Getting reliable, high-speed connectivity continues to be a challenge for enterprises, educational systems, public venues, and even metropolitan areas. But things are changing! More spectrum is now available for use by service providers and even accessible to enterprises to expand wireless capacity. Likewise, service providers are using - or are migrating to - cloud-controlled network technologies that incorporate automation to improve operations. Vendors are also delivering network equipment on lower-cost commercial off the shelf servers tailored for small footprint, which are a good fit for even private organizations. These new operationally efficient LTE and 5G networks are proving to be excellent options for building out new business infrastructure. These networks can deliver QoS-enforced scalable broadband that meets the requirements of organizations looking for healthy alternatives to copper and fiber-based or Wi-Fi fueled local area and wide area networks.
Private LTE and 5G are becoming viable choices for network connectivity, where private organizations have much at stake. CBRS-based private networks are already providing users with peak commercial download speeds approaching 50 Mbps with coverage that penetrates walls effectively, making it an optimal choice for in-building wireless networks. Private LTE networks have the scalability and operational efficiencies to provide better network performance and user experiences for business-critical applications than less-reliable Wi-Fi and inflexible Ethernet networks.
While private LTE delivers today - thanks to the accelerated commercialization of CBRS, private 5G is coming, which promises drastic improvement in network performance. So, what’s the right path for businesses - private LTE or private 5G?
Which technology is right for private wireless connectivity?
It depends on the business application requirements. Enterprise CIOs and IT teams should carefully study their business application needs. If mobility and speeds are the primary requirements, a business can choose either of the two technologies that meet their throughput needs while fitting within the business case. Since both 4G and 5G support the CBRS spectrum, starting with 4G and migrating to 5G is a cost-effective plan for an enterprise exploring options for building a private network today. However, the business applications, such as assembly lines in a manufacturing facility, may have stringent needs for uninterrupted connectivity and ultra-quick response time. In these cases, 5G Stand Alone (SA), which is now being rolled out by many operators, has capabilities that offer more benefits than private LTE.
5G SA provides an end-to-end 5G network that can do more than deliver high mobile data rates. One of the primary features in the 5G SA architecture being deployed in many areas for the first time is network slicing. 5G network slicing allows the network operator to dedicate resources that are used to meet specific application needs. In the private 5G network, the network operator creates a virtual network from a pool of resources to guarantee performance. These resources are only used by applications needing to meet specific performance parameters, like access, latency, and bandwidth.
Advancements in edge technologies are also driving the adoption of private networks. Though both private LTE and 5G can leverage multi-access edge computing (MEC) technology to enhance application experiences, 5G SA with MEC offers a more powerful combination. Applications that make critical decisions in real-time need information instantly, and 5G+MEC delivers this high-value service.
Let’s put these 5G SA features to use in a private 5G-powered manufacturing facility. The facility can combine network slicing and MEC to ensure that data critical to real-time sensitive applications reach their destinations on time. Data destined for production control systems, quality control processes, and materials delivery machines, get prioritized access and optimal routing so that these critical operational systems receive the information needed to perform correctly. Simultaneously, wireless video-based security systems that are not latency-sensitive but require large amounts of bandwidth can either be allocated to a different 5G network slice or have a separate private LTE network to deliver these vital images to a central corporate site for processing.
It quickly becomes evident that the 5G SA architecture offers more value for latency-sensitive applications. More verticals will benefit from the 5G private network on the 5G SA architecture. Logistics centers need to process cargo accurately and efficiently to get it to the right transportation pod for loading on airplanes or ships. Education centers have security and latency needs critical to successful learning – and these needs traverse multiple sites in a region. Transportation centers benefit, too, as passengers need access to social media, streaming, and email, while business operations at the facility require higher priority to ensure everyone’s safety.
So, in summary, when it comes to deciding which path to chose, the right answer depends on the the business’s needs. Private LTE is delivering cost-effective systems for applications that do not have latency constraints. It appears clear that Private 5G will become the preferred wireless choice for industrial environments with mission-critical needs.
