Latvia’s leading technology company LMT, in collaboration with wood processing company Kurekss, has installed the first private 5G network in the Baltic states for this type of manufacturing facility. This project marks a new stage in industrial digitalization, ensuring higher efficiency, security, and innovation opportunities in the wood processing sector.
A private 5G network is a closed mobile network created for a company’s needs that operates independently from the public network. It ensures stable and fast data transmission, security, and the ability to connect various equipment – from production line sensors to tablets and autonomous equipment. Unlike Wi-Fi, a 5G network provides reliable connectivity even in motion, which is essential across large production facilities.
Private 5G networks are a significant step in the development of industrial digitalization. They allow companies to implement solutions that require particularly fast, stable, and secure connectivity – from automated production lines to IoT and robotics. LMT was the first in Latvia to begin 5G implementation, and today we see how this technology is becoming the foundation for the industry of the future. Our goal is not only to strengthen the competitiveness of Latvian companies but also to create solutions with export potential that will help the Baltic region become an innovation leader.
Juris Binde, President of LMTWood processing company Kurekss has previously implemented several significant digital solutions, for example, GOLDENEYE 901 scanners for lumber quality control, the WoodHub system for production process management, and automated lines for efficiency improvement. These solutions have allowed the company to be among the industry leaders in innovation, and the implementation of a private 5G network is the next step in this direction. The project was implemented in collaboration with the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and EDIC (European Digital Innovation Hub).
Digitalization is the foundation of our strategy, and the implementation of a private 5G network is a logical next step. It will allow us to manage production processes even more efficiently, use IoT solutions, and prepare for future innovations. We see this project as a significant investment in the company's sustainability and competitiveness.
Edgars Makarovs, Board Member of KurekssPrivate 5G networks are applicable to a wide range of industries – from manufacturing and logistics to healthcare, education, and security solutions. LMT installed the first private 5G network in Latvia in August 2024 at the Baltic Container Terminal in Riga Freeport.
The LMT group is already implementing similar projects outside Latvia, for example, at Klaipėda Port in Lithuania, where LMT group company UAB Santa Monica Networks together with LMT won a tender for private 5G network research and design. This will be the first private 5G network in Lithuania, which is planned to be completed in 2026.