Schwarz Digits and Siemens announce a strategic partnership for sovereign private 5G networks, targeting security authorities and organizations that depend on secure, physically isolated communication infrastructure — developed and manufactured primarily in Germany.
Two German companies are laying new technical foundations for sovereign mobile communications serving security-critical authorities and organizations. Schwarz Digits, the IT and digital division of the Schwarz Group, and Siemens are combining local 5G campus solutions with a European cloud infrastructure — without reliance on non-European providers.
Background: Growing Demand for Digital Sovereignty
The protection of critical infrastructure has become a central concern in European security policy. Authorities in the areas of internal and external security — from law enforcement and civil protection to armed forces — require communication networks that operate reliably and securely even under extreme conditions. Conventional mobile solutions based on global vendors and public network infrastructure frequently run up against legal and security-related limits.
Against this backdrop, Schwarz Digits and Siemens announced a strategic cooperation on April 23, 2026, on the occasion of the Hannover Messe trade show. The goal is the joint development and deployment of private 5G campus networks that are technologically sovereign, physically isolated, and fully integrated within a European cloud infrastructure.
Primarily German Value Chain
A defining characteristic of the partnership is the focus on domestic development and manufacturing. The hardware used by Siemens for the 5G campus solutions meets industrial standards and is produced in Germany. The associated software, as well as all cloud components of the STACKIT platform, are developed in Germany as well. This sets the solution apart from widespread alternatives that rely on hardware and software from third countries.
Cedrik Neike, Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG and CEO of Siemens Digital Industries, stated: In times of growing uncertainty, reliability is what matters for industry. Together with Schwarz Digits, sovereign 5G connectivity creates a secure and stable foundation for Germany’s critical infrastructure.
Bernie Wagner, CSO of Schwarz Digits, pointed to the technical integration: The seamless connection of the 5G campus solution to the STACKIT Distributed Cloud allows authorities and companies to benefit from cloud to edge.
Air-Gapping: Physical Isolation for the Highest Security Requirements
For particularly sensitive use cases, the network is designed for so-called air-gapped operation. This means the local 5G network functions entirely separately from the public internet and external networks. Access control is hardware-based via SIM cards, ensuring that only registered and authorized devices can connect. This architecture allows public and private 5G networks to coexist without compromising the security of the private segment.
The air-gapping principle is not new, but its consistent application in conjunction with a cloud platform represents a technical advancement. Authorities would thus have access to secure, high-performance mobile communications even in remote or critical operational areas.
Integration into a Seamless Digital Ecosystem
Beyond pure network provisioning, Siemens’ 5G campus solution is conceived as an integral part of the Schwarz Digits digital ecosystem. Through integration with the STACKIT Distributed Cloud, the companies describe a seamless one-stop deployment: authorities and companies can flexibly scale compute and network capacities from the central cloud to the decentralized edge — all from a single source and free of historically fragmented IT processes.
This system architecture follows the approach of treating network infrastructure not as an isolated component but as part of an integrated digital system. The partnership thereby addresses a weakness common to many public IT projects: the lack of interoperability between different systems and vendors.
Assessment and Outlook
The cooperation between Schwarz Digits and Siemens fits into a broader trend: European companies and authorities are increasingly investing in digital infrastructures that are not dependent on non-European technology suppliers. Private 5G networks are considered one of the key areas in which this sovereignty can be technically realized.
Whether and to what extent the solution will actually be deployed by authorities depends on procurement decisions and certification processes that are still pending. The technical cooperation, however, creates a foundation on which further development is possible.
Dr. Jakob Jung is Editor-in-Chief of Security Storage and Channel Germany. He has been working in IT journalism for more than 20 years. His career includes Computer Reseller News, Heise Resale, Informationweek, Techtarget (storage and data center) and ChannelBiz. He also freelances for numerous IT publications, including Computerwoche, Channelpartner, IT-Business, Storage-Insider and ZDnet. His main topics are channel, storage, security, data center, ERP and CRM.
Contact via Mail: jakob.jung@security-storage-und-channel-germany.de