Smart factories are manufacturing plants and logistics systems in which processes are highly automated and self-organized thanks to digital networking.

Various production machines, plants, vehicles and industrial robots are networked via a powerful and reliable mobile phone network so that they can communicate continuously with each other. The new mobile phone standard 5G creates completely new possibilities for efficient and flexible production and logistics processes. This is particularly important in the manufacturing industry. Reliable connectivity and a high degree of flexibility in the production processes are of particular importance here. This is possible because 5G can transmit data in a thousandth of a second. Data acquisition and control of production is thus carried out in real time. Due to its high bandwidth, 5G can also transport and evaluate enormous amounts of data.

In addition, one million devices can be connected to each other within a square kilometer. In practice, it looks like this: Industrial robots work autonomously and in coordination with each other. Employees use mobile devices to monitor processes in real time and can detect and eliminate quality fluctuations in production at an early stage. This helps to ensure production quality and keep costs low. Various concepts are suitable for connecting a Smart Factory. For example, Telefónica Deutschland can set up independent campus networks for companies. For Mercedes-Benz Cars, Telefónica Deutschland has already set up its own 5G campus network for automobile production in Sindelfingen.