How private 5G empowers smart operations in the oil and gas industry
Today's oil and gas companies face mounting pressure to improve operational efficiency, enhance safety, and meet environmental standards. Private 5G offers a purpose-built connectivity solution that enables smart operations across challenging industrial environments, supporting the digital transformation needed to maintain competitive advantage.
Vice President of Industry and Partnership – Energy, Ericsson
Vice President of Industry and Partnership – Energy, Ericsson
Vice President of Industry and Partnership – Energy, Ericsson
The connectivity challenge in smart operations
Today's oil and gas industry relies increasingly on digital technologies to enhance operational performance. In an environment where network failures can cost $1 million per day in production losses, conventional communication technologies often fall short, creating barriers to implementing smart operations initiatives.
The challenge extends beyond basic connectivity—successful smart operations require industrial-grade networks that deliver consistent performance across offshore rigs, remote drilling sites, and expansive processing facilities. Legacy systems simply can't provide the reliability, coverage, and security needed to support mission-critical applications in these environments.
How private 5G enables smart operations
Ericsson Private 5G offers a tailored connectivity solution designed specifically for the oil and gas industry's demanding operational environments. These dedicated networks deliver performance that meets the unique requirements of industrial settings where automation and digital transformation initiatives are transforming operations.
Key capabilities for smart operations:
- Enhanced coverage and reliability: Supports continuous operations across challenging terrain
- Superior uplink performance: Enables bandwidth-intensive applications essential for automation and remote operations in oil and gas
- Predictive maintenance support: Ensures consistent connectivity for sensor networks and analytics systems
- Smart gas station enablement: Provides secure, reliable connectivity for modernized retail operations
- Simplified deployment: Adapts to both new projects and existing infrastructure
Together, these capabilities establish private 5G as the foundation for smart operations in oil and gas, supporting advanced applications that were previously impossible to implement reliably.
Leveraging the power of private 5G in oil and gas
How private 5G empowers smarter operations
Read the paperReal-world smart operations applications
- Remote monitoring and control
Private 5G enables comprehensive monitoring systems that provide real-time visibility across distributed assets. This connectivity supports automation in oil and gas through remote control capabilities that keep personnel away from hazardous areas while maintaining operational oversight.
- Connected workforce solutions
Field personnel gain immediate access to critical data through connected mobile devices, enhancing both safety and productivity. Smart operations principles extend to workflow management, with digital tools that streamline inspections and maintenance activities while providing real-time safety monitoring.
- Predictive maintenance in oil and gas
Advanced sensor networks powered by our private 5G enable true predictive maintenance capabilities. By continuously analyzing equipment performance data, monitoring system can identify potential failures before they occur, reducing unplanned downtime and optimizing maintenance schedules to extend asset lifespans.
- Digital transformation in production
Private 5G supports comprehensive digital transformation in oil and gas by enabling technologies like digital twins and advanced analytics. These solutions provide unprecedented operational visibility and decision support, helping operators optimize production processes while improving safety and environmental performance.
The strategic value of smart operations
The oil and gas industry faces increasing pressure to improve efficiency, enhance safety, and meet sustainability targets. Smart operations powered by our private 5G network directly address these challenges by providing the connectivity foundation for automation, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision making.
Implementing smart operations represents a strategic investment rather than simply a technology upgrade. Organizations that recognize connectivity as a critical business asset gain a significant competitive advantage in operational performance, safety outcomes, and adaptive capacity.
The path to operational intelligence starts now
As digital transformation accelerates across the oil and gas industry, smart operations enabled by private 5G will become increasingly essential to competitive success. This technology foundation supports the automation, predictive capabilities, and real-time insights that define next-generation operations in the sector.
By investing in the connectivity infrastructure needed for smart operations today, oil and gas leaders position their organizations to operate more safely, efficiently, and sustainably in an increasingly complex business environment.
Read more:
Download our report: Unlocking smart operations: Key considerations for safety and efficiency in oil and gas