Commscope, Microsoft join hands to transform industrial manufacturing

Commscope has collaborated with Microsoft to create a converged private wireless network solution, enabling new low-latency and mobile applications to transform industrial manufacturing.

The firm successfully deployed the combined solution—using Microsoft Azure private MEC and its CBRS access points—in its manufacturing innovation centre in Shakopee, Minnesota. Through this cloud-connected, low-latency private wireless network, it is already improving both the operational efficiency and manufacturing agility of its facilities.

This solution brings augmented reality applications and cloud-based manufacturing tools to factory engineers. This includes immersive technology training, aggregated assembly line data, and real-time remote assistance to improve production ramp times and worker capabilities. Commscope also leverages its low-latency wireless network to mobilise testing equipment across the production line. As an example, specialised microscopes are now mobilised so fibre optic quality testing can be done anywhere in real time as opposed to pulling product off the line.

“Commscope is excited to work with Microsoft to enable the next generation of private wireless networks,” said Upendra Pingle, SVP Intelligent Cellular Networks, Commscope. “We have deployed Microsoft’s private MEC platform in combination with CBRS access points in our own manufacturing innovation center to improve operational efficiencies. Together, we are showcasing the immediate, real-world advantages of private networking in industrial manufacturing, as our combined solution paves the way for the evolution of private wireless networks and manufacturing.”

“We see a tremendous opportunity to transform workforce efficiency by making it easy to deploy and develop private wireless that can underpin agile factories,” said Shriraj Gaglani, GM for Azure for Operators at Microsoft. “We collaborated with Commscope to implement use cases that increase worker and production line efficiency, and to help incubate and inspire industry 4.0 transformations.”

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