Ericsson and international Internet of Things (IoT) service provider Net Feasa have announced a partnership to deploy 4G and 5G connectivity on board container vessels, integrating mobile network technology with an agentic Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven data layer to improve cargo visibility.
The technology utilises Ericsson Radio System products, using the Ericsson On-Demand 5G core network, alongside the Agentic Control Tower platform from Net Feasa. Backhaul connectivity between the vessels and the core network is maintained using Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems, with international roaming running on a public cloud.
“Maritime operators need secure, reliable connectivity that follows the vessel, wherever it sails. Alongside Net Feasa, we are bringing onboard 4G and 5G cellular networks to the world’s container fleets, establishing the foundation for data driven operations and AI enabled services from ship to shore,” said Andres Vicente, Head of Southeast Asia, Oceania and India at Ericsson.
“With container vessels as our starting point, the scope of what we can achieve across the entire global shipping industry is immense. Together, we are shaping the future of connected, intelligent shipping.”
The platform is designed to scale and connect thousands of assets per vessel, allowing shipping companies, vessel owners, and port operators to access real-time, end-to-end visibility of cargo from the point of departure to the destination port.
The companies note that live maritime deployments are already under way, for specific use cases such as reefer monitoring, dangerous goods handling, and early heat detection.
“Digitalisation of the intermodal supply chain is at a tipping point. With the advent of agentic AI, we are gathering data from everything that moves, analysing and securing this data, and empowering carriers to act on this data across their operations,” said Mike Fitzgerald, Chairman and Founder at Net Feasa.
“This landmark partnership has the potential to transform the global maritime industry not just from an operational efficiency perspective but across employee safety, cargo risk reduction and compliance.”