Verizon Business and Cummins Inc. announced an agreement to implement Verizon?s all-new Neutral Host Network product at Cummins? Jamestown Engine Plant (JEP) in Lakewood, NY. The deal combines a Neutral Host Network with a Verizon Private 5G Network to cover distinct public-network and private-network use cases onsite at JEP.

Cummins views the network?s technological capabilities as integral to enhancing operations across the site and improving the already best-in-class quality of the engines it produces for its customers. Cummins can use the Neutral Host Network for connecting phones and tablets to the public networks of all major U.S. carriers who opt-in to joining the Neutral Host Network, and the Private 5G Network on Verizon licensed spectrum for business-critical applications that require enhanced onsite security or capability. The combined network implementation will provide mobile connectivity for the site?s 1 million square feet of industrial space, 1 million square feet of outdoor space, and for its 1,500 employees who work at the site to produce approximately 500 heavy-duty truck engines each day.

Ericsson is the sole platform provider to Verizon Business for the network buildout. The Verizon Neutral Host Network allows employees and visitors to enjoy a strengthened mobile signal on the grounds of the plant, and the Verizon Private 5G Network will help transform the facility to adopt additional industrial use cases now or as needed in the future. These uses include autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) for handling and transporting materials, computer vision for defect detection, AR/VR for training and troubleshooting, sensors for machine health monitoring, and proprietary applications governing secure onsite operations.

Cellular connectivity on Private 5G can help improve the performance of mobile AMRs by providing consistent signal strength throughout the site. In addition, the use of machine-health monitoring sensors with the Private 5G network eliminates the need for long runs of Ethernet infrastructure cabling, providing Cummins a substantial cost savings.