Durrant Pate/ Contributor
Technology company Nokia has won a multimillion-dollar contract from Jamaican port operator, Kingston Freeport Terminal Limited (KFTL).

Nokia has been contracted to deploy a private wireless network at KFTL, which will be the first deployment of its private wireless network at a container terminal in the Caribbean. Nokia has disclosed that the network will be installed and deployed by its channel partner, EGC International.

KFTL has previously adopted technologies including Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), end-to-end wireless private network and industrial digitalisation platform, MXIE. This private network is expected to support the port operator meet the demands of modern logistics, improve safety measures, and strengthen overall productivity.

A number of use cases have been touted by Nokia, including critical communications support for the Terminal Operation System (TOS) and other operational systems and applications.

Contract deliverables

There will be connectivity for more than 100 Vehicle Mounted Terminals (VMTs), cranes and trucks, in addition to the deployment of more than 100 tablets and 260 push-to-talk over LTE devices for staff. Up to 1,300 devices will be connected in the near future, while remote operations and real-time monitoring of terminal equipment will be enabled.

It’s not clear if the network is based on LTE or 5G, although KFTL Chief Operating Officer Carlos Cabrera explains that both technologies are a “key component of KFTL’s strategy to drive end point productivity and security”.

Director of Nokia Enterprise for Latin America, Marcelo Entreconti remarked, “We are very pleased to collaborate with KFTL to increase its regional competitiveness.

“Nokia solutions are key enablers for terminal productivity, efficiency and safety, and security operational improvements. As the first private wireless network project in a Caribbean port, this deployment will benefit KFTL’s digitalisation journey.”

In total, Nokia has deployed mission-critical networks to more than 2,600 leading enterprise customers in multiple industries. Nokia, which is based in Finland, boasts more than 635 private wireless customers worldwide, spanning a variety of sectors.

Some of these projects include a private 5G network deal with Paris’ metro network, a private LTE contract with The Ocean Cleanup project, plus a private LTE network partnership with  Speedcast for a Brazilian energy provider.