The Role of Mobile Communications for Industrial Automation: Architecture, Applications and Challenges

Industrial automation is expected to benefit from the capabilities of Beyond 5G (B5G)/6G, particularly in improving real-time decision making and control in information-driven scenarios, supporting improved efficiency, precision and safety in connected manufacturing environments. While not all aspects of industrial automation are equally affected, certain areas such as real-time monitoring, wireless control and predictive maintenance can benefit significantly from the high reliability, ultra-low latency and scalability of next-generation wireless systems. Motivated by the increasing convergence between operational technology (OT) and advanced communication infrastructures, this paper surveys how B5G/6G can serve as an enabler for data-centric industrial ecosystems. The main contribution lies in analysing evolving industrial architectures, the integration of OT systems and application domains including digital twins, cloud robotics and smart devices. At the end of the paper, we also offer strategic insights into enabling technologies and future challenges, providing a comprehensive overview of how B5G/6G can support the evolution of Industry 5.0.