NTT DATA & Zebra partner to propel Private 5G adoption

NTT DATA and Zebra Technologies have announced a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating innovation within the 5G device ecosystem. The collaboration seeks to enhance next-generation connectivity and drive widespread adoption of Private 5G networks.

Under the terms of this multi-year agreement, Zebra Technologies will join NTT DATA's Device as a Service (DaaS) practice. The partnership will focus on developing 5G-enabled devices designed to address the challenges of outdated hardware, a common barrier to global innovation according to a recent Global Lifecycle Management report from NTT DATA. The report indicated that 80% of respondents identified outdated technology as a hindrance to innovation.

This cooperation aims to bridge the gap in 5G device availability, a critical factor for the adoption of Private 5G networks, which are projected to grow by 35% globally over the next four years according to Omdia. The rise in private 5G adoption is expected to be supported by the proliferation of IoT devices, which IDC estimates will reach 41 billion by 2026. With a focus on industrial environments, the partnership will provide new solutions for intelligent asset tracking and real-time management.

Shahid Ahmed, Group Executive Vice President of Edge Services at NTT DATA, highlighted the significance of the partnership: "In our relentless pursuit to drive Private 5G and Edge AI adoption within enterprises, we're thrilled to join forces with Zebra Technologies globally. This alliance underscores our dedication to empowering enterprises with transformative capabilities that propel edge and private 5G use cases and data-driven experiences."

Julie Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobile Computing at Zebra Technologies, echoed these sentiments: "Our partnership with NTT DATA underscores our commitment to bring customers the latest innovations powered by Wi-Fi, Private LTE, and Private 5G networks. We're excited to leverage the global scale of NTT DATA's capabilities to benefit our customers and be a vital part of a growing 5G device ecosystem, ensuring businesses can thrive in today's rapidly evolving landscape."

One of the first beneficiaries of this partnership is the Hyster-Yale Group, which is deploying a Private 5G network across its manufacturing operations. The network, designed by NTT DATA, will work in tandem with Zebra Technologies’ handheld mobile computers and tablets to improve asset and material tracking. This enhanced visibility is anticipated to improve communication within facilities and between production lines and storage locations.

Pierluigi Mastroddi, Director of IT Infrastructure Services at Hyster-Yale Group, commented on the impact of the partnership: "Adding Zebra devices to our Store Front has allowed us to procure units through our Device as a Service program with NTT DATA, offering much more SKU customization within a standard device set."

The Device as a Service model provided by NTT DATA includes a comprehensive suite of services that cover planning, procurement, configuration, deployment, ongoing support, analytics, repair management, and device retirement. This model allows enterprises to manage the entire device lifecycle in a cost-effective manner, utilising a pay-per-user subscription basis instead of purchasing or owning the equipment outright.

This partnership follows NTT DATA's recent collaboration with Qualcomm, further enhancing its capabilities in the 5G device ecosystem. By aligning with Zebra Technologies, NTT DATA aims to leverage its partnership ecosystem to meet the increasing demand for connectivity solutions that support Industry 4.0 applications and AI at the edge.

The collaboration between NTT DATA and Zebra Technologies is poised to play a significant role in the future landscape of Private 5G networks, offering improved efficiency, visibility, and security across various industries, including automotive, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.