Port Nelson rolls out private 5G across warehouses
Tue, 19th May 2026 (Today)
Port Nelson has deployed a private 5G network with Spark and Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions. The system covers about 30,000 square metres across three warehouses in Nelson and Blenheim.
The rollout focuses on warehousing operations, where forklift operators scan every pallet moved as part of inventory and logistics processes. Existing Wi-Fi had proved unreliable in high-density storage areas and in parts of the wider site, creating dead spots that disrupted workflows.
Staff had to change operating processes to maintain connections. Port Nelson handles exports and imports including forestry products, pipfruit, wine and seafood, and the affected warehouses include facilities where palletised bottled wine and empty wine bottles move through the site.
Spark's private network service uses Ericsson Private 5G, with a core installed at Port Nelson and linked to small cell radios. The setup is intended to provide coverage inside the warehouses and in connected outdoor yard areas.
Forklifts have also been fitted with Ericsson Cradlepoint ruggedised R1900 routers for connectivity and tracking. Their dual-SIM design allows the vehicles to switch between Spark's public and private 5G networks when they move beyond the initial private network footprint.
The change is intended to support uninterrupted pallet scanning as workers and vehicles move through warehouse and yard environments. Ericsson's NetCloud platform also gives Port Nelson's teams more visibility into network performance so they can identify and address issues.
"Connectivity was becoming a real operational constraint for us," said Reagan Pattison, General Manager Business Transformation at Port Nelson.
"No matter how much we tried to saturate our warehouses with Wi-Fi, we couldn't get consistent performance. That impacted productivity, created frustration for our operators, and limited our ability to modernise how we work," Pattison said.
Safety focus
The network is also being used to support a digital push-to-talk communications platform. Port Nelson said this would strengthen health and safety procedures by improving real-time communications and enabling location-based alerts aimed at separating people from heavy mobile plant.
Other potential uses include geofence intelligence and broadcast messaging. Port Nelson also identified real-time asset tracking, predictive maintenance, enhanced CCTV cameras, AI-enabled vision and automation as applications that could be added later.
"Safety is fundamental in a port environment. Private 5G gives us the ability to prioritise critical communications, improve visibility of what's happening across the site, and move towards more proactive, engineered safety controls," Pattison said.
Industry use
Ericsson said the project reflects growing use of private mobile networks in industrial settings where standard Wi-Fi has limitations. Ports, warehouses, factories, airports and mines have become key target sectors for dedicated on-site mobile coverage.
Ian Ross, Head of Private Networks ANZ at Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions, said reliable wireless links are important where vehicles and stock move continuously through operational spaces.
"In a warehousing environment where there are moving vehicles and large volumes of stock moving in and out of the space, reliable connectivity that digital workflows can depend on really matters," Ross said.
"Private 5G is the digital backbone of modern industry, increasingly demonstrating the highest standard when it comes to connectivity for critical applications in factories, warehouses, airports, mines, and ports. By using Private 5G, Port Nelson now has a dedicated network using the latest cellular wireless capabilities that can support real-time operations today while providing a strong foundation for future digital innovation," Ross said.
Spark described the installation as an example of demand from businesses operating in production-critical environments. Organisations are seeking secure connectivity for sites where interruptions can affect logistics, safety and workforce efficiency, it said.
Greg Clark, Chief Customer Officer at Spark, said the Port Nelson project showed how private 5G could be applied in complex operating environments in New Zealand.
"Port Nelson is a great example of how private 5G is unlocking new value for New Zealand businesses operating in complex, production-critical environments," Clark said.
"Spark's 5G+ Private Network is designed for organisations that need secure, high-performance connectivity they can rely on. At Port Nelson, it's enabling safer warehouse operations today while opening the door to automation, advanced IoT, and smarter ways of working across the entire port in the future," Clark said.
Port Nelson is a gateway for cargo moving through the top of the South Island and provides marine operations, cargo handling, logistics, warehousing and property services. The new network is now in place across the three warehouses as the port seeks more reliable communications for day-to-day operations.