Hutchison Ports (UK) has said it has completed a UK-first in port communications. The Chinese-owned worldwide operators say it has rolled out its single private 5G network across the Port of Felixstowe and Harwich International Port. Described as one of the largest private 5G deployments in the UK, the network enables fast, secure, and reliable communications to support both conventional and autonomous port operations.
The deployment is the latest in a string of technology-led improvements by Hutchison, as the operator pursues greater automation, remote-control capability, and smart system integration at its UK terminal. The closed-loop nature of a private network also offers a significant step forward in digital security and operational resilience. The installation marks a major milestone in automation and digital transformation, say the operators.
Securing future operations
According to Hutchison, the 5G installation brings a tangible performance boost over legacy systems, offering significantly greater bandwidth and ultra-low latency. For the ports, that translates to improved efficiency and the capacity to operate multiple data-intensive systems, such as remote-controlled cranes, automated guided vehicles, and smart yard management platforms, simultaneously and without degradation in service.
Being a private network, the 5G system at Felixstowe and Harwich provides dedicated bandwidth and secure data pathways, isolated from public mobile networks. That means improved control, better protection against interference, and assured performance for mission-critical systems. That’s critical in a high-volume, high-security environment like Felixstowe, which remains Britain’s busiest container terminal, and also, as reported by our sister service RailFreight.com, Britain’s busiest rail freight terminal.
Consortium delivery
The 5G rollout was delivered by a consortium led by the Port of Felixstowe and including telecoms provider Three UK, IoT specialist Blue Mesh Solutions, and the University of Cambridge. The project secured grant support through the UK government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), under its 5G Testbeds and Trials programme.
The aim of the project is to prove 5G’s suitability in a complex and dynamic environment. Port operations, with their fast-moving equipment, vast throughput, and layered communications needs, present one of the more demanding scenarios for mobile network performance. The successful installation underlines 5G’s viability in frontline logistics.
Corporate support
Automation and digitalisation partners have welcomed the move. Westwell, which has been working with Hutchison on deploying AI and autonomous systems across its terminals, said “[this is] a great step forward in port automation and digital transformation”.
Internally, the project has also received praise from senior figures at Hutchison Ports UK. “Excellent efforts by the team to deliver this and enabling further transformation,” said Stuart Hawtin, Chief Information Officer.
Ports evolve for a digital future
The Port of Felixstowe’s operating company, the Felixstowe Dock and Railway Company, has been a statutory port authority since 1875, when it was established by an Act of Parliament as the Felixstowe Railway and Pier Company. Just across the estuary, Harwich International Port has developed into a key hub for UK-European trade, especially for unaccompanied freight and ro-ro traffic.
Today, both ports are advancing their operations with the deployment of a unified private 5G network. This infrastructure sets the stage for wider use of automation, remote control systems, and data-driven logistics across the complex. Hutchison Ports UK operates the Felixstowe-Harwich complex as part of its national portfolio, which also includes London Thamesport on the River Medway in Kent.