SOURCEOrganization
CIMPOR Global Holdings
Ericsson ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Intro under H1Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
Reported deployment
Reported cement plant networks in Portugal
A Ericsson case study; outcomes are vendor-reported and not independent measurements.
Involved in this project? Suggest a correctionDetails
- Organization
- CIMPOR Global Holdings
- Industry
- cement manufacturing
- Region
- Portugal (Alhandra, Souselas and Loulé plants)
- Current operating status
- Deployed
- Not stated by sources
- Project date
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Overview
Cement maker CIMPOR has private 5G networks at its Alhandra, Souselas and Loulé plants in Portugal, built with Vodafone Portugal and Ericsson.[1] The first, at Alhandra, was announced in December 2024 as Portugal's first 5G standalone private network, and coverage of all three plants was reported in January 2026.[2][3] Vodafone provided the spectrum, network design and managed services, while Ericsson supplied the core and radio access network (RAN).[1] Ericsson's 2026 case study says the networks link more than 10,000 sensors and that CIMPOR has since awarded the two companies a fourth site.[1]
At a glance
- Organization
- CIMPOR (CIMPOR Global Holdings).[1]
- Date reported
- Alhandra network announced December 17, 2024; three-plant rollout reported January 7, 2026.[2][3]
- Spectrum
- Provided by Vodafone Portugal; the band is not stated.[1]
- Technology
- 5G standalone (SA) private network on Ericsson Private 5G with a MOCN (multi-operator core network) design that lets Vodafone and CIMPOR share radio infrastructure.[2][1]
- Scale as reported
- Three plants with indoor, outdoor and confined-space coverage and more than 10,000 sensors, which Ericsson calls what is believed to be the largest industrial IoT deployment in the global cement industry.[1]
- Vendors and roles
- Ericsson supplied the core and RAN; Vodafone Portugal provided spectrum, network design and managed services.[1]
- Integrator/operator
- Vodafone Portugal, which Global Cement says signed a 10-year extendable contract with CIMPOR in October 2024.[3]
How the network is used
- Machine health monitoring and predictive maintenance using vibration, temperature, noise and rotational-speed sensors on motors, kilns and mills (manufacturing and industrial IoT).[2][1]
- Indoor and outdoor drone inspections of ducts, silos and confined spaces using real-time 5G video.[1]
- Smart and VR glasses for remote expert support and training.[3]
- HD wireless cameras for safety monitoring, a digital twin of the facility, and worker tablets with SAP access for paperless work.[2][1]
Reported results
As reported by the sources below; not independently verified.
- Ericsson's case study reports sub-10 ms latency and up to 1 Gbps throughput.[1]
- CIMPOR said it observed an efficiency gain of about 1%, which Global Cement reports CIMPOR values at US$10–15 million a year; Ericsson's case study puts the estimated annual impact at US$10 million.[3][1]
- CIMPOR expects savings of up to US$1 million a year per plant from fewer unplanned failures and production stops, based on its internal assessments.[3][1]
- Ericsson says drone inspections over 5G replaced days of scaffolding setup with inspections completed in hours, including inside the 130-year-old Alhandra plant where earlier wireless had not reached.[1]
- Ericsson's case study cites 140,000 tons of CO2 emissions reduction associated with the efficiency gains and 100% paperless operations across the three plants.[1]
Timeline
CIMPOR's private 5G is reported live at Alhandra, Loulé and Souselas.[3][4]
Ericsson publishes a case study saying CIMPOR has awarded a fourth site.[1]
Ericsson and Vodafone Portugal announce a 5G SA private network at CIMPOR's Alhandra plant and say two more plants will follow.[2][5]
CIMPOR signs a 10-year extendable contract with Vodafone Portugal.[3]
How to interpret this record
This record keeps the source's anonymous customer label and reported status. A case study does not establish current operation, reproducible performance, or independent verification.
Learn more
- Private 5G networks explained: what they are, how they work, what they cost and who sells themA plain-English guide to private 5G: what it is, the parts you need, CBRS spectrum, ways to deploy, cost drivers and U.S. examples.
- Private LTE networks: what they are and how to set one upWhat a private LTE network is, why most private networks still use LTE, the CBRS spectrum and equipment you need, and how to set one up.
- Private LTE vs private 5G: which one do you need?Private LTE or private 5G? The real differences, which devices work, what affects cost, and how to move from LTE to 5G later.
- How much does a private LTE or 5G network cost?What a private LTE or 5G network costs: three example budgets from about $10,000, what you pay for, CBRS and SAS fees, and ongoing costs.
Sources
Researched Oct 1, 2026. Manufacturer and vendor statements are their claims, not independent tests.
- CIMPOR pioneers Industry 4.0 in cement manufacturing with private 5G — Ericsson. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- Ericsson and Vodafone Portugal pioneer 5G Standalone use cases in an industrial setting — Ericsson, Dec 17, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- Cimpor expands 5G network to three plants — Global Cement, Jan 7, 2026. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- CIMPOR to expand private 5G following successful Portugal rollout — World Cement, Jan 7, 2026. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
- Ericsson, Vodafone Portugal deploy SA 5G network at cement plant — RCR Wireless News, Dec 18, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
Every detail in the table at the top comes from these sources. Open the source details for each fact’s publisher, evidence type, date, and where it appears.
Source details (6)
SOURCEIndustry
cement manufacturing
Ericsson ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Intro under H1Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCERegion
Portugal (Alhandra, Souselas and Loulé plants)
Ericsson ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: 'The solution: Private 5G built for industrial-scale manufacturing'Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCEOperating status
deployed
Ericsson ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: 'The solution: Private 5G built for industrial-scale manufacturing'Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCEReported use case
predictive maintenance sensors, drone inspections, AR remote assistance, paperless mobile operations
Ericsson ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Intro under H1Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated
SOURCEVendors Named
Vodafone Portugal; Ericsson
Ericsson ↗Vendor case studyLocation in source: Intro under H1Checked Sep 30, 2026Source date: not stated