Vertical: Manufacturing
Application: Asset tracking, predictive maintenance, IoT integration, real-time quality control, collaborative robotics
Ecosystem: Ericsson, Orange Business
Private Network: 5G
Airbus has completed a private 5G network at its Hamburg facility and begun deployment at its Toulouse plant with Ericsson, advancing the aerospace manufacturer’s digital transformation. The Hamburg network is fully operational, while Toulouse deployment will complete by 2026.
The company addresses a common manufacturing challenge: connecting every person, machine, and vehicle across vast facilities. Operating private cellular systems since 2018, Airbus currently runs five production networks and plans eleven deployments globally, extending to sites in the UK, Spain, the US, Canada, and China.
The networks enable technicians to use augmented reality (AR) glasses across assembly lines without connectivity loss. Smart tools instantly transmit data to central systems, creating digital construction records. Collaborative robots can be redeployed quickly without physical data connections. The deployment features 5G Standalone technology and next-generation models that extend 5G usage to office environments.
“Our objective is to migrate all our industrial networks towards 5G to ensure unified, ultra-reliable connectivity from the operator’s workstation to the aircraft cabin,” said Hakim Achouri, 5G expert at Airbus. The company will replace Wi-Fi with 5G across all industrial areas within three to five years, recognizing cellular technology’s superior performance for aircraft interiors and multi-campus coverage.
Ericsson’s private 5G platform provides built-in infrastructure automation, significantly shortening implementation timelines. Close collaboration with Ericsson’s product team ensured seamless integration tailored to Airbus’s IT and cybersecurity requirements. The modular architecture and API-driven interfaces accelerate time-to-value while reinforcing security controls.
“Our collaboration with Airbus embodies the alliance between technological innovation and industrial excellence,” stated Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G at Ericsson. Both companies pursue joint R&D in connected aircraft cabins, 6G technology, and non-terrestrial networks (NTN) for aerospace and smart manufacturing applications.
The standardized architecture enables efficient replication across sites. Achouri noted that “the standardization and scalability made possible by this architecture allow us to replicate the solution easily across further sites in Europe and worldwide.” The networks support IoT device integration, intelligent equipment management, and real-time quality control. High-speed, low-latency connectivity enables true mobility for machines and operators, enhancing productivity while maintaining aerospace’s strict safety and security protocols.
