Airbus partners with Ericsson to accelerate 5G rollout at factories

Airbus and Ericsson have completed the deployment of a private 5G network at the Airbus plant in Hamburg, with work progressing on a similar rollout at the Toulouse facility.

These deployments are part of Airbus's wider digitalisation strategy, focused on enhancing manufacturing automation, improving traceability, and increasing operational efficiency in line with strict aerospace safety and security standards.

Rollout across sites

The current projects in Hamburg and Toulouse are intended as initial phases of a broader expansion that will see Ericsson Private 5G networks implemented at further Airbus sites in the United Kingdom, United States, Spain, and other locations. According to Airbus, these efforts support its move to standardise digital operations and introduce scalable innovation across its global manufacturing footprint.

The Ericsson Private 5G solution was chosen for its security, performance, and reliability, and features automated infrastructure that shortens implementation times compared to traditional network setups. The modular design and API-driven interfaces also enable streamlined integration with Airbus's IT and cybersecurity frameworks.

Close alignment with Ericsson's product team enabled Airbus to adapt the private 5G connections for its specific requirements in industrial environments. Rapid, automated deployment of the technology has allowed the company to scale advanced connectivity to multiple locations more efficiently and securely.

Industrial benefits

This new digital backbone will enable applications such as real-time quality control, collaborative robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) integration, and intelligent management of equipment, as well as support increased production floor mobility for operators and machines.

Hakim Achouri, 5G Expert at Airbus, described the long-term goal:

Our objective is to migrate all our industrial networks towards 5G to ensure unified, ultra-reliable connectivity from the operator's workstation to the aircraft cabin. This deployment accelerates projects involving 3D simulation, augmented reality, improved traceability for parts, and predictive maintenance for our assets. The standardisation and scalability made possible by this architecture allow us to replicate the solution easily across further sites in Europe and worldwide.

Ericsson highlights that its private 5G solution forms the backbone for strategic transformation at Airbus, unlocking values such as process agility and comprehensive industrial control. These features are central to the adoption of Industry 4.0 principles within aerospace manufacturing.

Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G, Enterprise Wireless Solutions at Ericsson, commented on the collaboration:

Our collaboration with Airbus embodies the alliance between technological innovation and industrial excellence. Ericsson is proud to support Airbus' digitalisation ambitions through Ericsson Private 5G, offering best-in-class, secure connectivity at scale.

Broader ambitions

The Toulouse rollout is scheduled for completion in 2026, after which similar deployments are planned for additional locations within Airbus's manufacturing network. These facilities are expected to adopt the same network architecture, which supports projects involving 3D modelling, asset maintenance, and augmented reality applications.

Ericsson's private 5G networks also enable the use of advanced 5G Standalone (SA) technology and flexible deployment models. These capabilities are set to accelerate 5G adoption in both factory and office settings within Airbus.

The collaboration further involves research and development programmes focused on future connectivity technologies, such as connected cabins, nonterrestrial networks (NTN), and emerging standards like 6G, extending beyond traditional manufacturing use cases to support wider smart manufacturing and aerospace connectivity ecosystems.

Both companies view this partnership as a platform for accelerating digital transformation within aerospace, and a step towards establishing a network of fully connected, scalable, and adaptable smart factories at Airbus sites across Europe and beyond.