By Oystein Bergmann, Correspondent Scandinavia
Ericsson’s Port of the Future demonstration was one of the key demonstrations at ArcelorMittal’s inauguration of its first Digital Lab in Dunkirk: a place to animate the digital ecosystem, designed to accelerate the digital transformation of the leader in the steel and mining industries.
Ericsson, one of the leaders in 5G mobile connectivity, is one of the major industrial players selected by ArcelorMittal for joint projects within its Digital Lab in Dunkirk, France. Ericsson’s teams, therefore, join an ecosystem that includes other industrial companies, start-ups, universities, and local digital players. Together, they aim to bring the best of digital innovation to the industry and accelerate the digital transformation of ArcelorMittal.
Participants to the inauguration ceremony were given a glimpse of the expected benefits of 5G, thanks to a demonstration by Ericsson on the port of the future in Dunkirk. In this animation in virtual reality, visitors can put themselves in the shoes of a port operator, connected to 5G. This demonstration shows how the connected port and more generally the logistics of the future are part of a sustainable development approach, which will benefit the efficiency of operations, the safety of people and the environmental impact.
During this ceremony, ArcelorMittal also formalized the creation of the 5G Steel consortium with Ericsson, represented by CEO France Franck Bouétard, and Orange Business Services, represented by Executive Vice President Smart Mobility Services, Valérie Cussac.
5G Steel, which is supported by the French government through France Relance, will deploy one of the first industrial 5G networks in France. This network will enable ArcelorMittal plants (starting with Dunkirk, then Mardyck in the North and Florange in Moselle) to deploy use cases requiring high-speed mobile connectivity: mobile maintenance, autonomous vehicles, etc.
The inauguration of the ArcelorMittal Digital Lab took place in the presence of Hervé Tourmente, sub-prefect of Dunkerque, Franck Dhersin, vice-president of the Hauts-de-France region and Patrice Vergriete, mayor of Dunkirk and president of the Dunkirk Urban Community, who supported the project and contributed to its realization.
