Europe’s First Nuclear Power Plant with Private 5G Connectivity

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In a significant step for critical infrastructure modernisation, the Temelín Nuclear Power Station in Czechia has become the first nuclear power plant in Europe to operate with a private 5G mobile network. This milestone, achieved through a collaboration between ČEZ Group and Vodafone, underscores the potential of private 5G networks in enhancing safety, efficiency, and digital transformation within energy generation facilities.

ČEZ Group is one of Central Europe’s largest energy companies, playing a vital role in supplying electricity, heat, and natural gas to millions of customers across Czechia and neighbouring countries. The group is also deeply committed to the European Union’s climate targets, focusing on emission-free energy production through nuclear and renewables, as well as pioneering innovations in the broader energy sector. With operations spanning multiple European markets and a workforce of over 33,000, ČEZ is a key player in the region’s energy transition.

Temelín Nuclear Power Station, owned and operated by ČEZ, is located in South Bohemia and employs around 1,000 people. As a critical energy asset, the site requires high levels of operational reliability, safety, and security. The integration of a private 5G mobile network is a strategic move to support these objectives while enabling next-generation communication technologies.

The 5G mobile private network (MPN) at Temelín, deployed in 2024, offers dramatically improved capacity compared to previous technologies, with performance up to a hundred times greater than that of 4G. This allows the connection of many more devices and supports the transfer of high-bandwidth data streams essential for real-time applications and intelligent operations.

Initially covering the plant’s outdoor areas and selected parts of one production unit, the 5G network is being used in a pilot phase to replace traditional communication tools such as walkie-talkies. Future use cases include support for augmented reality glasses, which can aid technicians during maintenance and inspection activities by providing visual overlays and remote guidance.

A key benefit of the private 5G setup is its full independence from public mobile networks. All data traffic and infrastructure remain securely managed within the nuclear facility, an essential requirement for maintaining strict control over critical systems. The network’s isolation ensures resilience against external disruptions while enabling secure digitalisation of plant operations.

Temelín’s deployment also sets a precedent for other power facilities in Europe. ČEZ will use insights from this pilot to evaluate the feasibility of extending private 5G networks to additional sites, supporting broader efforts to modernise and future-proof the continent’s energy infrastructure.

As the energy sector continues to adopt advanced technologies, the integration of private 5G networks in high-security environments such as nuclear power plants marks an important shift toward more connected, efficient, and secure operations.

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