Matthew BoyleIn order to launch a new “prototyping line,” Telefónica and Siemens will give Spanish battery manufacturer Basquevolt the “best scientific and connectivity solutions” at its plant in Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital of the spanish Country region in northern Spain. The project calls for “ultra-reliable low-latency” ( URLLC ) private 5G comms networks, possibly from Siemens itself, and specifies an ultra-fast and highly secure industrial network upgrade. However, there is n’t even the slightest hint of 5G or, for that matter, industrial-grade Wi-Fi 6/7.
Otherwise, the agreement focuses on fiber connectivity, along with some cutting-edge improvements and a high-pressure cybersecurity solution. These are the “best” solutions—confirmed by Telefónica at this point—and will aid in raising Basquevolt’s online game in a test environment in order to “integrate digitalization” across its manufacturing operations.
The “prime” in the new agreement is Telefónica, and Basquevolt has given the telecoms company control of the complex project to provide “advanced digitalization services” for this prototype-scale manufacturing facility, including the provision of connectivity and equipment. Telefónica has brought Siemens in. In order to cover both IT and OT infrastructure, the Colonial company will even provide specialized services and cybersecurity capabilities. According to the statement,” cybersecurity through the business process” is “key to this strategic project]and]to advancing energy mobility.”
When asked what the specified “local-area OT network” consists of, Telefónica replied that it would include all the communications required to meet all machinery requirements and to deliver data into the various operating systems in the appropriate format. This included whether Siemens was the vendor or a private 5G network for Basquevolt.  ,
There are no Wi-Fi or cellular [networks ] within the scope of this facility, it continued. It is not required to deploy 5G infrastructure at this point in the project. Since personal networks are crucial for industry digitalization and Telefonica, a leading 5G operator, has the knowledge to develop them, it could be regarded as an implementation at later stages of the project.
Solid-state lithium batteries are produced by Basquevolt, and Telefónica referred to the industry as “unique on the continent in terms of its technology.” Its novel “prototyping line” will have an unknown LAN OT network that is “perfectly adjusted to all the communication requirements of the machines both in the production process and the plant operating systems.” The new communications infrastructure will adhere to ISA/IEC technological standards. ANSI/ISA 95 and 62443. Switches and routers will be provided by Siemens from its Scalance line of professional communications equipment.
The three businesses have been working” for months” on a solution that will “house” the essential systems that reliably run Basquevolt’s manufacturing processes, they claimed. They emphasized once more that the fresh setup’s central tenet has been cybersecurity. According to Telefónica,” a number of solutions have been put in place to safeguard the commercial perimeter, segment, and stop unwelcome traffic, as well as to identify and address any potential threats to the Basque company’s end devices.”
” The cutting-edge battery technology that will be developed in this prototype plant requires an extremely strong IT/OT network that allows the control and management of devices, processes, and infrastructure, guaranteeing continuous improvement in the productivity, quality, efficiency and flexibility of our manufacturing operations,” said Basquevolt CEO Francisco Carranza.
