{"id":78431,"date":"2026-03-17T11:11:07","date_gmt":"2026-03-17T11:11:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dralysstore.com\/blog\/?p=78431"},"modified":"2026-03-17T11:11:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T11:11:07","slug":"private-5g-emerges-as-fix-for-warehouse-robot-connectivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dralysstore.com\/blog\/private-5g-emerges-as-fix-for-warehouse-robot-connectivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Private 5G Emerges as Fix for Warehouse Robot Connectivity"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As fleets of autonomous robots expand across warehouses and retail operations, the robots-as-a-service (RaaS) market is projected to grow more than 30% annually through 2030 \u2014 driving demand for more reliable wireless connectivity than traditional Wi-Fi can provide.<\/p>\n

Private 5G networking firm Celona<\/a> and connectivity provider Digi International<\/a> began delivering the next generation of RaaS at scale for major retail operations in January. They recently explained their new technology at the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a unique, private 5G connectivity system that prevents robots from falling offline, compromising safety, and accidentally destroying inventory.<\/p>\n

The two companies teamed up to integrate Digi\u2019s industrial edge devices and gateways with Celona\u2019s private 5G LAN platform. That means Digi-certified hardware, such as rugged routers and internet of things (IoT) gateways, works natively to improve reliability in warehouse operations where traditional Wi-Fi struggles.<\/p>\n

Inventory tracking using computer vision, autonomous robots, and connected workers requires low-latency, high-capacity wireless networks. Digi\u2019s industrial routers and edge devices bridge the gap between legacy equipment such as programmable logic controllers (PLCs), sensors, and private networks, making it easier to deploy and scale automated systems across retail environments.<\/p>\n

Mehmet Yavuz, co-founder and CTO of Celona, emphasized that reliable connectivity is essential for safe, high-performing retail environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe discovered that many of the robots or autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) don\u2019t have the 5G module embedded,\u201d he told the E-Commerce Times.<\/p>\n

Amir Bushehri, strategic alliance director at Digi, said such vehicles are common in warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing environments.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the old days, there were more automated guided vehicles [AGVs] that moved along magnetic tape or rods. Today\u2019s warehouse robots are becoming increasingly autonomous, and they need better connectivity because of safety requirements,\u201d he told the E-Commerce Times.<\/p>\n

Why Wi-Fi Fails Warehouse Robots<\/h3>\n

AMRs use onboard sensors, cameras, and AI to navigate, map, and move materials through facilities without fixed paths, markers, or constant human guidance. Unlike AGVs, they dynamically plan routes to avoid obstacles, making them ideal for dynamic warehouse and manufacturing environments.<\/p>\n

Bushehri explained that AMRs move around, guided from one radio to another. Operators need to know where these devices are at all times. If the vehicles fail to signal a heartbeat and suddenly shut down, it poses a significant operational safety risk.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt needs a heartbeat. If you lose two heartbeats, for example, most typical systems will shut down. And it\u2019s a big deal now for someone to go chase that robot on the shop floor and report that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Given Wi-Fi\u2019s limitations as robot fleets grow, private 5G can provide more reliable, lower-latency connectivity for warehouse automation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt works because we\u2019re stationary. When you start moving at 40 miles per hour and add multiple robots to that network, Wi-Fi fails. Time and time again, the moment you go past two or three robots, it just fails,\u201d he complained.<\/p>\n

Robot Collisions Raise Safety Risks<\/h3>\n

Yavuz shared that the robot situation can be more chaotic than a busy highway. Another challenge is the command-and-control process.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach robot gets an order saying, \u2018Okay, go to aisle X, shelf Y, and pick up item Z and bring it to location A.\u2019 So, they constantly must get the commands in terms of what they need to do next,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Yavuz added that autonomous robots, similar to autonomous cars, use cameras and other vehicle features as safeguards. He focused on the safety concerns of operations in a warehouse with 500 robots.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have facilities like that, and they are going at 30 miles an hour. These things are moving along these tracks, but it is like a three-dimensional movement up to a certain shelf height. Then, in that aisle, you have a lot of these things going at very high speeds,\u201d he cautioned.<\/p>\n

Bushehri agreed that safety is a major concern. Collisions can occur because, by the time a moving robot stops after missing a heartbeat signal, another robot may still be connected and operating. That risk, along with concerns about human safety, underscores the need for reliable connectivity that Wi-Fi often cannot provide.<\/p>\n

RaaS Emerges as a New Industry<\/h3>\n

The goal of creating the RaaS model was to help customers seamlessly connect robots to Digi gear and to Celona\u2019s private 5G network. The collaboration simplifies integration and reduces deployment concerns for retail stakeholders.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked with the robotic manufacturers so the customer was not left to find a solution in isolation,\u201d Yavuz said. \u201cAt this point, the manufacturers don\u2019t have the expertise in private 5G. That\u2019s why we made it as a subscription service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bushehri sees RaaS as unique. He said he is not aware of competitors identifying an industry problem and offering a complete solution.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur competitors sell the pieces of it, kind of like what we were doing originally with the end users. Nobody\u2019s come together that I\u2019ve seen with a full plug-and-play solution that\u2019s fully supported and takes the work from the robotic manufacturers,\u201d said Bushehri.<\/p>\n

Their cooperation has become a partnership on the cloud platform they call Celona 5G LAN<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Private 5G vs Wi-Fi Economics<\/h3>\n

Yavuz agreed that many retail warehouse operators consider RaaS as an alternative to Wi-Fi. Sometimes, customers subscribe to the cloud service as a complement to a Wi-Fi-based robotic network.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut in this case, in a warehouse, the customers have two options. They can either deploy maybe 100 Wi-Fi radios, or they can put five to 10 5G radios to control their robots,\u201d he suggested.<\/p>\n

Bushehri added that the service\u2019s cost aligns with the OPEX (operating expenditure) business model, in which a company focuses on ongoing, day-to-day operating costs rather than investing large amounts of capital up front.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a monthly price versus having 10 robots costing $1,000 per robot. That fee includes centralized visibility, telemetry, and a fully supported solution. It\u2019s a managed service on our end,\u201d he reasoned.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

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Published by Dralys Blog \u2013 Stories | Insights | Innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Discover more on DralysStore.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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