Industry 4.0 will revolutionise how manufacturing sectors organise their workforces and businesses, as well as provide Europe with an opportunity to re-establish itself as a dominant force in global industry.
5G and gigabit connectivity – combined with new digital applications – are the key drivers that enable Industry 4.0, but a step change in the amount of private investment will be vital if Europe is to be successful.
To deliver on its Industry 4.0 ambitions, Europe must:
- Urgently prioritise the roll out of 5G and gigabit infrastructure
- Roll out 5G connectivity and 5G-enabled solutions across all member states so that businesses of all sizes – the largest and SMEs alike – are able to access high speed, next-generation networks
- Boost private investment in 5G and telecoms to continue the momentum of the Recovery and Resilience Facility by reviewing the incentives for investment, market structure and regulatory barriers.
Vodafone is already the backbone of Europe’s fourth industrial revolution: operating Europe’s largest 5G network, and lifting productivity in factories and workplaces around the continent, as well as being one of the world’s largest Internet of Things providers.