Airbus and Ericsson are accelerating digital transformation at their Hamburg and Toulouse plants

• Airbus is advancing its ambitious factory digitization programme, supported by secure, high-performance private 5G connectivity from Ericsson.
• The strategic partnership will expand Ericsson’s private 5G networks beyond France and Germany to additional locations across the UK, US, Spain and beyond.
• Airbus is implementing proprietary 5G connectivity provided by Ericsson to support the digitalization of its factory – from the operator’s workstation to the cabin. This deployment accelerates projects involving 3D simulation, augmented reality, improved parts traceability, and predictive maintenance of assets.

AAirbus and Ericsson have successfully deployed a 5G solution at the Airbus production site in Hamburg, and another deployment is currently underway in Toulouse. This initiative forms part of Airbus’ ambitious digital transformation strategy, which aims to enhance manufacturing automation, traceability and operational efficiency, while meeting the industry’s most stringent safety and security standards.

The partnership between Ericsson and Airbus advances Ericsson Private 5G technology, known for its reliability, security and high performance. The infrastructure automation built into the solution enabled rapid deployment across Airbus operations, significantly shortening implementation timelines compared to traditional setups. This automation allowed Airbus to scale connectivity quickly and securely across multiple sites. Close collaboration with Ericsson’s product team has ensured seamless integration, with the solution tailored to Airbus’s IT tools and cybersecurity requirements. The modular architecture and API-based interfaces have simplified the onboarding process into existing Airbus systems, accelerating time to value and enhancing robust security controls.

With a fully operational private 5G network now in Hamburg and being rolled out in Toulouse (scheduled for completion by 2026), this rollout is part of a broader roadmap to expand the private 5G network across strategic Airbus sites in Europe – including further sites in Spain, the UK and internationally, with projects in the US pending.

This effort reflects Airbus’s commitment to standardizing digital operations and scaling innovation across its global footprint.

“Our goal is to migrate all our industrial networks towards 5G to ensure unified and highly reliable connectivity from the operator’s workstation to the aircraft cabin,” says Hakim Achouri, 5G expert at Airbus. “This deployment accelerates projects that include 3D simulation, augmented reality, improved traceability of parts, and predictive maintenance of our assets. It enables the standardization and scalability made possible by Thanks to this architecture: the solution can be easily replicated across other sites in Europe and around the world.”

“Our collaboration with Airbus embodies the alliance between technological innovation and industry excellence,” says Manish Tiwari, Head of Enterprise 5G, Ericsson Enterprise Wireless Solutions. “Ericsson is proud to support Airbus’ digital transformation ambitions with Ericsson’s proprietary 5G technology, which delivers best-in-class secure connectivity at scale.”

Ericsson Private 5G technology forms the backbone of Airbus’ strategic transformation projects, enabling high-value industrial use cases such as Internet of Things (IoT) integration, intelligent management of critical equipment, real-time quality control, and collaborative robotics. With seamless and complete site coverage using the private 5G network, machines and operators on the production floor gain true mobility, enhanced productivity, process agility and comprehensive industrial control, all of which are key to realizing the full potential of Industry 4.0.

This new phase underscores Airbus and Ericsson’s commitment to the future of industrial connectivity, characterized by advanced 5G Standalone (SA) technology and next-generation deployment models, which are also poised to accelerate the use of 5G in office environments. In addition, joint R&D efforts focus on connected cabins, 6G and non-terrestrial networks (NTN), enhancing the connectivity ecosystem for aerospace and smart manufacturing applications.

Through this strategic partnership, Airbus and Ericsson are accelerating the digital transformation of the aviation industry, laying the foundation for the next generation of smart factories – fully connected, scalable, and highly innovation-focused across Europe and the world.

Airbus and Ericsson to accelerate digital transformation at their Hamburg and Toulouse plants made their debut at Air Cargo Week.