The Rise of Private 5G Networks
The global rollout of public 5G is still in its early stages, and it seems likely to be a few years before mainstream adoption. However, the adoption of private 5G networks is gaining significant traction across the globe, powered by regulators allocating more spectrum to enterprises. With access to this spectrum, organizations can build and maintain their own private 5G networks to realize their vision for the future.
According to a recent article from Deloitte, hundreds of thousands of organizations will start to deploy private 5G networks over the next 10 years as a result of increased reliance on wireless devices, sensors, and AI.
What is Private 5G and How Does it Benefit Businesses?
A private 5G network is a network that doesn’t share traffic with other cellular networks. It is a secure network that gives businesses the ability to customize their solution to meet the specific needs of the organization and its customers.
With a private 5G network, enterprises and public sector organizations can provide customized 5G experiences to both indoor and outdoor facilities, where high-speed, high-capacity, low-latency connectivity is crucial. Private 5G also offers a solution for enterprises and organizations requiring dedicated bandwidth capacity and range, security, high-quality connections, and reduced downtime. Private 5G networks can be deployed even if the location is not currently within a public 5G coverage area.
In order to build a private 5G network, organizations must purchase spectrum from the government, a mobile network operator (MNOs), or another third-party spectrum provider. They must also purchase the necessary 5G equipment such as base stations, mini-towers and small cells from network infrastructure providers. This equipment can then be connected to devices such as smartphones, routers, and embedded modules.
Businesses may build out their private 5g network internally if they have the knowledge and resources to do so. Alternatively, they may outsource this to a mobile network operator (MNO) or systems integrator (SI). Private 5G networks are poised to dramatically improve security, bandwidth, and speed for organizations across a range of industries including retail, healthcare, entertainment, manufacturing, transportation, and education.
The Evolution of Private Mobile Networks
The idea of private mobile networks has been around for years, with the introduction of 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology. However, while these WiFi networks are low cost and are available on most devices, current 4G wireless technology standards are not able to support the requirements of many modern organizations. 5G, on the other hand, is capable of transmitting speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G LTE.
Manufacturing businesses, in particular, require a superior level of reliability, speed, and communication coverage that can be provided by private 5G. 5G presents an opportunity for factories to be built without the use of wires or cables, which can increase cost and time efficiencies and can also create a safer work environment with increased mobility. Deploying a private 5G network in a factory also paves the way for the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) applications without disrupting the production line and supply chain.
The Challenges of Deploying Private 5G
For private 5G to be deployed, all devices must be operational on the wireless spectrum used by the network. In addition, 5G equipment, devices, and applications require deep integration, and as such, experienced partners and systems integrators may be necessary for deployment. Organizations should also try to avoid vendor lock-in and be aware of any regulatory requirements or spectrum availability issues that should be addressed.
Despite the challenges outlined above, private 5G networks provide a significant opportunity for businesses that require ultra-low latency, reliability, and the ability to support thousands of devices. Many industry-leading businesses including Bosch, Ford, and Fujitsu are investing in private 5G to future-proof their operations and retain competitive advantage.
Deployment costs are likely to drop as more spectrum becomes available and more devices are connected to the 5G ecosystem. This will pave the way for private 5G networks to be used by smaller manufacturers and other businesses.
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