Vodafone has installed a 5G mobile private network (MPN) at Temelín Nuclear Power Plant in Czechia for the power generation conglomerate ČEZ Group.

The telco claims the deployment, which is a pilot, is the first of its kind in Europe.

The private network covers the power plant's outdoor space, plus selected areas of a production unit.

Vodafone notes that the 5G connectivity will allow the plant to move away from walkie-talkie communications in the plant, and "pave the way for augmented reality glasses to support the work of technicians."

The MPN will also extend connectivity coverage to hard-to-reach areas at the plant that have previously been difficult to serve.

"By being entirely independent from the public network, our private 5G solution ensures that all user data and infrastructure are securely managed within the power plant's own systems, which is vital for maintaining the highest standards of safety and reliability," said Violeta Luca, CEO of Vodafone Czechia.

"This technology is a key enabler in advancing the secure digitalization of such critical infrastructure.”

The company noted that the results of the pilot project, and subsequent evaluation conducted by ČEZ, will inform the deployments of 5G MPNs at further sites.

“A selected part of the nuclear power plant's communication network, as an element of critical infrastructure, must be completely separated from the external network," added Bohdan Zronek, member of the board of directors and director of the nuclear division of ČEZ.

"That is why we always maintain an alternative in the event of an outage, and the management system of course remains completely separate from the outside world. We are the first nuclear power plant in Europe to actually test a private 5G network, while other European operators work mostly with 4G.”

Vodafone has previously launched a 5G MPN with Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto at one of the country’s largest car production plants.

Earlier this year, the company's Spanish subsidiary, Vodafone Spain (which has since been acquired by Zegona), deployed a private 5G Standalone network at a Ford production plant in Valencia.

Energy firm EDF has previously deployed private LTE at its nuclear plants in France in partnership with Ericsson.