In this context, traditional technologies such as Wi-Fi and fiber do not always meet the demands of large industrial sites.
How can security equipment be connected quickly across sites covering several hectares? How can reliable network coverage be maintained in remote or hard-to-reach areas? How can new security devices be deployed without costly and disruptive cabling work?
As a specialist in secure private networks and industrial cybersecurity, Obvios helps operators of critical infrastructure deploy sovereign private 5G networks tailored to their operational requirements. Industrial private 5G now provides a practical alternative for connecting all security systems through a dedicated, secure and sovereign wireless network, delivering reliable connectivity across the entire site.
Why traditional networks are reaching their limits for industrial site security?
Industrial site security has traditionally relied on three types of network infrastructure:
- Ethernet or fiber optic networks
- Wi-Fi networks
These technologies remain well suited to certain applications. However, they quickly reach their limits as operational and security requirements become more demanding.
Many organizations are now looking for an industrial site security solution that can scale quickly without requiring extensive infrastructure work. This challenge is particularly significant for critical infrastructure sites spread across several hectares, including water, electricity and gas utilities, waste treatment facilities, and large construction sites.
Fiber optics: high performance at a high cost
Fiber optic networks deliver excellent performance for transporting video streams and industrial data.
However, deploying fiber typically involves:
- Civil engineering work
- Long installation times
- High costs to connect each camera or security device
- Limited flexibility when the site evolves
When a new surveillance point needs to be added, it often requires installing hundreds of meters of additional fiber.
Wi-Fi: simple but limited
Wi-Fi offers the advantage of rapid deployment.
However, in industrial environments, its performance can be affected by:
- Metal structures
- Electromagnetic interference
- Limited coverage over large areas
- Network congestion
- Limited mobility capabilities when video surveillance systems are complemented by mobile devices carried by security personnel
These limitations become particularly apparent when multiple high-definition video streams must be transmitted simultaneously.
Industrial private 5G: a new approach to secure critical infrastructures
Industrial Private 5G is a dedicated mobile network designed exclusively for the enterprise. Unlike public mobile networks, it gives organizations full control over network performance, data traffic and cybersecurity while providing reliable coverage across complex industrial environments.
See White paper: SMEs and SMBs, get on board for industrial 5G
Coverage designed for large industrial sites
A private 5G network can provide seamless coverage across:
- Seveso industrial sites
- Logistics hubs
- Ports
- Waste treatment facilities
- Energy infrastructure
Security equipment can be deployed quickly without the need for major civil engineering work.
Reliable connectivity for mission-critical applications
Video surveillance cameras, thermal sensors, gas detectors and drones can transmit data in real time.
Mission-critical data flows benefit from controlled and prioritized Quality of Service (QoS).
A scalable infrastructure
Once the private 5G network is deployed, adding new devices becomes much simpler.
Additional cameras, environmental sensors, AGVs, mobile robots and field smartphones can be integrated without major changes to the network infrastructure.
Greater control over data
With a private network architecture, sensitive data remains under the control of the industrial operator.
This approach supports growing requirements for digital sovereignty and cybersecurity.
What are the private 5G use cases for industrial security?
Perimeter surveillance and intrusion detection across an industrial site
5G-connected cameras can monitor access points, perimeter fences and sensitive areas.
Combined with artificial intelligence, they enable:
- Intrusion detection
- People counting
- Suspicious behavior detection
- Authorized vehicle identification
Fire detection with 5G-connected thermal cameras
Thermal cameras and temperature sensors can detect abnormal heat levels before a fire breaks out.
Alerts are transmitted instantly to the control room.
Protecting lone workers with real-time location tracking
Workers equipped with smartphones or connected devices can transmit:
- Their location
- Emergency alerts
- Live video streams
- Mission-critical voice communications
Environmental monitoring and industrial risk detection
Private 5G simplifies the deployment of sensors that monitor:
- Gas emissions
- Smoke
- Humidity
- Temperature
Data is centralized in real time, enabling faster decision-making.
Private 5G networks for industrial inspection drones
5G-connected drones can inspect:
- Hazardous areas
- Rooftops
- Remote facilities
- Hard-to-reach infrastructure
High-quality video is transmitted in real time to the control center.
Fiber, Wi-Fi or industrial private 5G: which technology is the right choice?
Many industrial organizations are evaluating whether to deploy fiber or industrial private 5G. In practice, the two technologies are complementary.
Fiber remains the preferred choice for fixed infrastructure requiring very high bandwidth. Private 5G is better suited to applications that require mobility, scalability and the rapid deployment of new security devices.
Compared with traditional network infrastructures, private 5G combines mobility, high performance and full control over data.
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Let’s consider an industrial site equipped with 20 video surveillance cameras.
- With a fiber architecture: 20 cameras require 20 physical connections to be installed.
- With a Wi-Fi architecture: cameras communicate wirelessly, but each Wi-Fi access point still requires a wired network connection and a power supply.
- With a private 5G architecture: a single 5G antenna can cover multiple cameras, drones, smartphones, sensors and mobile robots. In practice, one antenna can replace several Wi-Fi access points depending on site layout and capacity requirements.
A single physical connection can therefore support multiple types of devices simultaneously.
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For industrial video surveillance projects spread across several hectares, private 5G is often a relevant alternative to systematically extending fiber networks. It enables rapid connection of cameras, sensors, drones and mobile equipment while maintaining a high level of security.
In most industrial projects, the question is no longer about fully replacing fiber. The most effective approach is often to combine both technologies.
Fiber remains suitable for strategic fixed infrastructure. Private 5G brings:
- Greater flexibility
- Lower deployment costs for dispersed devices
- Faster evolution of security systems
- Native mobility for equipment and teams
For surveillance networks spread across large industrial sites, private 5G often removes the need for individual cabling to each camera. This advantage becomes even more significant with the rise of battery-powered cameras recharged by solar energy. It is now possible to install cameras without laying a single cable.
How to secure a waste treatment facility with private 5G? Feedback from the ECOVAL site
To demonstrate the potential of its Dome private 5G network for securing waste treatment facilities, Obvios conducted a field trial at the ECOVAL site in Guichainville, in partnership with Axis Communications and Suez.
The context reflects the challenges found across many industrial sites. Facilities are extensive, equipment is distributed across multiple zones, and surveillance requirements continue to grow.
The objective was to demonstrate that the Obvios Dome private 5G network could replace or complement existing communication infrastructures for critical use cases such as video surveillance, intelligent video analytics and field communications.
Two scenarios were tested:
- Video transmission with line of sight between the camera and the 5G antenna
- Video transmission in an industrial environment with metallic obstacles and complex structures
The results confirmed the robustness of the solution.
The Axis camera connected to the Dome private 5G network transmitted a high-definition video stream with no packet loss observed during testing. The bandwidth required for optimal system performance was measured at approximately 3 Mbit/s.
Embedded video analytics, including people detection and counting, also operated in real time.
Voice and video calls were conducted simultaneously from smartphones connected to the Dome network. Communications remained stable, with no noticeable degradation in quality of service.
The trial demonstrated that a properly dimensioned private 5G infrastructure can support the needs of an industrial security system comprising between 15 and 20 cameras distributed across a large site.
Beyond technical performance, this project confirms the value of private 5G for waste treatment facilities, logistics platforms, energy infrastructure and other industrial environments where network coverage, mobility and cybersecurity are critical challenges.
Industrial cybersecurity: why connectivity must be secured from the design stage
Securing critical infrastructure is no longer limited to fences, cameras or access control systems. Every connected camera, drone or sensor is now a digital device that must be protected against cyber threats.
Obvios Dome solutions integrate a sovereign private 5G architecture developed in France, featuring:
- Secure authentication
- Encrypted communications
- Access control
- Centralized monitoring
- Advanced cybersecurity incident detection
This approach protects both physical infrastructure and digital infrastructure.
See:
How to deploy the Dome private 5G industrial network?
The success of a Dome private 5G deployment project relies on several key steps:
- Operational needs analysis and threat model assessment
- Radio audit and 5G coverage study
- Network architecture design
- Integration of security equipment
- Performance validation
Do you operate an industrial site, a waste treatment facility, a logistics platform or critical infrastructure?
Experts from Obvios support you in assessing your private 5G project, from radio audits to the integration of security equipment and cybersecurity mechanisms.
Services include:
✓ Radio coverage audit
✓ Feasibility study
✓ Private 5G network architecture
✓ Integrated cybersecurity
✓ Deployment support
