BTP innovates by completing the first 5G private network project in the port sector in Latin America

Brasil Terminal Portuário (BTP), the largest container terminal in South America, has been a leader in digital innovation for the past ten years, ever since it began operations on the right bank of the Port of Santos. The latest indicator of BTP’s commitment to innovation is the completion of the first 5G private network project in the port sector in Latin America.

For Ricardo Trotti, BTP’s Director of Operations, pioneering the implementation of the 5G network is a significant milestone for the company and enhances the Port of Santos’ global standing.

To fully grasp the importance of this successful 5G network deployment for the entire port sector, it’s essential to understand that containers pose natural barriers to Wi-Fi signal propagation. BTP’s terminal spans approximately 430,000 square meters, equivalent to three times the size of Maracanã Stadium.

Since the 5G implementation, BTP has been operating 100% of its port equipment, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, using this cutting-edge, interference-free technology.

In addition to the efficiency of 5G in covering the entire container terminal area, BTP has also recorded gains in network capacity, which has increased from 30MB to 1GB, and in the speed of information exchange between its equipment, with latency dropping from a variable 2,000 milliseconds to a stable 15 milliseconds.

Digital Maturity – BTP’s IT and Information Security Manager, Fabiana Morgante de Alencar, explains that 5G is not just a new generation of mobile networks but a crucial component in the company’s journey towards digital maturity.

“The technology not only meets the port’s growing demands but also strengthens the workforce by integrating employees into the digital environment efficiently and securely. This holistic approach ensures that as we advance technologically, human development and worker safety remain equally prioritized,” she explains.

In the long term, the company expects that 5G will also enhance safety for employees working at the container terminal and improve sustainability by reducing energy consumption and maintenance needs. The number of antennas, for instance, has been reduced from 54 to just eight.

BTP’s 5G private network project, developed in partnership with TIM and Nokia, took three years from conception to implementation and involved around 20 professionals from the container terminal.

Timeline of the First 5G Private Network in the Latin American Port Sector

October 2022: Proof of Concept (PoC) was conducted, and the partnership between BTP, TIM, and Nokia was formalized for full implementation.

March 2023: 5G-enabled equipment, unprecedented in the Brazilian port sector, arrives at BTP.

July 2023: Installation process completed and the 5G network officially goes live at BTP.

April 2024: BTP receives the definitive license from Anatel, establishing itself as the first container terminal with a private 5G network.

Source: Santa Portal

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