NTT Data and Zebra Technologies partner on private 5G and device as a service

NTT data, an IT infrastructure and services company, has partnered with Zebra Technologies to collaborate on private 5G devices in the enterprise. The goal is to power AI at the edge.

The goal is to accelerate innovation in the 5G device ecosystem, laying the foundation for widespread adoption across industries.

Under this multi-year agreement, NTT Data and Zebra Technologies will drive 5G adoption
devices, which is essential for private adoption of 5G. Together, the two companies will enable intelligent asset tracking that enables real-time monitoring and management of assets across industrial and enterprise deployments, ensuring improved visibility, efficiency and security capabilities critical to Industry 4.0 supply chain management.

A critical barrier to private 5G adoption is the availability of 5G devices for businesses. This partnership will bridge this gap for connected devices in the enterprise-private 5G market, which will grow 35% globally over the next four years and reach nearly $10 billion by 2028, according to market researcher Omdia.

Strengthening the private landscape of 5G devices

The agreement establishes Zebra Technologies as a strategic partner within NTT Data’s Device as a Service practice, making it easier for customers to access, upgrade and simplify the lifecycle of 5G devices.

Available globally, customers will benefit from the continued modernization of device deployments and the ability to leverage new connectivity solutions with an industry-leading suite of Wi-Fi, Private LTE and Private 5G enabled devices.

This news follows NTT Data’s recent collaboration with Qualcomm aimed at accelerating the evolution of the 5G device ecosystem. As companies accelerate digital transformation, more connectivity is needed to support Industry 4.0 applications and AI adoption at the edge.

“In our continued efforts to drive the adoption of Private 5G and Edge AI within enterprises, we are excited to join forces with Zebra Technologies globally,” said Shahid Ahmed, group executive vice president of edge services at NTT Data, in a statement. “This alliance underscores our commitment to providing enterprises with transformative capabilities that drive edge and private 5G use cases and data-driven experiences.”

By leveraging NTT Data’s private 5G leadership and Zebra Technologies’ expertise in intelligent data integration, asset management and first-tier coordination, the two companies aim to make the low latency and high security features of private 5G devices easily accessible for frontline workers in the automotive, manufacturing, healthcare and logistics sectors.

“Our partnership with NTT Data underscores our commitment to providing customers with the latest innovations powered by Wi-Fi, Private LTE and Private 5G networks,” said Julie Johnson, senior vice president of
Enterprise Mobile Computing, Zebra Technologies “We are excited to leverage the global scale of NTT Data’s capabilities for the benefit of our customers and to be an essential part of a growing ecosystem of 5G devices so that businesses can thrive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape.”

Taking network implementation to the next level

NTT Data is deploying a private 5G network across Hyster-Yale Group’s manufacturing operations. Hyster-Yale Group also uses NTT Data’s device as a device to gain visibility into assets and materials and improve communications within its facilities. This network will work with Zebra Technologies’ wearable mobile computers and tablets to track assets and materials as they enter and leave production sites, providing critical business intelligence while also seamlessly connecting engineers, on-site teams, production lines and material storage locations .

This all comes together through a cost-effective deployment at scale that is efficiently managed through NTT
Data’s Device as a Service practice.

“By adding Zebra devices to our Store Front, we have been able to purchase units through our device as a service program with NTT Data, allowing us to get many more SKU customizations within a standard device set,” said Pierluigi Mastroddi, Director of IT Infrastructure Services at Hyster-Yale Group, in a statement.

Benefits of Device as a Service model

NTT Data’s device as a service provides customers with a comprehensive turnkey solution for managing the entire device lifecycle. It provides expert planning, procurement, configuration, deployment, ongoing support, analytics, repair management and device decommissioning, all overseen by a trusted partner. This allows customers to use a cost-effective per-user, per-month program model to consume technology products on a subscription, pay-per-user basis rather than purchasing/owning the equipment.