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Predictive Utilization of cloud Logic and Sensors for Efficiency with 5G - PULSE-5G / Simtera ICT successfully concludes B5G pilot within IMAGINE-B5G Open Call 3

Simtera ICT successfully completed its participation in IMAGINE-B5G Open Call 3, testing the PULSE-5G PLC-as-a-Service (PLCaaS) solution at the “Norwegian IMAGINE-B5G indoor 5G” facility over a 6-month period. The trials demonstrated reliable end-to-end edge–cloud control and AI-driven diagnostics under realistic industrial conditions, showcasing the potential of 5G-enabled PLCaaS for Industry 4.0 and industrial automation.

IMAGINE-B5G is a Horizon Europe / SNS JU initiative that provides an advanced end-to-end 5G/B5G platform enabling large-scale trials and pilots across Europe. The project federates experimental facilities in Norway, Spain, Portugal, and France, offering SMEs, start-ups, academia, and industry access to test innovative vertical applications and platform extensions. PULSE-5G was one of the 15 projects selected in Open Call 3.

The project aimed to address the limitations of traditional hardware-bound PLC architectures in supporting flexible, low-latency industrial automation. Simtera ICT deployed the PULSE-5G PLCaaS solution using the “Norwegian IMAGINE-B5G indoor 5G” facility to test end-to-end latency, reliability, and scalability of edge–cloud control loops under realistic industrial scenarios. The methodology included on-site trials, timestamp-based latency measurements across the full pipeline (edge, network, cloud, and application layers), controlled demonstrations, and simulated high-frequency sensor data injection. The project achieved the following results:

  • ● Successful validation of a PLCaaS-based edge–cloud control loop with AI-driven diagnostics under real 5G conditions
  • ● Demonstration of stable and predictable end-to-end latency, where overall delay reflected combined effects of network transmission, cloud processing, and AI model execution rather than 5G latency alone
  • ● Validation of scalable data ingestion using physical vibration sensors and simulated plastic injection molding data, confirming system robustness for Industry 4.0 use cases

The project contributed to the technological and industrial validation of a 5G-enabled PLCaaS architecture integrating soft PLCs, smart sensors, and AI-based predictive maintenance within an edge–cloud continuum for Industry 4.0 manufacturing. These results demonstrate the readiness of PLCaaS combined with AI-driven diagnostics and closed-loop control over a 5G-enabled edge–cloud infrastructure for large-scale industrial pilots, further research activities, and progressive industry adoption and strengthen Europe’s position in the B5G ecosystem.

Simtera ICT plans to scale up the solution through follow-up high-TRL industrial pilots, commercialization of PLCaaS-based services, extended R&D on energy-aware and GenAI-enabled automation workflows, and strategic collaborations with OEMs, system integrators, and manufacturing end users.