China Unicom Guangdong, Gree, and Huawei Win Big at GSMA GLOMO Awards for 5.5G “Lights-Out” Factory Innovation
China Unicom Guangdong, Gree, and Huawei have jointly secured two prestigious GSMA Global Mobile (GLOMO) Awards at MWC Barcelona 2025. The trio won the “Best Private Network Solution” and “Best Mobile Innovation for Connected Economy” awards for their groundbreaking 5.5G native private network solution, which powers the world’s largest 5.5G “lights-out” factory at Gree’s Gaolan facility in Zhuhai, China.
The 5.5G native private network solution leverages ultra-low latency, ultra-high uplink bandwidth, and low-power high-accuracy positioning (LPHAP) to revolutionize core manufacturing processes such as production, quality inspection, and logistics. By integrating AI foundation models, the factory has achieved an 86% increase in production efficiency, enabling the production of 12 million split-type air conditioners annually with zero quality defects.
Chen Zhenghua, General Manager of Gree’s Gaolan factory, hailed 5.5G as the key to the future of smart manufacturing: “With 5.5G networks, RedCap terminals, and intelligent management platforms, we have achieved end-to-end device connectivity, intelligent logistics, and online quality inspection. We are proud to lead the next generation of ‘lights-out’ factories and contribute to China’s global manufacturing dominance.”
Pan Guixin, Chief Innovation Officer of China Unicom Guangdong, expressed gratitude for the recognition: “Driven by the powerful capabilities of 5.5G, we have successfully upgraded industrial control and logistics processes. Moving forward, we aim to explore more innovative applications and accelerate smart manufacturing across industries.”
David Li, Vice President of Huawei Wireless Solution, added: “Huawei is committed to unlocking the full potential of 5.5G and AI integration to drive digital transformation across industries worldwide.”
The success of this innovative solution marks a major step in the large-scale commercial deployment of 5.5G private networks, paving the way for more intelligent, efficient, and green manufacturing globally.
