In short: Private 5G is already operational in UK ports, rail corridors, and road networks — enabling digital twins, drone inspections, V2X communications, and real-time tracking. The global benefit is estimated at £280 billion, but almost all deployments target major national infrastructure. Regional operators are being left behind.
Key Takeaways
- Private 5G replaces fragmented legacy networks with a single managed infrastructure — reducing cost and complexity
- Real UK deployments exist today — Belfast Smart Port, Sunderland 5GIR, Greater Manchester, and the Elizabeth Line
- Regional operators need the same capability but can't access it through enterprise providers charging six-figure contracts
The State of UK Transport Connectivity
UK transport and logistics is under pressure from every direction. Post-Brexit customs complexity, rising fuel costs, shrinking margins, and a sector that remains one of the country's largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Technology can help. Real-time tracking, autonomous vehicles, drone inspections, digital twins, and predictive maintenance all have the potential to cut costs, improve safety, and reduce emissions. But they all depend on one thing: reliable, high-capacity connectivity.
Most transport operators don't have it.
What Private 5G Enables
Granular Tracking
Public mobile networks can tell you where a shipping container is. A private 5G network, with higher sensor density, can tell you what's inside it, what condition it's in, and whether it's been opened.
That level of visibility transforms operations. Instead of checking goods at arrival, you monitor them continuously. Damage, temperature excursions, and security breaches are flagged in real time.
Digital Twins
A digital twin is a real-time virtual model of a physical operation. With enough sensors and bandwidth, you can create a live simulation of an entire port, depot, or rail corridor.
This isn't theoretical. The Sunderland 5GIR programme is using private 5G to enable digital twin capabilities for port and road operations in the North East.
V2X Communications
Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication lets vehicles talk to each other and to infrastructure. Cyclist and pedestrian alerts, junction assistance, green light prioritisation for freight vehicles — all require consistent, low-latency connectivity.
The Greater Manchester Smart Decarbonisation Network uses 5G-connected traffic management to reduce congestion and carbon emissions through prioritised traffic flow.
Drone Inspections
Inspecting rail lines, bridges, port infrastructure, and warehouse roofs puts workers at height and at risk. 5G-connected drones can do the same job faster, safer, and with higher-resolution data capture.
Drones need real-time video links and reliable command-and-control connectivity. A private network provides both, without depending on patchy public mobile coverage.
Network Consolidation
Many transport operators run multiple overlapping networks — one for CCTV, one for access control, one for operational data, one for guest WiFi. Each has its own maintenance overhead, its own failure modes, and its own costs.
A private 5G network can replace them all. One managed network supporting multiple applications through network slicing — keeping mission-critical safety data separate from general traffic.
Real UK Deployments
Private 5G in transport isn't a future concept. It's happening now:
- Belfast 5GIR — Belfast's Smart Port programme uses private 5G for bulk freight automation and smart port operations
- Sunderland 5GIR — Port safety and road efficiency improvements using private 5G in the North East
- Greater Manchester — Smart Decarbonisation Network using 5G for congestion reduction and emissions monitoring
- Elizabeth Line — Boldyn Networks deployed 4G/5G across London's Elizabeth line tunnels, also hosting the Emergency Services Network
All deployments are documented by UKTIN.
The Numbers
The scale of opportunity is significant:
- UK imports and exports valued at approximately £48bn and £51bn respectively
- 873 billion passenger kilometres recorded in 2019
- Global 5G logistics benefit estimated at £280 billion
- Transport remains the UK's largest greenhouse gas emitting sector
Even marginal efficiency gains at this scale translate to substantial savings.
The Problem for Regional Operators
Here's the catch: almost all private 5G in transport has been deployed at major national infrastructure — Heathrow, Felixstowe, major rail lines. The providers behind these deployments sell enterprise solutions with enterprise pricing.
But the UK's transport network isn't just major ports and mainline rail. It's regional depots, distribution centres, smaller ports, bus operators, and local freight companies. These organisations need the same connectivity improvements but can't justify the same budgets.
This is the gap we're filling.
What an Affordable Transport Network Looks Like
A private 5G deployment for a regional transport operation doesn't need to match the complexity of a major port:
- Targeted coverage across your depot, yard, or corridor
- Network slicing to separate safety-critical applications from general connectivity
- Fully managed operation — we handle monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades
- Monthly pricing — not a multi-year capital project
We design, build, and operate the network. You get the connectivity to run real-time tracking, safety systems, and operational intelligence without the enterprise overhead.
If you operate a port, depot, fleet, or logistics operation, get in touch to explore what private 5G could do. You can also visit our transport and logistics sector page.