Where IT meets OT: The new engine of the oilfield

The OT data bottleneck: Why legacy networks can’t keep up

Oil and gas leaders are under pressure to deliver real-time visibility, safer worksites, predictive maintenance, and fully digital operations. But reliable OT data is the currency that powers all of it—and legacy networks simply can’t extract that data with consistency, speed, or scale.  

Across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations, common connectivity challenges are emerging: 

• High latency disrupting real-time monitoring and decision-making 

• Wi-Fi dead zones and interference in metallic or industrial environments 

• Limited reliability in remote or offshore locations 

• Capacity constraints as IoT and connected devices proliferate 

• Security vulnerabilities that expose critical OT systems 

Put simply: the legacy network built for IT is now constraining OT—and with it, operational performance, efficiency, and safety. 

Enter Private 5G. With dedicated spectrum, ultra-low latency and the ability to support thousands of connected devices, private 5G is the foundation that enables oilfields to operate at full digital speed.  

The proof is in the oilfield: Key use cases driving impact 

The promise of private 5G goes beyond connectivity—it’s enabling oilfields to think, act, and respond in real time. These real-world deployments show how operators are transforming safety, efficiency, and productivity.  

• Autonomous inspections: Drones, robots, advanced sensors, and AI patrol hazardous areas, detect leaks, smoke, or equipment anomalies, and trigger immediate responses—including automatic shutdowns, resulting in 90% faster inspections, and 65% less downtime. 

• Predictive maintenance: Even decades-old equipment can now be monitored in real time. Sensors track vibration, heat, and acoustics, alerting teams exactly when and where intervention is needed. No more unnecessary shutdowns or guesswork.

• Connected workers: Smart helmets and sensors track vitals, fatigue, and environmental hazards, giving field teams instant access to expertise. Outcomes include 70% improved safety compliance, 33% higher maintenance efficiency, and 10% productivity gains.

• Digital twins and remote operations: Real-time simulations and remote monitoring enable operators to model scenarios, optimize workflows, and respond instantly to hazards. Complex decisions that once took hours now happen in seconds. 

These aren’t theoretical benefits—they’re delivering measurable, real-world impact: safety compliance improved by 70%, and efficiency gains realized across the entire value chain. Private 5G is no longer just an enabler—it’s a business-critical foundation for operational excellence. 

Where IT meets OT: The new engine of the oilfield

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The key to successful deployment: Plan your rollout strategically 

Deploying every new capability at once rarely works. Teams often spread resources too thin and prevent any single application from demonstrating clear ROI, stalled adoption, and frustrated teams.  
 
The solution is a strategic rollout—introducing new technologies in a deliberate order that matches both your operational maturity and business priorities. Our paper, Where IT meets OT: The new engine of the oilfield, provides a practical framework to guide this process, focusing on four dimensions: 

• Operational maturity assessment – Understand what your oilfield is ready to support and identify the initiatives that will succeed first. Ericsson's Smart Oil Field Maturity Assessment benchmarks your current state and identifies which specific capabilities to prioritize based on your operational maturity.

• ROI modeling – Quantify potential value before investing in new capabilities to ensure measurable returns. Ericsson's Oil and Gas Value Calculator helps teams quantify what private 5G could deliver for their operations before requesting budget.

• People engagement – Involve field teams early to drive adoption and align technology with real-world workflows.

• Process alignment – Redesign workflows so technology fits naturally into daily operations, avoiding stalled or abandoned deployments. 

Following this framework ensures that each deployment delivers measurable results—and that your digital transformation doesn’t stall. 

What's next for oil and gas connectivity? 

Private 5G is unlocking operational capabilities that were impossible just a few years ago—from autonomous inspections and predictive maintenance to connected workers and real-time digital twins. 

Ready to see how IT/OT convergence can transform your oilfield? Download our thought leadership paper, Where IT meets OT: The new engine of the oilfield, to explore full deployment strategies, real-world results, and a practical framework to maximize ROI and operational readiness.  

Learn more about Ericsson's solutions for oil and gas at www.ericsson.com/oil-and-gas and our new paper: Where IT meets OT: The new engine of the oilfield.