Nokia to deploy wireless connectivity, network edge equipment and analytics for The Ocean Cleanup to rid the oceans off plastic
The Ocean Cleanup, a global non-profit initiative working to develop and scale technology to clean the oceans of plastic, has announced that Nokia will install private wireless connectivity, network edge devices, and analytics.
The partnership is consistent with Nokia’s upgraded Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy and a broader, long-standing commitment to enhancing the role of technology in battling climate change and reducing environmental consequences.
Nokia is focused on the role its products play in resolving some of the most pressing problems facing the world today. Nokia uses connectivity and digitalization to boost productivity that has stalled, give everyone access to opportunity, lessen pressure on the environment and natural ecosystems, and solve these problems. Some 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic debris enter the ocean each year, making up 80% of all marine contamination, according to UNESCO.
The first Nokia DAC private wireless solution for The Ocean Cleanup’s operations in the North Pacific has already been successfully implemented by Nokia and MCS, Nokia’s partner for Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) distribution in the Benelux. More systems will be deployed in the future. Nokia DAC is an edge computing and high-performance, end-to-end private wireless networking platform. For applications including high-end video connectivity over 4G technology, the Nokia connectivity, Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE), and analytics will be utilized to guide The Ocean Cleanup’s operations while collecting garbage in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
By providing immediate, up-to-date, and continuous information on the status of the environment, whether on land or in the sea, 5G, private wireless, edge computing, sensors, AI-based analytics, drones, and other advanced technologies will play an increasingly important role in supporting the conservation and sustainability of our natural environment. The Ocean Cleanup gives me the chance to further investigate that function.
Subho Mukherjee, Nokia’s head of sustainability, said: “Nokia can – and will – continue to play a vital role in the marine environment through our subsea optical fiber networks, technologies like acoustic sensor technology, remote environmental monitoring, or private wifi. We are pleased to support and work with The Ocean Cleanup, and we are eager to explore how our technology can actually promote sustainable change and contribute to the preservation of vital ecosystems and natural resources.
At Nokia, we believe that there is no green without digital and that we have our biggest positive impact on people’s lives and the environment through our products and solutions,” said Stephan Litjens, Vice President of Enterprise Campus Edge Solutions at Nokia. This project is a prime example of that. The two ships taking part in the cleanup operation will be able to communicate with each other reliably and affordably thanks to our Nokia DAC private wireless network and Nokia MXIE edge computing technology. This system enhances worker safety and offers great visibility and reconnaissance of target clean-up regions because it enables video and analytics while still providing secure coverage on open sea.
