Siemens has worked with Qualcomm to deploy an indoor private 5G network in CBRS spectrum at Siemens headquarters in Chicago, with a view to test and develop solutions to automate building functions and services. The private 5G trial network is being used, initially to connect and manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at Siemens’ so-called Chicagoland site in Buffalo Grove, home to its Building Technologies unit.
Siemens Smart Infrastructure division is leading the partnership for the German firm. Qualcomm is supplying its Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System into the bargain, and supporting the proof via its Engineering Services Group, offering private 5G system integration (SI) services – focused on “everything from system design and obtaining an experimental CBRS licence to full integration of devices into cloud-based solutions”.
Siemens, with its own private 5G proposition for factory buildings in the works, is developing use cases to explore how “building automation can capitalise on the power of 5G”, citing higher data speed, latency, and capacity. The project at the Illinois site, home to about 2,500 Siemens staff, is also geared for development of “new [and] more intelligent smart devices in the future”, said a statement.
An ESG agenda around “energy efficiency”, as well as “reduced costs, increased security, and proactive maintenance”, is also outlined by the pair. Taiwan-based satellite and IoT solution provider Wistron NeWeb Corporation (WNC) has been engaged to produce 5G devices for the experiment.
Sebastiano Di Filippo, senior director of business development at Qualcomm, said: “Our teams worked closely to prove [this] automated building use case. Qualcomm’s platforms have the power to unlock huge potential across multiple sectors, driving the connected intelligent edge – where billions of smart connected devices can be deployed and impact a multitude of industries.”
Ivan Todorov, head of engineering at Siemens Smart Infrastructure in the US, said: “Joining Qualcomm’s capabilities with Siemens’ domain experience creates a unique skillset that enables creation of a very innovative offering. 5G [is] a key enabler that will bring to life an ecosystem of edge devices and services to help us meet some of the most pressing customer needs around energy efficiency, cybersecurity, and decarbonization.”
Repus Hsiung, vice president and general manager of automotive industrial solutions at WNC, said: “5G enables endless possibilities and creates new industrial paradigms. [Our X55-based router] unlocks a wide variety of innovative use cases. We are proud to be collaborating with Siemens on [this] 5G smart building automation solution.”
