MANAMA — Leading digital enabler stc Bahrain has entered into a strategic partnership with premier industrial maritime hub Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) to execute the commercial deployment of Bahrain’s first Private 5G Network. The infrastructure rollout establishes a foundational wireless architecture designed to power advanced shipyard automation and artificial intelligence driven Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) systems, creating smarter, safer, and more efficient maritime engineering operations across the Kingdom.
Engineered specifically to meet the stringent demands of heavy industrial and maritime environments, the dedicated Private 5G network delivers ultra low latency, high bandwidth, and enterprise grade security required for mission critical Industry 4.0 workflows. Across ASRY’s drydocks and fabrication yards, the dedicated cellular fabric will power intelligent visual monitoring via AI enabled closed circuit television (CCTV), real time Digital Twin simulations to optimize industrial asset performance, and autonomous inspection robots deployed to elevate workplace safety standards. Furthermore, the private wireless grid directly supports automated heavy industrial tasks encompassing robotic hull cleaning, automated welding, and precision surface preparation, boosting engineering accuracy, minimizing vessel turnaround downtime, and ensuring long term operational scalability.
Hesham Mustafa, Chief Business and Wholesale Officer at stc Bahrain, stated that partnering with ASRY to commission Bahrain’s inaugural commercial Private 5G Network marks a major milestone in the nation’s industrial modernization. Mustafa noted that integrating dedicated Private 5G connectivity alongside Industrial IoT, artificial intelligence, and autonomous robotics equips ASRY with secure, reliable, and future ready digital infrastructure capable of elevating yard safety, operational efficiency, and overall productivity.
Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Khalifa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at ASRY, emphasized that adopting a commercial Private 5G network enhances yard wide operational efficiency and positions the company at the forefront of smart maritime engineering. Shaikh Mohammed added that the deployment extends beyond high speed wireless connectivity by harnessing digitalization, industrial automation, and real time data analytics to enable faster decision making, modernize regional maritime capabilities, and shape the future of shipyards across Bahrain and the wider Gulf region.
By expanding its enterprise telecommunications portfolio with dedicated Private 5G and industrial artificial intelligence architectures, stc Bahrain continues to bolster national industrial competitiveness while advancing a sustainable, knowledge based digital economy aligned with Bahrain’s Economic Vision 2030.
