Vertical: Innovation Hub
Application: Smart logistics, digital assistance systems, networked sensor applications, application development and testing
Ecosystem: Nokia, O2 Business
Private Network: 5G
Operating Industriepark Höchst in Frankfurt requires reliable digital infrastructure to serve roughly 90 companies on the site. The industrial park’s operator recognized that modern connectivity needed to extend beyond traditional approaches and determined that a dedicated, private 5G network could address the site’s evolving requirements. In late 2024, Infraserv Höchst selected O2 Business as its technology partner to build this capability.
The resulting network will offer multi-tenant functionality, enabling individual companies at the site to operate isolated network slices rather than sharing a common infrastructure. Sascha Schieber, Head of Facilities Services at Infraserv Höchst, framed the objective this way: “We want to offer our customers the best possible infrastructure.” The deployment represents a shift from commodity connectivity toward an approach that allows each tenant to maintain network independence.
Data protection forms a primary motivation for the private network approach. Because traffic remains within each tenant’s own network slice, sensitive data from pharmaceutical or chemical operations never traverses shared infrastructure. Infraserv can customize service offerings to match the specific requirements of individual customers, rather than forcing organizations to adapt to standardized packages.
The multi-tenant architecture carries particular significance for Industriepark Höchst. Each company can configure its own network environment without considering the IP address space or operational dependencies of neighboring tenants. This level of isolation provides what stakeholders refer to as digital sovereignty—a capability absent in conventional shared networks.
Many companies at the site operate as part of critical infrastructure designated by German regulations. Pharmaceutical and chemical facilities face mandatory reliability requirements that extend beyond typical commercial thresholds. To meet these demands, Infraserv’s 5G network will connect to two geographically separate data centers, ensuring that core network functions continue operating even if a single data center fails.
When Infraserv presented its implementation roadmap at an onsite event in 2024, approximately 130 employees from tenant companies attended. The response indicated strong interest in 5G capabilities for industrial applications. The company plans to establish a 5G-ready zone on the site before the year’s end, functioning as a controlled environment where tenants can build and validate applications before broader deployment—similar to pilot facilities used within the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
The vendor selection process involved proposals from 15 organizations throughout 2024. Frank Schmidt-Küntzel, responsible for campus networks at O2 Business, described the winning approach as one that aligned with Industriepark Höchst’s ambitious requirements. Andreas Goeres, Head of IT Sales and Business Development at Infraserv, stated that “In the final expansion stage, our private 5G network will be built across the entire Industriepark Höchst so that all local companies can benefit from the technical capabilities of 5G.”
O2 Business designed the network using Nokia’s core platform, which allows antenna equipment from multiple suppliers to connect without creating vendor dependency. This technical approach delivers what the partners characterize as carrier-level performance – the same network sophistication expected from public mobile operators but operated as a private facility for site tenants.
