Comment: How enhanced connectivity is revolutionising rural manufacturing

Over the past decade, the digital landscape has rapidly evolved, reshaping industries and economies worldwide. While urban areas have seen the benefits from this digitisation, rural regions, particularly in the manufacturing sector have often been overlooked. However, the potential in these areas is immense. Improved connectivity can revolutionise rural manufacturing by enhancing efficiency, enabling greater automation to reduce human error and machine failure, real-time monitoring, and data processing, and supporting innovation and technology advancements. 

The Rural Connectivity Gap Today 

Despite clear progress towards greater digital connectivity, there remains a connectivity gap between urban and rural communities. For example, remote regions often have rugged terrain, sparse populations, and unique infrastructure needs, making it difficult to extend robust digital connectivity to such locations. Our Great Rural Revival Report research revealed the immense value improved connectivity can bring to rural communities and businesses. For example, enhanced digital connectivity could boost the turnover of the rural manufacturing sector by as much as 7%, adding £8.8 billion to the UK economy. Additionally, it could increase rural manufacturing employment by nearly 8%, adding close to 39,000 jobs. 

Factories that are Fit for the Future

For manufacturers to fully utilise these technologies, they need connectivity that provides real-time access to inventory and fleet management data. This allows teams to act immediately on insights and optimise their operations effectively and is an essential part of the UK’s journey towards industry 4.0. In manufacturing, a dedicated 4G or 5G network provides seamless, high-bandwidth connectivity in complex factory settings. This is crucial because introducing Wi-Fi can be challenging in these environments, which often feature high levels of metal and require both indoor and outdoor coverage.

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An organisation at the forefront of this digital revolution is British Sugar, which is on a mission to future-proof its operations through improved connectivity. As the leading producer of sugar for the British and Irish food and beverage markets, the organisation currently processes around 8 million tonnes of sugar beet and up to 1.2 million tonnes of sugar each year across four factory sites. Over the past two years, British Sugar has benefited from the UK's first multi-site 4G (and 5G ready) private network, spanning Norfolk, Suffolk, and Nottinghamshire – a total operational area of 2.17km².

Powering New Applications

This network enables the deployment of cutting-edge Internet of Things (IoT) devices to collect extensive data from their existing machinery, apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor and better understand the production process, and introduce automated production lines, robotics, and drones, to enhance productivity, efficiency, and improve on-site health and safety. 

In a factory environment, where equipment is costly, downtime is expensive, and production is critical, innovations like IoT offer precision and efficiency. Manufacturers can use IoT to monitor operations in real time, gaining insights into machinery performance and identifying areas for improvement. This technology also enables predictive maintenance, allowing manufacturers to anticipate and address potential faults before they cause production interruptions.

Previously, the four factory sites located across three English countries were monitored and managed via a central control room. However, with the implementation of our multi-site private mobile network, staff and managers can now access real-time updates on all sites through mobile devices, effectively carrying the control room with them.

British Sugar has already seen productivity gains and received positive feedback from the workforce using these devices. This private mobile network is designed for future readiness, with the capability to upgrade to 5G as needed. This upgrade will support the introduction of more complex processes, benefiting from 5G’s higher speeds and lower latency. One such innovation includes the use of connected drones, which can efficiently cover large areas and safely monitor tall structures like silos and lime kilns remotely.

Bridging the Rural Connectivity Gap

With plans to provide 80% of the country with full-fibre services by 2028, 99% of the population already benefitting from our extensive 4G network coverage, and over half of the UK’s outdoor population accessing 5G networks, we are committed to extending rural connectivity. Collaboration with industry partners, a newly installed government, and planning authorities is key to these efforts. These upgrades will enable rural manufacturers to adopt new technologies and to thrive in an increasingly digital world. 

Improved digital connectivity will empower the rural manufacturing sector, bridging the connectivity gap and allowing communities, businesses, and the broader economy to benefit from the growth and increased employment opportunities.

Sandeep Raithatha, Head of Strategy, Innovation & 5G IoT at Virgin Media O2 Business