Private 5G networks are entering factories, ports, and beyond. A boom is on the horizon.

• Campus networks operate entirely locally, ensuring complete control over data and the stability of critical processes. According to Karina Krawiec, Product Owner at T-Mobile Polska, this is the future for industrial and IoT applications.
• As the WNP interviewee explains, campus networks enable the implementation of technologies such as autonomous forklifts in warehouses or inspection drones in ports.
• According to Karina Krawiec, Polish factories built from scratch in recent years can immediately use the latest 5G solutions and process automation.
• The conversation is part of a series of interviews that will serve as the basis for the report "Digital Transformation of Industry", prepared by WNP Economic Trends in connection with the New Industry Forum (Katowice, October 14-15, 2025).

We're hearing more and more about campus networks, especially in the context of Industry 4.0. What does this concept mean in practice?

"Campus networks have become a broad term for the implementation of private mobile connectivity, primarily 5G, but also 4G, within a specific area, such as a factory. This network is extremely secure, has very high throughput parameters, and minimal latency, ensuring adequate communication quality for devices. Therefore, it provides an ideal foundation for corporate digitization processes. 5G technology in the C-band deserves particular attention.

Importantly, the private campus network is isolated from the outside world. In the most advanced version of the solution, the client can have its own core and radio network, as well as unique SIM cards. This guarantees that no outsiders have access and data does not leave the client's controlled area. In other variants, it is possible to allocate resources from the public network, building infrastructure dedicated to a given client, or to create a "tunnel" for just one client.

If communication with the outside world is necessary, this option exists. Data can be safely transmitted to the cloud or corporate network through firewalls. However, it should be noted that this compromises security. Therefore, such a decision must be carefully considered.

Campus networks are primarily associated with industry, but do their applications extend even further? In what environments do they perform best?

Primarily in industry, warehouses, shipping, and ports—wherever support for IoT (Internet of Things - editor's note), automation, and robotics is needed. They are also useful in the public sector, for example, in hospitals for transferring large files or files with sensitive patient data, conducting surgeries, or in cities for resource and energy management, smart lighting, parking lots, air quality and water meters, etc.

Campus networks are used by scientific and research communities. Universities are building laboratories where they test robots and automation systems requiring high-bandwidth, lag-free network access. Therefore, this solution is primarily for organizations focused on business continuity and pursuing automation.

The campus network also copes well at heights. It will help with crane operation.

Where have such solutions already been implemented? What examples best demonstrate their potential?

"Examples abound. Let's start with industry. In a manufacturing company, production efficiency can be increased without adding new stations or expanding existing infrastructure. How can this be achieved? By reducing downtime and introducing industrial robots and autonomous vehicles. However, ensuring secure and uninterrupted communication between these devices in real time is crucial. For example, a warehouse where autonomous forklifts operate transporting parcels. These can be operated by humans, but are also monitored by intelligent cameras that detect undesirable events and immediately respond, for example, by stopping the process."

Another example is a cargo terminal. Cranes operate at high altitudes, where Wi-Fi signals can be unreliable and cause downtime, threatening business continuity. A campus network provides 100% coverage and can also cope with high altitudes. It is also a much more secure solution than a public network, which lacks full control and can experience interruptions. For critical processes, connecting to the public network would be too risky.

VR/AR cameras are used to conduct employee training. Instead of using equipment that must be constantly running, employees learn to operate it in virtual reality. This is done over the campus network to ensure lag-free operation and a truly immersive experience.

At Deutsche Telekom, of which T-Mobile Polska is a part, we have extensive experience with commercial implementations in Europe, stemming from the earlier availability of C-band spectrum, which we can successfully transfer to our domestic market. Recent projects in European ports are a prime example: a digital and automated container terminal was created in Rijeka. The 5G campus network was used to control cranes and port machinery. Another example is the Port of Hamburg, where the campus network provides the basis for drone operations assessing the technical condition of port infrastructure and creating 3D terrain models for route planning and infrastructure changes.

How do you ensure campus network cybersecurity? What challenges do administrators face?

In recent years, due to economic and geopolitical changes, awareness of the need to secure networks has significantly increased. Threats of cyberattacks and unauthorized access come from many different directions. We have numerous solutions that help companies protect themselves against attacks and their effects, and in strategic projects, block communication with the outside world, so that all processes and information exchange can take place internally.

In campus networks, security is fundamental . It's built into their very design. In practice, external attacks are very difficult . Administrators face fewer challenges compared to managing other, more traditional transmission networks.

Additional security measures are needed mainly when the campus network connects to the internet, cloud, or corporate network – in which case, for example, firewalls are used.

What competencies are needed in IT or management teams to effectively manage and develop a campus network?

- On the client side, there's virtually no need to expand network competencies or IT teams. As the operator, we support the client with expert knowledge. We are responsible for the entire process: solution selection, design, implementation, and then maintenance.

If the company uses a campus network, can it be connected from outside?

A campus network operates within a specific area, such as a factory. Employees use it at work, but not at home. This doesn't rule out remote work, but additional solutions are required—the company can also use its corporate network via a VPN. External access is possible through firewall protection, as discussed earlier.

It's worth noting that a campus network isn't a one-size-fits-all solution . Its primary purpose is to ensure communication between devices, for example, to ensure the continuity and efficiency of production or business processes.

Campus networks will work regardless of the size of the company

Will campus networks only work in large industrial centers, or also in smaller companies and local governments?

"It can be used by both large enterprises and SMEs and the public sector. The advantage of small and medium-sized businesses is flexibility and quick decision-making, and this is crucial in business, especially in today's rapidly changing business environment. Small and medium-sized enterprises rely primarily on their own capital, and although digitalization projects require capital expenditure, as an operator, we are able to meet this need by offering technology on a subscription basis. This means that the customer pays a monthly subscription fee (OPEX) instead of a large, one-time capital outlay (CAPEX). This allows them to grow their business and repay the investment over time."

Large enterprises, on the other hand, have financial resources but have longer decision-making processes. We also design solutions for them – whether subscription-based or investment-based – that enable them to transition to newer technologies.

In local governments, interest primarily revolves around smart city management: energy, waste, lighting, air quality, and water levels. All of these elements can operate based on a campus network. Similarly, hospitals are public institutions that prioritize data protection and increasingly automate processes.

Campus networks are suitable for any size of enterprise. The technology is flexible and scalable.

In Poland, 5G frequencies were unlocked relatively recently. Do you expect a boom in campus networks?

Yes, our market is ripe for this. It's worth looking at the experiences of countries that have used this technology before – implementations in industry, logistics, and other sectors are already underway there. I'll focus on industry. Although we have fewer factories than other European countries, our advantage is that the newly constructed facilities are very modern and utilize new technologies, focusing on automation and robotics, collecting data, and making decisions based on it. They are being built without technological debt.

Due to the dynamics of market changes, flexibility is also important in industry, understood as the ability to switch production within a few weeks, not years, and energy efficiency.

In my opinion, the ongoing automation processes and the need to ensure their security, meet stringent environmental and energy requirements, and be able to respond quickly to changing market needs will naturally necessitate the implementation of campus networks that will help address these challenges.

The exchange of experiences will help develop the entire sector

Are any further actions needed from the state – apart from ending the 5G auction – to help this sector develop?

"Collaboration between operators and customers, technology providers, research institutions, and universities is crucial. Many Polish universities are building their own 5G networks to conduct research, develop robots, and test solutions requiring real-time connectivity. This significantly supports the development of the entire sector. Knowledge exchange between business and technology is also crucial to properly address these needs."

What are the cost differences between building a campus network and traditional solutions, such as fiber optics?

"It's impossible to provide a universal price list. Campus network technology is scalable and flexible, allowing it to be tailored to the client's specific needs. We always design a custom solution. Sometimes it's more expensive, sometimes cheaper than other transmission networks. Each technology addresses different requirements and performs well in different scenarios."

Can these types of private networks help provide connectivity in places where commercial operators haven't yet reached? I'm referring to the so-called "white spots."

"Yes, absolutely. And they can also operate in a portable model. A good example is a ski competition in the Krkonoše Mountains in the Czech Republic – in a place with no public network coverage, a drone provided coverage, broadcasting a signal along the route. This allowed the event to be tracked and broadcast in real time."

Temporary campus networks can also be set up in locations without infrastructure , such as at festivals. They operate for a few days.

Two years ago, T-Mobile launched the European Digital Innovation Hub project with the Krakow Technology Park as part of the hub4industry consortium. Could you summarize this initiative?

The aim of this project is to support Polish enterprises in increasing their market competitiveness through the implementation of modern technologies and solutions. Hub4industry clients receive comprehensive Industry 4.0 consulting, from concept to implementation. They have the opportunity to see firsthand the technologies adopted by leading domestic and international companies, and participate in training and workshops preparing them for planning and implementing sustainable change.

The program is aimed at all businesses, especially manufacturing ones. In one of the showrooms, customers can see examples of production stations, such as sorters, autonomous storage vehicles, and autonomous welding, operating on a 5G campus network. They can also see firsthand how "small a footprint" this technology takes up, yet has enormous potential: the entire network infrastructure is literally "enclosed" in a single rack cabinet with several network devices.