Verizon and Nokia win order to build one of the largest private 5G builds in the U.K.

Verizon Business and Nokia announced on June 25, 2025 that they have signed an agreement to deploy multiple private 5G deployments in Thames Freeport, UK. Thames Freeport is one of the UK's busiest shipping and logistics hubs, and the private 5G network will be deployed in several industrial sites along the Thames estuary.

Under the agreement, Nokia will provide the local wireless solution Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC), the edge computing infrastructure Nokia MX Industrial Edge (MXIE), and the necessary hardware and software. Verizon Business will oversee the design, build, and operation of the network and develop a private 5G environment optimized for industrial applications.

The three sites where private 5G will be deployed are DP World London Gateway (a logistics facility that includes a container port and rail terminal), the Port of Tilbury, and the Ford Dagenham plant. The network will be built for advanced applications such as AI-driven data analysis, predictive maintenance, process automation, autonomous vehicle control, safety monitoring, and real-time logistics orchestration.

Jennifer Artley, SVP of 5G Promotion for Verizon Business, emphasized that the new project "shows the full potential of private 5G at scale. The network will also create a new revenue stream for the company," she added.

Materials

• Nokia selected by Verizon as hardware and software provider for Thames Freeport multisite private 5G deal
• Verizon and Nokia win one of the largest private 5G projects in the UK
• Verizon Business, Nokia win Thames Freeport private 5G networks deal in UK
• Verizon wins private 5G contract for UK's Thames Freeport