Vodafone deploys 5G MPN at nuclear power plant in European first

Vodafone has launched a 5G mobile private network (MPN) at Temelín Nuclear Power Plant in Czechia – the first of its kind in Europe – for the power generation conglomerate ČEZ Group.

As part of a pilot phase, Vodafone’s 5G MPN covers the power plant’s outdoor space, as well as selected areas of a production unit. The new 5G connectivity will enable a transition away from walkie-talkie communications in the plant, and pave the way for augmented reality glasses to support the work of technicians.

Violeta Luca, CEO of Vodafone Czechia said: “By being entirely independent from the public network, our private 5G solution ensures that all user data and infrastructure are securely managed within the power plant's own systems, which is vital for maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability. This technology is a key enabler in advancing the secure digitalisation of such critical infrastructure.”

The 5G MPN improves connectivity for workers in hard-to-reach areas of the site. Credit: ČEZ

Bohdan Zronek, Member of the Board of Directors and Director of the Nuclear Division of ČEZ said: “A selected part of the nuclear power plant's communication network, as an element of critical infrastructure, must be completely separated from the external network. That is why we always maintain an alternative in the event of an outage, and the management system of course remains completely separate from the outside world. We are the first nuclear power plant in Europe to actually test a private 5G network, while other European operators work mostly with 4G.”

The results of the pilot project, and subsequent evaluation conducted by ČEZ, will inform the deployments of 5G MPNs at further sites.

5G MPNs gain momentum

Vodafone’s 5G MPN deployment at Temelín follows a project with Škoda Auto at one of the country’s largest car production plants, launched in 2022. The network’s ultra-fast speeds – reaching up to 1 Gbps – and low latency facilitates automated car parking, as well as better communication between Škoda’s robots, machines and sensors.

Across Europe, Vodafone has also launched MPNs in Germany with chemicals company BASF, in Italy with energy company SNAM, and in Ireland for the national rugby team.