Honeywell Technologies completed an automation system deployment for a major cruise ship operator which is designed to deliver a double-whammy in terms of passenger and crew systems.

The cabin automation system was deployed in more than 8,400 rooms on a trio of Royal Caribbean ships which Honeywell Technologies described as being at the cutting-edge of innovation.

Passengers can use the set-up to customise their room using the cruise company’s app. It covers climate, lighting, window blinds and other elements in the cabins.

The company expects the system to improve the efficiency of Royal Caribbean’s operations, in particular by helping it cap energy usage.

Honeywell Technologies stated such guest experience elements are becoming a point of differentiation in the hospitality sector.

Juan Picon, president and CEO of its Building Automation division, said the system also provides Royal Caribbean with the tools to manage “some of the most-advanced vessels in operation today”.

The Icon Class ships involved are giants in the cruise shipping sector, with capacity for around 7,500 guests and crew on each of the three already in service.

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Japanese conglomerate Hitachi Group revealed when a fresh entity borne of two US subsidiaries would commence operations, a move unveiled earlier this year as it looks to capitalise on businesses’ digital transformation plans.

Hitachi Digital Services and GlobalLogic are being combined to provide a one-stop shop for digitalisation. The company originally explained the united business would aid internal transformations and help external organisations with their own digital shifts.

The united Hitachi Digital entity is scheduled to launch on 1 April 2027, comprising around 35,000 staff across 27 countries.

Hitachi stated the business can offer extensive expertise in vertical industries and emerging applications of AI including for physical purposes.

Staff are also well-equipped to handle AI data and intelligence, cloud and site reliability engineering, and enterprise systems. Hitachi highlighted “longstanding operational technology and domain knowledge” in the industrial sector.

Jun Abe, EVP and head of the Digital Systems and Services Sector, said Hitachi Digital would drive an evolution of the company into a “global digital services” player which would “work alongside clients throughout their business transformation”.

Hitachi is hoping to feel the benefits of the new unit itself through a so-called “customer zero” strategy, whereby it applies fresh services and knowledge to its own digital transformation.

The company previously stated Hitachi Digital would target businesses operating in the automotive, rail and energy sectors.

The post Hitachi advances US digitalisation plan appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Italian shipbuilding behemoth Fincantieri established a specialised training programme to equip future staff with the skills it sees as vital to deliver on a vision of smart ships and digitalised production processes.

Fincantieri teamed with technology college ITS Academy Udine to create the two-year Mechatronics and Robotics, Smart Ship programme, which involves a mix of classroom and on-the-job training.

The first class comprises 16 students: Fincantieri stated they would learn about “planning, coordination and work progress management” and “soft skills” comprising “leadership, problem solving” and management.

Alessio Belli, head of group organisation Development, Learning and Labour Cost, said Fincantieri views the training programme as “essential to supporting the industrial and technological transformation” of the shipbuilding sector.

Like many industries, shipbuilders are preparing for all aspects of digital transformation. Fincantieri explained the course covers the core skills in its moniker along with automation, AI and digital twin technologies.

Cybersecurity is also on the curriculum, as are elements covering onboard systems and equipment, digitalisation of production processes and predictive maintenance.

Fincantieri emphasised the importance of helping students to transition into full-time work and plans to begin offering apprenticeships from the second year of the course.

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Honeywell Technologies tapped Nvidia and Dell to help it create an AI system to overhaul existing processes at petrochemical facilities, with an initial deployment at a massive site in Nigeria in progress.

The company believes AI could boost the efficiency of existing plants, an upgrade with the potential to add billions of dollars-worth of revenue depending on specific sites.

Honeywell Technologies is preparing to put the Forge Plant Cognition platform to work at a Dangote Group petroleum refinery in Nigeria, though noted businesses in the broader petrochemical and liquified natural gas sectors are also in its sights.

The platform uses process technology, industrial automation and AI to highlight constraints in operations, potential problems and interpret site data.

It emphasised the platform differs from “conventional AI” systems by doing more than just using data to provide recommended actions. It stated the set-up is configured to identify possible sources of additional margin; keep production running; and bolster operations with process expertise.

“Industrial plants are among the most complex operating environments in the world, with enormous potential to realise greater performance and value using digital technologies”, Honeywell Technologies UOP president Rajesh Gattupalli explained.

A Dell platform employs various Nvidia systems to deliver AI capabilities and models, alongside digital twin resources.

Honeywell Technologies noted a local benefit in terms of Dangote staff skills given the company aims for 70% of its workforce to be Nigerian.

The post Honeywell fires up industrial AI platform appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Automotive giant BMW Group hit a milestone of having had a million vehicles use automated driving during production, citing process optimisation and logistics efficiency gains from use of the technology.

The company starting using Automated Driving In-Plant (AFW) technology in a pilot held at a facility in Dingolfing, Germany during 2022. It since expanded use to Leipzig and Regensburg, also in Germany, and the Mini Plant in Oxford, UK.

BMW’s factory at Spartanburg in the US is next in-line to have the technology introduced, with the launch expected in 2027. It eventually expects to use AFW across its global production network.

“AFW has progressed from an innovative technology trial to a well-established, scalable standard application,” the company noted.

BMW estimates around 3,500 automated vehicle movements take place every day across its sites.

AFW shifts new vehicles around defined production and logistics areas using a combination of external sensors, cloud architecture and advanced motion planning software.

LiDAR sensors capture surroundings and aid vehicle navigation in real time.

The end result is new vehicles can “respond dynamically to people, other vehicles, driverless transport vehicles, logistics traffic and temporary obstacles”.

BMW board member responsible for production Raymond Wittmann said the company “recognised the potential of AFW early, tested it in a pilot phase and systematically developed it to series maturity”.

He added the adoption is an example of how BMW is “translating the vision” of its digital factory of the future “into industrial practice and driving the efficiency, digitalisation and intelligent connectivity” across its production processes.

The post BMW clocks production gains from automated driving appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Deutsche Telekom invested in Tandem Health, seeking to capitalise on the Swedish technology developer’s work to digitise the healthcare sector using AI.

The operator pumped an undisclosed sum into a Series B funding round by Tandem Health through its T.Capital investment arm, apparently seeing potential in a medical records assistant which is already used in more than 10,000 healthcare facilities throughout Europe.

Tandem Health’s platform provides access to clinical documents, coding and decision-making tools. It is integrated into around 130 electronic health record systems and meets stringent European Union regulations governing the sector and the bloc’s sovereignty needs.

T.Capital MD Karine Peters said Tandem Health’s platform “noticeably reduces the administrative burden on healthcare professionals” without compromising on “quality, safety and compliance” standards.

The company expects AI to “play a key role in addressing the challenges facing healthcare”, Peters added.

Tandem Health found administration tasks take up a sizeable chunk of clinicians’ working day when it quizzed professionals and patients late in 2025.

Most healthcare staff told the company they would prefer to spend more time with patients than on paperwork and more than half expressed concern over the quality of the interactions they do have.

Patients are worried about distracted doctors and inaccurate information, Tandem Health reported.

Deutsche Telekom reasons AI could provide some relief from the administrative burdens, in turn improving efficiency at healthcare facilities.

But SVP of Health Industry and head of Public Sector at T-Systems Gottfried Ludewig emphasised any AI systems employed must be trustworthy and secure.

The post Deutsche Telekom backs AI health specialist appeared first on Mobile World Live.

The prime minister of Singapore backed the city state to carve out a meaningful role in industrial AI, arguing it holds several advantages over frontier developments being led by companies in the US and China.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong (pictured, right) said Singapore holds several advantages in applying AI to specific sectors compared with developers in other nations working on more general uses.

“We are small. We are compact. We are highly connected as a society”, Prime Minister Wong said as he detailed a collaboration with Germany to develop industrial AI uses.

The prime minister argued Singapore’s clear laws and “protection for IP” also stand it in good stead.

“We see a lot of opportunities in sectors like healthcare, logistics, finance and advanced manufacturing”.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (pictured, left) and Prime Minister Wong put industrial AI development at the heart of future collaboration goals.

The Singaporean leader said the nations are on common ground over protecting from the risks AI poses, pledging development would be “done in a way that remains safe, trusted and human centred”.

Advanced manufacturing, sustainable technologies, semiconductors, and quantum and space technologies are among the other fields the nations intend to collaborate on.

Prime Minister Wong predicted joint development of industrial AI would result in “more robotics and automated solutions in manufacturing and logistics”, and have impacts on “other areas of the economy”.

He noted trade agreements with Germany are positive in a global context, noting long-standing relationships between companies in each nation and backing Europe as a whole as a solid long-term investment bet.

The post Singapore, Germany target applied AI appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Telefonica spotted an opportunity in growing industrial demand for process optimisation services which it hopes to cash in on through an investment by its domestic unit in Spanish specialist OGA.

The operator paid an undisclosed amount for a 10% stake in OGA, a so-called deep tech company specialising in using AI and operational information to optimise processes in sectors including logistics, retail, energy, health and defence.

Javier Lopez Gutierrez, director of Telefonica Espana’s Defence and Security unit, said the operator hopes to strengthen its industrial AI offer, “with a special focus on the defence sector”.

OGA employs AI, modelling and simulations to work out optimal processes for businesses providing vital services. CEO Juan Carlos Rubio hopes Telefonica’s backing will help it grow its capabilities to the benefit of Spanish and European defence and security sectors.

Telefonica explained it is adding OGA’s services to its range for businesses and public administrations, but noted it is not taking a seat on the company’s board to preserve its independence.

The operator made its investment after working with OGA for the past two years.

Business focus
Telefonica separately noted B2B is proving a lucrative sector after attracting more than 800 domestic organisations to Titan Connect, a marketplace of connectivity services it launched in January for businesses and the public sector.

The set-up pools standalone 5G, fibre and satellite connectivity with a host of systems spanning cloud and edge computing, observation services using AI and power supplies.

Telefonica pitches the service on a greater ability to keep businesses and public sector organisations connected during disruptions.

The post Telefonica backs OGA for B2B push appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In the fourth and final episode from our special series covering digital industries, MWL‘s Amiya Johar is joined by experts from Ericsson, Soracom and Agrodemy Technologies and Services to explore the connectivity demands for agricultural and outdoor operations.

Listen on Apple here.
Listen on Spotify here.

00:00 Rural connectivity challenges
07:10 Designing for patchy coverage
14:50 The connected farming opportunity
21:00 Hybrid networks in the field
24:40 Transforming farm operations
34:20 Scaling digital adoption

The post Podcast: Playing the connectivity field appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Telefonica listed universities, hospitals, research centres and start-ups as among the likely beneficiaries of a plan to install a quantum computer at a university in Spanish capital city Madrid.

The operator is working with IQM Quantum Computers to equip the Technical University of Madrid with an all-in-one machine to provide real-world experience of the next-generation systems.

Telefonica predicted the technological benefits would be felt throughout Europe. The machine is due to be up and running by year-end and will add to two the companies already provided for use at a supercomputing centre in the northwest of the country.

Borja Ochoa, non-executive chair of Telefonica Espana and CEO of its B2B unit, said the operator wants to become “the best gateway to digital technologies”. He asserted it is the first in Spain to employ post-quantum cryptography to protect “communications between data centres”.

IQM Quantum Computers CEO and co-founder Jan Goetz highlighted anticipated benefits for industries in the Madrid area: “Quantum computing becomes truly valuable when it moves beyond remote laboratory environments”.

The installation extends Telefonica’s recent track record in the quantum computing realm, which includes establishing a centre of excellence, and employing the approach in pharmaceutical research and logistics.

The post Telefonica, IQM ready next quantum installation appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Iceland’s telecoms regulator commenced a process which could boost local and private 5G network deployments by a host of industries and align the nation with broader global rollouts.

Fjarskiptastofa opened a consultation into allocating spectrum in the 3800MHz to 4200MHz frequency band, one which is widely regarded as ideal for local area networks where capacity matters.

The regulator listed factories, ports and utilities among businesses which could benefit from access to all or some of the spectrum, which it noted is also suitable for delivering fixed wireless access services.

It proposes providing two tiers of licences, one for low-power deployments and another for medium.

Fjarskiptastofa explained low-power settings would be confined within a 50-metre radius, with multiple transmitters allowed.

Medium-range deployments would be “limited to a specific transmission location”.

The regulator proposes licences spanning 20MHz, 40MHz, 60MHz, 80MHz and 100MHz of bandwidth, with the latter the maximum for each permit.

Licences would be valid for a decade and holders would be required to launch services within a year of receiving clearance.

Fjarskiptastofa’s consultation runs until 10 November, after which it intends to publish all comments not covered by confidentiality requests.

The band covered is already popular for private 5G services: in 2025, the European Union called for member states to harmonise access, arguing there are broad benefits for industrial and non-industrial players.

But there are concerns the harmonised approach in the region may not be the panacea it first seems: in 2022, the GSMA expressed concern some member states could favour specific systems and so constrain the market.

The post Iceland commences private 5G spectrum move appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Renowned German sports car maker Porsche hopes to break the mould on industrial digitalisation by forming a business unit to improve internal operations along with boosting its work with other sectors and companies.

Porsche Technologies is being formed by combining the company’s current engineering and digital units, a marriage deputy chair Dr Michael Steiner said would deliver the best of both worlds.

Steiner said the unit would “play a central role” in Porsche’s own “strategic development activities and in its business with other automotive and industrial customers”.

Sectors including space, maritime, defence and medical technology were listed as potential targets.

The company aims to launch Porsche Technologies early in Q2 2027 to provide services spanning development of hard and software through to validation of digital and physical products.

Porsche stated AI and data systems would play important roles in the work of the business, particularly for process optimisation.

Current Porsche Engineering CEO Markus-Christian Eberl (pictured, centre) is to head the new division.

Porsche Digital CEO Stefan Zerweck (pictured, left) is to become the CTO, with engineering unit CFO and COO Dirk Philipp (pictured, right) to occupy the same roles in the new business.

Staff numbers for the combined division stand at around 2,700, located at sites throughout Europe, the US and China.

The post Porsche seeks broader industrial opportunities appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Toshiba addressed what it believes is complexity in deploying quantum-safe networks with the release of a platform it stated can lower the need for specific fibre connectivity and equipment.

The Japanese company is targeting the platform at network operators, enterprises, public-sector groups and companies running data centres. It is pitching the set-up as offering more than a bump to security, highlighting potential competitive advantages and revenue opportunities.

Toshiba echoed concerns expressed by many over the potential dangers of quantum computing, noting some nefarious types are already harvesting data to be decrypted when compatible machines come online.

It stated governments, “regulators and standards bodies” are already pressing for action to address potential threats.

The sales pitch for Toshiba’s platform centres on the simplicity of deployment. It states organisations “do not need to rebuild their networks” to use the set-up, which “integrates with existing network infrastructures” and can be run through “a single dedicated connection to large metro, hub-and-spoke, ring, mesh and long-distance networks”.

Andrew Shields, VP of Toshiba Europe and head of its Quantum Technology Division, said the platform should prove cost-effective in deployments “across large-scale networks”.

Toshiba equipped the platform with post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution and random number generation, technologies widely regarded as being suitably robust to secure the future computing systems.

Hiroshi Tsukino, VP of Toshiba’s ICT Solutions Division, said the move to quantum-safe technologies is “the largest cryptographic transformation in history” and urged organisations to begin preparing today.

The post Toshiba launches quantum security platform appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Agricultural equipment manufacturer AGCO inked a deal to trial Agility Robotics’ Digit humanoid for various factory operations including sorting and stacking parts, with a view to using robots to automate repetitive and hazardous tasks.

In a statement on the project, Agility Robotics explained its robot would be used to support key assembly and production operations, with the pilot set to kick-off during 2027 at an AGCO manufacturing site in the US state of Kansas.

The pilot is part of a wider agreement between the pair to “advance the future of manufacturing” using humanoid automation, supporting an aim by AGCO to create more flexible and intelligent factories.

Agility Robotics added by automating physically demanding work, its robot would “help enhance ergonomic safety, improve operational efficiency and empower employees to focus on higher-value, skill-driven work that advances innovation and productivity”.

The agricultural sector player claims to be the largest “pure-play farm equipment manufacturer” in the world, supplying a wide range of heavy equipment for the sector including tractors and combine harvesters.

AGCO director of manufacturing technology Thomas Enghof said “this strategic relationship views humanoid robotics and AI as essential teammates in building flexible, intelligent factories”.

The executive added the machines would augment “human capabilities by absorbing repetitive, strenuous or hazardous tasks. By pairing human ingenuity with robust robotic engineering and strict safety governance, we create resilient manufacturing systems that empower the workforce and deliver measurable business value.”

Agility Robotics noted the latest deal adds to deployments with other leading companies including Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, GXO Logistics and manufacturer Schaeffler.

The post US farm machinery maker set for Agility Robotics pilot appeared first on Mobile World Live.

PHY Wireless and Ubiik teamed up to combine private LTE and 5G connectivity with device-based positioning, offering enterprise and industrial users a 3GPP standards-based alternative to proprietary location systems.

The collaboration combines Ubiik’s private LTE and 5G infrastructure with PHY Wireless’ hellaPHY technology, enabling enterprises, utilities, hospitals, and campuses to run communications and location services on a single network.

Potential applications include tracking assets, vehicles and equipment, improving worker safety and supporting physical AI deployments.

The companies explained GPS and Wi-Fi positioning can struggle in warehouses, containers and factories and may increase battery consumption. HellaPHY calculates location on the device rather than in the cloud, allowing devices to determine when an update is required.

This approach apparently reduces network traffic, data costs and power use, while enhancing privacy.

Because the system operates over standard LTE and 5G, customers could add positioning capabilities to existing private networks rather than deploy separate infrastructure, which the companies said would reduce deployment costs and simplify operations.

The pair also claimed the technology provides metre-level accuracy and can cut device power consumption by up to 10 times compared with alternative approaches. This aligns with emerging 5G-Advanced, eRedCap and 6G sensing standards.

PHY Wireless CEO Tom Horgan said organisations pursuing physical AI and automation require location technology that can scale across thousands of devices at a manageable cost. He stated location awareness is becoming a foundational capability for next-generation enterprise and industrial applications.

Ubiik CEO TH Peng added the collaboration demonstrated how the company could adapt its private LTE platform to incorporate new technology and support changing customer requirements.

The post PHY Wireless, Ubiik blend location into private LTE, 5G appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Telefonica demonstrated the military capabilities of its 5G infrastructure during an unmanned drone and vehicle exercise, one of the first moves it is making in a collaboration with Portuguese telecoms player NOS Comunicacoes.

The companies combined their 5G technologies during the Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems demonstration. Telefonica stated the work proved the ability to provide fresh services and uses of the pair’s infrastructure.

Telefonica and NOS Comunicacoes formalised their partnership during the event with the signing of a memorandum of understanding covering joint development of future connectivity set-ups, secure communications and digital services.

Defence and security uses are foremost in the companies’ focus. NOS Comunicacoes board member Joao Ricardo Moreira said a changing security and defence “landscape requires digital infrastructure capable of operating in a coordinated manner across national borders”.

As such, network interoperability is one of the key areas the companies agreed to explore.

Also on the table is work involving edge computing, AI, 5G and fresh architectures. Telefonica stated there would also be a focus on how the technologies integrate with “command-and-control systems, autonomous platforms and other emerging technologies”.

It took the companies a year to hammer out the details of their collaboration.

Telefonica Espana director of defence and security Javier Lopez Gutierrez said the work holds the potential to boost European sovereignty and thanked the Spanish and Portuguese navies for providing the “operational environment” to test and evaluate the technologies involved.

The post Telefonica, NOS target military, defensive 5G uses appeared first on Mobile World Live.

PLD Space kept the focus on European satellite communication ambitions, revealing progress in developing its reusable launcher a matter of hours after major operators outlined plans involving spectrum access.

The Spanish rocket company is gearing up for a demonstration flight of its MIURA 5 reusable launcher with a trio of machines, two on which it tests systems and one on which validated technologies are installed.

PLD Space stated the approach should reap repeatability benefits when it comes time to manufacture its launcher vessels, along with enabling it to validate fresh features without interrupting scheduled operations.

It is progressing development of flight hardware, engines and mechanisms to lift rockets in to position on launchpads.

Its test units have been used to develop fairings and the company is also confident in its trajectory modelling.

PLD Space has a quartet of flight avionic systems ready and is keeping an eye on the ground infrastructure needed, which includes 17,000 square metres of manufacturing facilities along with ten test benches.

The company is also building a launch facility in French Guiana.

Co-founder and CEO Raul Torres said PLD Space must test “every element of the system” rigorously, making the three-vessel approach vital to the speed of development.

The post PLD Space updates on reusable rocket appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) became the first body of its kind in India to get the nod for a private 5G network, as it eyes smart operations, cargo tracking and general digital transformation benefits.

A statement from the country’s official press agency explained the port authority, in Goa, was issued with a Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) licence for the network last month with preparatory work already underway to help deliver the project.

It is apparently the first major port operator in India to secure the authorisation and the “first government autonomous body” to do so.

MPA has already issued a request for information to identify systems integrators and manufacturers for the project and appointed a consultancy firm to create a detailed plan.  

Its move aligns with a focus from India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote “digitisation, process optimisation and improving operational efficiency across the maritime sector”.

As with most projects of this type, the network is expected to deliver high-speed, low latency connectivity.

The authority anticipates this could “support operational requirements” while providing “greater control over network management and the handling of operational data”.

Potential use cases cited include automated logistics and cargo tracking, drone-based surveillance and management of port infrastructure.

“The adoption of these technologies is expected to support improved operational visibility, more efficient cargo movement and better coordination of port activities,” the statement added, noting as the project progresses it could provide reference points for ports elsewhere.

The post Port authority in India bags private 5G licence appeared first on Mobile World Live.

In the third episode of our special series focused on digital industries, Mobile World Live’s Michael Carroll is joined by experts from Shipsider, Kaiko Systems and GSMA Intelligence to explore the role of connectivity in operating ships at sea and in port.

00:00 – Maritime digitalisation
04:05 – Connecting ships at sea
07:10 – Dark ships and GPS spoofing
12:30 – Hybrid networks and LEO satellites
20:45 – Vessel IoT and cybersecurity
29:00 – Crew connectivity and Q&A

The post Podcast: Testing the connectivity waters appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Telefonica Tech unveiled a platform for the smart management of water meters aimed at local authorities and customers in the utility sector, highlighting benefits for billing and flagging irregularities.

The system, developed in-house, provides data and analysis from meters to identify trends, usage and remotely monitor the status of devices.

Telefonica noted it is compatible with meters from a range of manufacturers and integrates with its IoT connectivity platform Kite which, among other things, facilitates security and automation for “deployments involving thousands of geographically distributed meters”.

The company’s director of IoT Dario Cesena said: “The digitalisation of the water sector requires tools that are simple, efficient and capable of transforming data into useful information for day-to-day management”.

He added with the latest launch it was “taking another step forward in our mission to be the best gateway to digital technologies by helping water management companies and public authorities to optimise resources and move towards smarter and more sustainable water management.”

The move is the latest by the operator group targeting the utility sector with IoT technology including projects in Spain and Germany with water companies.

A study by GSMA Intelligence released in April 2026 cited smart utilities as one of the main sectors contributing to an expected a boost in enterprise IoT connections in the years to 2030, alongside smart building deployments and manufacturing.

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