From its beginnings in 1837 with the creation of the self-scouring steel plow to its pioneering advancements in modern precision agriculture, John Deere has consistently sought to revolutionize the agriculture and heavy equipment industry.
Today, the company is blazing a trail in Industry 4.0 by leveraging private 5G networks to transform its manufacturing operations and deliver cutting-edge products to its customers.
John Deere’s early embrace of 5G connectivity began in 2020 when it secured licenses for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service. This spectrum allows private organizations to deploy their own cellular networks without relying on traditional telecom providers. Choosing to manage its cellular network in-house, John Deere rapidly established its first production network in just six weeks, setting a high benchmark for speed and technical prowess.
Today, 5G is integral to John Deere’s manufacturing facilities around the world.
“When we started in 2020 this was a completely wild notion. It was all about understanding what the art of the possible would be,” Jason Wallin, principal architect at John Deere, told Fierce Network in an October 2024 interview. “Now, this is certainly mainstream for deployments going forward. I think what we see is we are probably two to three years ahead of where the market is at this point, and we’ll see more and more of those integrations going forward.”
“When we started in 2020 this was a completely wild notion. It was all about understanding what the art of the possible would be.”
More than 100 automated guided vehicles use 5G to transport engines, drivetrains and other parts within factories. The network’s ultra-low latency enables AGVs to operate seamlessly while reducing manual intervention and improving safety. Additionally, 5G-powered computer vision tools perform real-time quality inspections and monitor worker safety, ensuring a higher standard of precision and reliability.
5G also facilitates assembly line optimization. For instance, wireless torque tools measure and adjust torque levels with accuracy, and the network allows entire assembly lines to be reconfigured in hours instead of days. These advancements demonstrate how John Deere leverages 5G to enhance both flexibility and productivity in its factories.
Why 5G Over WiFi?
While Wi-Fi remains a ubiquitous choice for industrial connectivity, John Deere identified several advantages of 5G that make it a superior alternative for many applications. These include:
- Device density: John Deere’s private 5G network can support up to 800 devices per radio, compared to just 50 on a typical Wi-Fi access point. This scalability is critical as the company expects a 20-fold increase in connected devices on its factory floors over the next few years.
- Seamless mobility: Unlike Wi-Fi, which struggles with handoffs between access points, 5G provides smoother transitions for devices in motion, making it ideal for AGVs, robots and other mobile equipment.
- Enhanced security: 5G offers stronger encryption and a more robust security posture, crucial for protecting the sensitive data exchanged in manufacturing environments.
- Greater range: The broader propagation of 5G signals allows Deere to connect equipment across expansive facilities and even outdoor spaces, reducing the need for wired connections.
Scaling Up for Global Impact
John Deere’s investment in private 5G networks is scaling globally. Starting with 12 of its 60 factories worldwide, the company plans to extend this technology to more locations, including facilities in Europe and Brazil. While many of the networks initially rely on LTE 4G technology, John Deere is gradually migrating to standalone 5G, ensuring compatibility with emerging technologies and future-proofing its infrastructure.
In tandem with these efforts, John Deere is influencing its supply chain by pushing equipment suppliers to add cellular connectivity to their products. This collaborative approach has led to tools like 5G-connected torque wrenches and computer vision devices becoming integral to factory operations.
John Deere’s use of 5G not only enhances efficiency but also aligns with its sustainability goals. For example, replacing Ethernet cables with wireless connectivity reduces the need for copper wire. Each 1,000 feet of ethernet cable requires about 15 pounds of copper, and John Deere’s transition to wireless networks is significantly cutting down on this material’s use.
“It’s really an exciting time for us because that allows us to reduce overall copper usage in the factory,” Wallin said.
Moreover, private 5G networks can be more cost-effective than Wi-Fi in large-scale deployments. A single 5G radio can replace up to 20 Wi-Fi access points, reducing infrastructure costs and complexity. This cost efficiency is vital as John Deere integrates thousands of connected devices across millions of square feet in its factories.
“The biggest advantage that we see over Wi-Fi is for things that move around the shop,” Wallin explained. “It’s really important for us that we hand off quickly and cleanly between each one of those radios and we were not able to do that with the traditional Wi-Fi of the past.”
Private 5G: The Competitive Edge
John Deere considers private 5G a strategic advantage, a core component of its “secret sauce” for manufacturing excellence.
“It is a superior form of connectivity,” Wallin said. “We believe that the advantage that private 5G gives us is so foundational that it really becomes a part of our secret sauce of how we do manufacturing, and an opportunity for us to extend our IP in that space.”
“The advantage that private 5G gives us is so foundational that it really becomes a part of our secret sauce of how we do manufacturing.”
The company views this technology as fundamental to its ability to deliver high-quality products and meet growing customer demands. By integrating 5G into its manufacturing processes, Deere enhances real-time data processing, predictive maintenance and the creation of digital twins — virtual replicas of physical systems that provide actionable insights for continuous improvement.
John Deere’s adoption of 5G has not been without challenges, according to Wallin. Managing a private network requires a unique skill set, blending expertise in industrial operational technology, enterprise networking and 3GPP standards. To address this, John Deere has focused on hiring individuals with two of these three skills and training them in the third, building a specialized team capable of maintaining its cutting-edge infrastructure.
By combining advanced connectivity with automation, AI and IoT, the company is not only transforming its own operations but also setting a standard for others in the manufacturing sector. Its bold move into private 5G networks demonstrates how technology can be a differentiator, driving innovation and sustainability while maintaining a commitment to quality and integrity.
As John Deere continues to expand its 5G capabilities, its journey offers valuable lessons for other manufacturers. Whether it’s enhancing flexibility, improving safety or reducing environmental impact, the possibilities unlocked by 5G are as vast as the fields that John Deere’s iconic green-and-yellow machines have tended for nearly two centuries.
