Vertical: Manufacturing
Application: AI-driven automation, robotics, real-time data processing, smart manufacturing,
Ecosystem: Terago, Ericsson,
Private Network: 5G
TERAGO and Ericsson have jointly deployed a private 5G network at the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI) in Hamilton, Ontario — marking a significant step for enterprise-grade 5G adoption in Canadian manufacturing and academic research. The network, built on licensed mmWave spectrum and Ericsson’s enterprise wireless platform, is designed to support advanced industrial use cases while giving manufacturers a real-world environment in which to evaluate and scale 5G applications.
A Partnership Built Over Time
Canada’s private 5G network ecosystem gained a notable addition in May 2026 when TERAGO Inc. and Ericsson announced the live deployment of a private 5G network at McMaster University’s Manufacturing Research Institute. The announcement builds on a partnership between TERAGO and McMaster that dates to 2021, when the two organizations first agreed to jointly deploy what was then described as the first university-based 5G millimeter wave private network for research in Canada.
At the time, the goal was clear: combine TERAGO’s mmWave spectrum holdings with McMaster’s engineering research capabilities to develop technologies for advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0. That original vision has now reached a live, operational stage with Ericsson joining as the network equipment provider.
What Has Been Deployed
The network at MMRI uses recently released Canadian industry spectrum and is built on Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions. It delivers dedicated, low-latency connectivity across the facility and is structured as a fully managed private network — meaning the MMRI has secure, predictable performance without sharing bandwidth with public users.
TERAGO holds 91% of available mmWave spectrum in Canada, with exclusive licenses in the 26 GHz and 38 GHz bands. This spectrum profile is central to the deployment’s ability to support demanding industrial IoT and automation workloads, where bandwidth density and low latency are prerequisites rather than optional features.
Use Cases on the Factory Floor
The MMRI deployment is intended to support a range of applications that reflect where manufacturing and private 5G intersect most directly. These include AI-driven automation, robotics coordination, real-time data processing, and broader smart manufacturing workflows. Because MMRI operates as both a research facility and a live manufacturing environment, it also functions as a testbed where companies can evaluate how these use cases perform before committing to wider deployment.
This dual role — research institution and industrial proving ground — is what distinguishes the McMaster deployment from a typical enterprise rollout. Organizations considering private 5G for manufacturing can observe applications running under real operating conditions, rather than in a controlled lab environment.
What the Vendors Are Saying
TERAGO CEO Daniel Vucinic described the deployment as creating a real-world environment for businesses to move from concept to application. “Private 5G is fundamentally changing how organizations approach connectivity, automation, and operational performance,” he said. “This deployment at MMRI creates a real-world environment where businesses can experience the full potential of Private 5G moving from concept to application with confidence. Together with Ericsson, we are enabling innovation at scale.”
Jason Falovo, Vice President of Ericsson Canada, framed the deployment in terms of what it means for Canadian manufacturers more broadly: “With Ericsson Private 5G, we’re bringing high-performance, reliable wireless connectivity directly onto the factory floor, giving Canadian manufacturers the secure, predictable connectivity they need for demanding industrial operations. Together with TERAGO and MMRI, we’re not just piloting new use cases, we’re building a national blueprint for how 5G can transform industrial productivity, safety, and innovation.”
The Academic Dimension
McMaster’s involvement adds a layer that purely commercial deployments typically lack. The university’s Faculty of Engineering brings together researchers across electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, transportation logistics, and advanced manufacturing — all of whom stand to benefit from access to a live 5G environment on campus.
When the original partnership was announced, John Preston, Associate Dean for Research, Innovation and External Relations at McMaster Engineering, noted the importance of seeing innovation through to real-world impact: “At McMaster University, seeing the innovation process all the way to the end user’s benefit is a core competency that we embrace, and this partnership perfectly embodies just that.”
For students, the practical dimension is equally significant. Exposure to operational private 5G infrastructure while still in academic programs helps address the skills gap that many enterprises face when attempting to hire for private network and Industry 4.0 roles.
Canada’s Private 5G Momentum
The MMRI deployment arrives as Canada’s private 5G manufacturing lab ecosystem continues to grow. Across the country, institutions and enterprises are seeking environments in which to validate 5G-enabled industrial applications before committing to full-scale rollout. The McMaster deployment — combining licensed spectrum, enterprise-grade infrastructure, and an active research community — offers a model for how academic-industry partnerships can serve that need.
A launch event is planned for June 2, 2026, at MMRI, giving industry leaders and potential customers a hands-on opportunity to see the network in operation and explore specific use cases in real time.
FAQs
Q: What makes this deployment significant for Canadian manufacturers?
A: The MMRI private 5G network gives manufacturers access to a live industrial environment where they can test and validate 5G applications — such as robotics, AI automation, and real-time data processing — before deploying at their own facilities. Because it uses production-grade infrastructure rather than a lab simulation, the results are more applicable to real-world decisions.
Q: Why is mmWave spectrum used, and what does it offer?
A: Millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum — in this case the 26 GHz and 38 GHz bands held by TERAGO — delivers very high bandwidth and low latency in a concentrated area. These characteristics make it well-suited for dense industrial environments where many devices need to exchange large amounts of data quickly, as is common in smart manufacturing scenarios involving robotics and real-time sensor data.
Q: How does the university partnership add value beyond a standard enterprise deployment?
A: McMaster’s research division contributes expertise across multiple engineering disciplines and provides a pipeline of researchers and students who can develop and refine applications on the network. This means the deployment functions as both an operational system and an ongoing innovation resource — with potential for new use cases to emerge from academic collaboration in addition to industry-driven projects.
