Published on : 16/09/2025
5mn reading time
Remotely controlling industrial machinery to improve operator safety and performance: this is the challenge taken up by efa France in partnership with Orange 5G Lab.
efa France experimented with 5G
Sector of Activities
Industry, logistics, agriculture, defense
Business Needs
Ensure secure and reliable remote operation of heavy machinery in challenging environments.
Solutions
Hybrid connectivity combining 4G/5G networks and satellites, enabling smooth and continuous data transmission in near real time.
Advantages of 5G
Ensures near real-time data transmission (video, sensors, commands) with a latency of around 65 ms, guaranteeing responsive and secure remote operation of heavy machinery, even in harsh environments or areas with limited coverage.
Teleoperation: a solution designed for security needs
Specializing in off-road mobile machinery (industry, logistics, agriculture, defense), efa France has developed a remote control solution for heavy machinery such as loaders and crushers. The aim is to improve working conditions for operators by removing them from dangerous or noisy environments, particularly on mining sites, and placing them in comfortable and secure control stations. Baptiste Auger, Control Command Product Manager at efa France, emphasizes:
Many [of our customers] face challenges in attracting recruits for positions involving operations in difficult and potentially dangerous environments. Improving working conditions for machine operators, while reducing accidents, are key issues for them, and remote operation can address these concerns. »
Baptiste Auger, Control Command Product Manager at efa France
This use case, which can be adapted to many sectors, illustrates how teleoperation can help improve operator safety and operational efficiency, and even offer opportunities for new audiences, including people with reduced mobility.
The need: hybrid connectivity for smooth driving in any environment
Teleoperation involves controlling and driving a vehicle or machine remotely, either within a limited range using radio controls, or without coverage limits using mobile and satellite networks.
The transmission of data (video, sensors, commands) in near real time requires reliable, fast, and extensive connectivity. That is why efa France, in collaboration with Orange, has researched and tested hybrid solutions combining 4G/5G networks and satellites to ensure smooth transmission in different environments.
An experiment conducted with the support of Orange 5G Lab
The architecture of efa France’s teleoperation platform is based on onboard sensors (cameras, radars, lidars), 4G/5G communication equipment and satellite antennas, as well as an ergonomic control station. The latency of approximately 65 ms ensures responsive driving.
At the Bauma 2025 trade fair, efa France demonstrated the potential of this technology by remotely controlling a vehicle located in Fondettes (efa France’s headquarters) in the Indre-et-Loire department from Munich.
How Orange 5G Lab supported the Teleoperation project
This experiment confirmed the ability to maintain smooth remote operation even in areas with limited coverage and was made possible thanks to the support of experts from Orange 5G Lab in Chatillon, who played a key role in conducting the tests and validating the solution:
- Development of hybrid 5G/satellite connectivity enabling extended coverage and automatic switching between networks without signal loss;
- Provision of a test environment to validate the solution’s performance, notably during a successful demonstration at the Bauma 2025 trade show: a machine based in Fondettes (37) was remotely controlled from Munich.
- Establishing relationships with key technology partners such as Starlink and Eutelsat to integrate robust and complementary satellite connectivity.
- Providing tailored advice on network configuration: possibility of deploying private 5G networks or dynamically prioritizing bandwidth for critical uses.
Teleoperation: promising results for the future
Initial tests have shown that teleoperation can be carried out securely, even in difficult environments. Automatic switching between terrestrial and satellite networks paves the way for larger-scale deployment, particularly in logistics, agriculture, and defense. This solution could also be developed to integrate private networks or priority bandwidth management mechanisms, meeting the specific needs of each sector.
For Orange, this project illustrates the possibility of extending the use of 5G to complex industrial applications by enhancing network coverage and reliability. It paves the way for new offerings tailored to harsh environments, with a particular focus on performance and security.
Hybrid 4G/5G and satellite connectivity: a strategic issue for Orange
Bartlomiej Kitta, Director of the IoT program at Orange, explains:
We are looking to expand our position in the IoT field to include real-time and remote control solutions tailored to industrial applications. In addition to our expertise in cellular networks, we are enhancing our offering with satellite connectivity to cover white areas and avoid interruptions.
Subscribe to our Orange 5G Lab newsletter
