that can deliver high performance and low latency at the edge to support IIoT initiatives. This is really an unbeatable combination for our partners and their customers, especially those with aggressive plans in this space.”