Nokia is providing private wireless connectivity and network edge equipment to international non-profit The Ocean Cleanup to help rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
The telco giant announced the collaboration in line with its environmental strategy and commitment to advancing the role of technology in combatting climate change.
Subho Mukherjee, head of sustainability at Nokia, said: “Through our subsea optical fiber networks, innovations such as acoustic sensing technology, remote environmental monitoring, or private wireless, Nokia can – and will – continue to play an important role in the marine environment.”
“We are proud to support and collaborate with The Ocean Cleanup, and look forward to see how our technology can genuinely drive sustainable change and help protect critical natural resources and habitats.”
Nokia says it is focused on using its technology to combat issues like plastic waste as well as other issues facing the environment.
According to UNESCO, plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution and 8 to 10 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean every year.
The Ocean Cleanup is an international non-profit that aims to address the issue of plastic pollution by developing and scaling technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic.
It works to do so in two ways: through stemming the inflow of plastics into rivers as well as cleaning up plastic already accumulated in the ocean.
The group uses a variety of interception solutions to stop and remove riverine plastic before it reaches the ocean.
Nokia has already worked with its European partner MCS to deploy the first private wireless solution using Nokia Digital Automation Cloud (DAC) for The Ocean Cleanup in the North Pacific.
The solution leverages Nokia’s MX Industrial Edge and analytics technology to provide high-end video connectivity over 4G, supporting The Ocean Cleanup’s navigation and extraction operations.
Stephan Litjens, VP of enterprise campus edge solutions at Nokia, said: “Our Nokia DAC private wireless network and Nokia MXIE edge computing system will ensure reliable, cost-effective voice and data communication between the two ships involved in the clean-up operation. With secure coverage on open sea also enabling video and analytics, this solution improves worker safety and provides high visibility and scouting of target clean-up areas.”
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