Milan, May 5, 2025 – The North-Central Adriatic Sea Port System Authority, the public body responsible for managing, coordinating, and promoting port operations and commercial and industrial activities in the Port of Ravenna—one of Italy’s most important ports—has awarded Fastweb+Vodafone, in collaboration with Lepida, the task of building a private 5G mobile network (MPN) covering the entire Port of Ravenna, along a canal approximately 15 kilometers long.
The infrastructure will ensure ultra-fast connectivity, low latency, and maximum data security, enabling the use of IoT and Edge Computing technologies and the deployment of applications for a more efficient and safer management of the many port activities. In 2024, Ravenna ranked first in Italy for the handling of dry bulk and general cargo.
Key applications include:
• Advanced video surveillance, vehicle tracking, and automatic license plate recognition at entry gates;
• Anti-collision systems for vehicles;
• Drone usage for cargo monitoring;
• Management of autonomous vehicles.
This infrastructure enables a new smart port model, improving logistics, safety, and environmental sustainability. The network can integrate with existing fiber infrastructure or operate via wireless links, allowing the installation of sensors and devices even in hard-to-reach areas, without interfering with daily operations.
From an environmental sustainability perspective, IoT solutions tied to MPNs for Smart Ports—like Ravenna, where over €10 million is being invested in digitalization and new technology implementation—make it possible to integrate renewable energy systems near the port (including solar and wind power), monitor fuel consumption of vehicles in real time, and collect environmental data such as salinity and pollution levels to support territorial protection policies. Another green perspective for port areas is the so-called cold ironing, which allows ships to be powered directly from the port’s electrical supply while docked.
More information about mobile private network solutions is available at this link:
https://grandiaziende.vodafone.it/grandi-aziende/mobile-private-network