The private 5G network will support advanced tools like autonomous robots, artificial intelligence and digital imaging

Vodafone has deployed a 5G private network at a Bayer greenhouse in Monheim, Germany to improve its researchinsecticides. The network will support advanced tools like autonomous robots, artificial intelligence and digital imaging.

“Networked digital technologies will make crop production in research and agriculture more sustainable and efficient and increase harvest yields for the food supply,” said Alexander Saul, head of corporate customers at Vodafone Germany. “The basis for this is the 5G network with high bandwidths and extremely short response times to handle the amount of data generated transport and reliably maintain the flow of information.”

In addition to autonomous robots — which the companies said can obtain knowledge about plant health more quickly using artificial intelligence and digital imaging — the deployment involves a series of 5G antennas. The antennas with provide the greenhouse with a 5G Standalone connection, a service that Vodafone brands as 5G+.

Providing reliable and speedy connectivity in this particular venue is no easy task. The greenhouse covers 11,000 square meters and “consists of 133 chambers in which a wide variety of climatic conditions can be individually simulated, such as temperature and humidity, day length, temperature profiles and air filtration,” explained the companies.

While greenhouse data is already being collected, digitally processed and used for various research activities and forecast models, the new 5G network will allow Bayer to test additional Industry 4.0 and Agricultural 4.0 technologies and ultimately establish future applications.