• With significant decreases in capital and operating costs as well as sharp drops in emissions, 87% of adopters see a return on investment in less than a year.
  • The business case is strengthened by AI-powered edge roll-outs and sustainability results, as companies profit from increased worker safety, productivity, and environmental impact.

What happened: Study shows rapid ROI and sustainability gains from private wireless and edge

Nokia and GlobalData’s newly published 2025 Industrial Digitalisation Report finds that 87 per cent of industrial enterprises which have deployed private wireless networks alongside on-site edge infrastructure see a return on investment (ROI) within one year Nokia.

Cost-wise, 81 per cent of respondents say setup costs are lower compared to alternative wireless options—over 60 per cent report savings of at least 11 per cent Nokia. On the operational side, 86 per centobserved reduced opex, with 60 per cent achieving at least 11 per cent in savings Nokia.

Sustainability gains are also pronounced: 94 per cent report lower carbon emissions, with 41 per cent achieving reductions exceeding 20 per cent, and 89 per cent realising energy savings Nokia.

Moreover, the convergence of AI with edge and private wireless technologies is driving innovation: 94 per cent of enterprises have deployed the combo, and 70 per cent are using it to power AI-driven applications such as predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and digital twins Nokia.

A compelling real-world example comes from chemical giant BASF, whose Antwerp site deployed Nokia’s private wireless network to advance automation, safety, predictive capability and sustainability—hitting ROI in just two years and paving the way for broader group adoption Nokia.

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Why it’s important

This report furnishes a powerful new hook: private 5G and edge infrastructure are no longer speculative investments—they’re delivering measurable financial, operational, and environmental returns within industrial settings.

The findings bolster the broader narrative that private networking is a critical enabler of Industry 4.0 transformation:

  • Financial rationale: ROI in under a year, combined with substantial capex and opex cuts, makes deployment less of an experiment and more of a sound investment.
  • AI transformation: Edge-enabled private networks support advanced use cases that were traditionally out of reach—AI-based systems like digital twins and predictive monitoring become practical and secure.
  • Sustainability alignment: Reductions in emissions and energy usage support corporate ESG targets, adding a green dimension to the ROI narrative.
  • Strategic market dynamics: With the global private wireless market forecast to nearly double to US$8 billion by 2027 Nokia, Nokia’s data arms industry leaders with a stronger case for investment—as they juggle cost-efficiency, innovation and environmental goals.

While the core story emphasises numbers, the broader implication is a shift in discourse: private wireless plus edge is becoming a business imperative rather than an experimental luxury. Industrial firms that delay risk falling behind—not just technologically, but financially and ethically too.

Moreover, with examples like BASF’s Antwerp facility and upcoming deployments such as Nokia and Verizon’s private 5G installation at the Thames Freeport Reuters, we are seeing early movers turn investment into transformation—industrial environments becoming smarter, leaner, and cleaner.