Nokia & Verizon Deliver Private 5G at Thames Freeport

Verizon Business has selected Nokia as the sole hardware and software provider for the deployment of multiple Verizon Private 5G Networks across the Thames Freeport, one of the UK’s most strategically significant industrial and maritime logistics regions.

The partnership, announced jointly by Nokia, Verizon Business and Thames Freeport, marks a milestone in the deployment of industrial-grade private wireless solutions at scale across the UK.

The initiative will deliver seamless connectivity to central logistics, manufacturing and R&D facilities along the River Thames Estuary, forming the backbone of a multi-billion-pound transformation programme designed to reinvigorate the local economy and establish a global model for connected industrial operations.

Creating a technologically advanced trade corridor

The Thames Freeport, a designated UK Free Trade Zone, catalyses economic growth, inward investment and job creation.

As part of the partnership, Verizon’s Private 5G solution, underpinned by Nokia’s Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) and MX Industrial Edge (MXIE) platforms, will enable a wide range of next-generation industrial capabilities.

These include AI-driven data analytics, predictive maintenance, autonomous vehicle control, process automation, safety monitoring and real-time logistics orchestration.

“Our partnership with Thames Freeport and Nokia shows the full promise of private 5G at scale,” said Jennifer Artley, SVP, 5G Acceleration, Verizon Business. “Thames Freeport is developing one of the most technologically advanced commercial corridors in Europe to enable forward innovation and economic revitalisation for an entire community.

"We’re not just driving operational improvements to help a partner stay ahead of the curve; we’re laying the groundwork for new revenue streams, community development and further commercial and technological investment.”

The deployment will establish a flexible, high-performance connectivity platform that supports both current operational needs and long-term innovation agendas.

A digital backbone for economic and social renewal

Nokia’s selection highlights its reputation as a trusted technology partner in mission-critical environments. Its solutions will serve as the foundation for edge computing, IoT, AI integration and secure data transmission across the Freeport’s facilities.

The benefits are not limited to operations. The infrastructure will directly support Thames Freeport’s broader objectives, including job creation, training programmes and research partnerships.

To date, the Freeport has already generated 1,400 jobs and is on track to reach 5,000 by 2030.

“A flexible, high-performance connectivity platform is critical to our long-term vision,” said Martin Whiteley, CEO of Thames Freeport.

“Our investment in private 5G is not an incremental network upgrade—it’s the backbone of a technological transformation fuelling our long-term multi-stakeholder mission, which includes operational excellence for tenants; ROI for shareholders like Ford, DP World and Forth Ports; innovation leadership for public and private benefit; circular economy models; and enabling high-value job creation and training.

"By partnering with Verizon Business and Nokia, we’re delivering the technology needed to propel our region to the front of the leading edge.”

Paving the way for the UK’s industrial future

By integrating Nokia’s end-to-end private wireless and edge capabilities into Verizon’s industrial 5G offering, the Thames Freeport becomes a model for how digital infrastructure can drive long-term economic impact.

The partnership demonstrates how telecom innovation, when strategically deployed, can extend far beyond connectivity—powering transformation across operations, communities and national industrial policy.