Verizon Business brings bars to the Thames Freeport

The maritime industry and jobs at sea is one of the oldest persevering industries, and Singapore is the first country to extend public 5G standalone coverage to sea for maritime operations. 

In Singapore, the maritime industry stands as an important facet of the economy, and one that is notable worldwide. Just this year, Singapore ranked fifth globally by fleet value at approximately US$107 billion (around SG$137 billion) — an increase of US$21 billion (SG$27 billion) since 2024. The sector contributes around 7% of Singapore’s GDP, showcasing its importance.

A key factor behind this sustained growth is the government’s consistent efforts to future-proof the industry. One of the recent priorities of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has been to integrate advanced technologies, such as 5G, across the nation’s maritime infrastructure.

This ongoing project to achieve full 5G coverage across major fairways, anchorages, terminals, and boarding grounds promises to significantly boost connectivity, speed, and operational reliability. This means smoother communications between ships and ports, as well as better access to real-time data to support day-to-day port operations.

With five 5G base stations already operating and two more planned by the end of this year, Singapore is firmly positioned as a front-runner in maritime digitalisation.

It appears that this trend is catching on. Just last week, telecommunications companies, Verizon Business and Nokia, announced a strategic partnership with UK maritime logistics and manufacturing hub, the Thames Freeport. As part of the collaboration, Verizon will deliver 5G connectivity to the site, while Nokia will provide both the hardware and software infrastructure to support it.

Mirroring Singapore’s ambitions, this initiative will introduce multiple Verizon Private 5G Networks across industrial campuses in the Thames Freeport. The goal is to lay the technological groundwork for widespread digital transformation, thus enabling the integration of advanced tools like AI, edge computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into daily operations.

In practical terms, this could mean autonomous yard tractors and quay cranes, smarter routing for cargo movement, and near real-time condition monitoring to reduce losses and delays. With AI and edge computing, smart sensors can monitor emissions, air and water quality, and noise levels, apparently having the opportunity to improve operational efficiency and sustainability.

Nokia will support this rollout through its Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) and Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) platforms. Together, these systems will manage on-site data processing and secure industrial-grade connectivity, allowing operations to remain agile, responsive, and efficient.

As a designated free trade zone established to drive local economic growth, the Thames Freeport has already created 1,400 jobs, with a target of 5,000 by 2030. The integration of 5G is a strategic step toward meeting that goal.

As one of the world’s oldest and most enduring industries, the martime industry has clearly been able to adapt and innovate. The adoption of 5G in preparation to integrate other emerging technologies is the most obvious example of how the sector continues to modernise in response to the growing scale and complexity of global trade. By embracing digital infrastructure, ports and shipping operators are positioning themselves to meet rising demands for speed, efficiency, and interconnectivity in an increasingly networked world.