New Zealand’s Port Nelson has deployed a private 5G network in partnership with Auckland-based telco Spark and Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, in a bid to boost connectivity, safety, and productivity across its warehousing operations.
A key gateway to the South Island, Port Nelson underpins New Zealand’s economy, handling a diverse range of exports and imports. However, the high‑density block‑stacking storage used in these warehouses, and the complex design of the broader Port site, had created persistent Wi‑Fi dead spots and forced staff to change operating processes simply to maintain connectivity.
Covering some 30,000 square metres across three warehouses in Nelson and Blenheim, Spark’s 5G+ Private Network solution uses Ericsson Private 5G to provide a high-availability core at Port Nelson that connects to small cell radios to deliver reliable coverage inside the warehouses and across outdoor yard areas. The Port has also deployed Ericsson Cradlepoint ruggedised R1900 routers for forklift connectivity and tracking. The dual-SIM capability of the routers enables switching between Spark’s public and private 5G networks for when forklifts move outside the initial private 5G coverage areas.
In addition to immediate productivity, Ericsson’s NetCloud platform offers Port Nelson improved visibility into connectivity performance, allowing teams proactively identify and resolve issues.
A digital push‑to‑talk communications platform, enabled by Ericsson Private 5G, will play a key role in strengthening health and safety outcomes by improving real‑time communications and enabling location‑based alerts to help physically separate people from heavy mobile plant. Future applications include geofence intelligence and broadcast messaging.
“Port Nelson is a great example of how private 5G is unlocking new value for New Zealand businesses operating in complex, production‑critical environments,” said Greg Clark, Chief Customer Officer at Spark. “At Port Nelson, it’s enabling safer warehouse operations today while opening the door to automation, advanced IoT, and smarter ways of working across the entire Port in the future.”
