Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has introduced a private 5G network, delivered in partnership with 2degrees and Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, to improve safety, support digital operations, and strengthen resilience across New Zealand’s largest South Island port.
As one of New Zealand’s most diverse ports, LPC handled 434,000 containers in FY2025 in addition to extensive bulk, cruise, and fuel activities. In addition to its large-scale operations, the port’s location posed unique challenges due to the surrounding volcanic rock and the shielding effect of stacked containers.
Ericsson’s private 5G solution, implemented on site by 2degrees, provides a robust, secure, and scalable wireless 5G connectivity that will support applications at the port including mobile asset tracking, tele-remote control of heavy machinery and vehicles, job dispatching, safety alarms, and streaming from video cameras for safety and security.
LPC is using rugged Ericsson Cradlepoint routers on its Straddle Carriers to keep operations running smoothly. These use the private 5G network as a primary connection, with 2degrees’ public mobile network providing seamless, secondary backup. This setup gives the port wide, reliable coverage, reaching areas that Wi‑Fi can’t and where fibre is slow, expensive, or impractical to deploy.
Lyttelton Port Company Chief Information Officer Jackie Dawson, said “LPC introduced private 5G to make operations safer, more reliable, and better connected.
“We needed stronger network performance across the port so our teams and equipment could work without interruption.
“This supports our long-term digital plans and helps us run a safer, more efficient and more resilient port for our customers and our community.”
Dawson said LPC chose to partner with 2degrees because of its trusted core network and local expertise, supported by Ericsson, which has a global track record in complex industrial environments like mining and ports.
Andrew Fairgray, Chief Business Officer at 2degrees, said “2degrees is committed to delivering world-class innovation that solves Kiwi business challenges. We are thrilled to have completed this landmark project for Lyttelton Port Company.
“By moving beyond the limitations of traditional connectivity, we’ve provided Lyttelton Port Company with a foundation for the future - one that ensures operational resilience and opens the door to next-generation automation.”
Fairgray said he hopes the Lyttleton project will inspire other New Zealand organisations to consider private 5G networks.
“Internationally, industrial enterprises are increasingly turning to private 5G solutions when they need fast data transmission, lower latency, and the ability to connect a wide range of devices in a business-critical operational area. Private 5G networks are seen as the gold standard for critical applications in factories, warehouses, airports, mining, and ports. They provide dedicated connectivity, performance, and data privacy.”
Ian Ross, Head of Private Networks ANZ, Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, said: “Private 5G is a foundational infrastructure for modern industrial environments.
“By delivering ultra-reliable, low-latency connectivity to every corner of a port, operators like Lyttelton Port Company can achieve unprecedented levels of digitalisation, asset visibility, and operational efficiency.
“We’re pleased to work with 2degrees and the Port to provide 5G connectivity solutions that enable streamlining of workflows, enhanced safety for workers, improved security, and optimisation in the movement of goods – ultimately enabling lower costs, faster turnaround times, and a more resilient supply chain.”
Lyttelton Port Company plans to expand its applications of private 5G in the near future and is looking at how the site can use it to connect environmental sensors for wind and stormwater monitoring, as well as drones which feed data into AI tools and are used for inspections of containers, cranes, and pavements.
