Vodafone’s latest pilot project will test a private 5G mobile network at the Temelin nuclear power plant. This initiative marks the first deployment of a private 5G network within a European nuclear power plant.
The network, designed to operate independently from the public mobile network, ensures secure communication within the facility. In the pilot phase, Vodafone successfully connected the outdoor areas of the Temelin plant and selected zones of unit 1 with 5G.
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AR Implementation
The introduction of 5G technology at Temelin paves the way for advanced communication by connecting a more comprehensive array of devices, with a key innovation being the use of augmented reality (AR) glasses for video calls.
The AR glasses will allow technicians to view detailed plans during pipeline inspections, enabling them to follow instructions in real time or even practice the inspection process through virtual simulations, significantly improving efficiency.
Additionally, the new 5G network is expected to replace traditional radio communications and extend coverage to previously hard-to-reach areas of the site.
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A European Nuclear Power Plant First
Bohdan Zronek, head of the nuclear division at CEZ, the semi-state energy company that operates Temelin, stated, “We are proud to be the first nuclear power plant in Europe to test a private 5G network, while most other European operators are still focused on 4G technology. This achievement is significant on a global scale as well.”
Zronek also highlighted that South Korean firm, KHNP, recently chosen by the Czech government as the preferred supplier for new units at the Dukovany nuclear plant, has installed separate 5G networks at its nuclear facilities.
According to Violeta Luca, CEO of Vodafone Czech, the primary goal of this pilot is to ensure that the 5G mobile private network meets the rigorous security and operational standards necessary in a nuclear power plant environment.
Vodafone’s private 5G network at Temelin boasts impressive capabilities, including download speeds of up to one gigabit per second and ultra-low latency of just a few milliseconds. Notably, Vodafone previously implemented a similar network for Škoda Auto.
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