5G Fully Connected Factory Implementation in WISCO Receives Recognition

5G Fully Connected Factory Implementation in WISCO Receives Recognition

ZTE Corp., a global provider of information and communication technology solutions, teamed with China Unicom in 2021 to implement a 5G fully connected factory for Wuhan Iron and Steel (WISCO). The project called for building a 5G network across the company’s industrial park with 85 base stations supporting applications in six distinct production areas. The applications leverage artificial intelligence, edge computing and big data to handle specific production scenarios such as running autonomous vehicles that move molten iron, high-risk operation monitoring, and intelligent iron water dispatching.

The implementation touches all aspects of production involving IT, OT and Communication Technology (CT) across the WISCO campus. The project aligns with a plan by China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) to promote the construction of 5G fully connected factories for 10,000 enterprises. It received the prestigious “Top 10 5G Private Network Practices” award at a recent 5G-focused event. Light Reading spoke with Liu Jia, Product Planning Director of ZTE RAN MKT Team, about the project and the award’s impact on 5G adoption.

Would you explain the significance of the 5G fully connected factory as exemplified by the collaboration between ZTE, WISCO and China Unicom? How does it help advance industrial adoption of 5G?

In this project, each party has a different role, and each role is critical to the success of the entire project. WISCO is a very open customer who is willing to try out new technologies and ideas, which was a great help for implementation. China Unicom Wuhan branch has been investing in the Infrastructure of WISCO and is very familiar with its network, which helped guarantee a successful implementation. Finally, ZTE delivers end-to-end solutions and products. Because ZTE has been serving WISCO for a long time, we were able to provide the most suitable solutions and achieve the best results.

Would you provide some details of the implementation? For instance, how much coverage does the 5G network provide for WISCO, and what are the applications it supports?

The construction of the 5G network can be divided into two parts. The first part involved delivering 5G coverage across the entire WISCO industrial park. At present, 85 5G base stations have been built on the campus, with a coverage rate of more than 99%. There are more than 2,000 connected terminals, and the daily average of 5G data traffic exceeds 6TB, making it the largest 5G network in China's steel industry.

The second part involved 5G private network construction in key operation areas. The network leverages 100 micro stations across the campus and supports 25 application scenarios in six categories, connecting the whole process of steel manufacturing. This includes intelligent logistics, production control and digital equipment. A company-level management and control center was built to oversee the entire process. Four operations and control centers were also built for specific production areas – iron refinery, steel refinery, CSP, and hot rolling – to create an “all-in-one” steel operation.

How is autonomous vehicle technology being used in this use case, and what role does 5G play in supporting this application? Would it be possible to run autonomous vehicles in this case without 5G?

5G connects a dispatch control system with driverless tank cars that transport molten iron. The autonomous tankers leverage 5G for real-time views of road conditions. Meanwhile, dispatchers in the control room also can view road conditions in real time while tracking the status and position of the tank cars.

The use of 5G technology has transformed the molten iron transport system, making it more efficient. It reduces temperature drops during transport, lowers energy consumption, and eliminates safety hazards for personnel. 5G makes a significant difference. If 4G were in use instead, the uplink and downlink rates of the network would be far lower than those of the 5G network. There would be a network time delay that would not meet the requirements of autonomous driving.

How does the WISCO 5G network support IT, OT and Communication Technology infrastructure, and why is that important?

WISCO exemplifies organizational prowess with dedicated IT, OT, and CT departments, helmed by seasoned professionals. Their expertise ensures operational excellence across these integral areas.

A specific site at WISCO houses critical infrastructure, including data centers and communication equipment rooms. This purpose-built facility boasts dedicated transmission networks, advanced cooling systems, and failsafe redundant power systems.

More than just a physical setup, this infrastructure represents a strategic investment, providing a robust platform for the smooth operation of WISCO's diverse systems. It serves as a technological backbone, driving the firm's stability and readiness for future growth.