Private networks remain the most dynamic segment of a fast-growing wireless market. According to Straits Research (June 2023), the global private 5G network market size alone (not counting LTE) was valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2021. It is expected to reach a valuation of more than USD 28.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 39.8% during the forecast period (2022–2030).
Use cases are diverse, but the manufacturing segment will likely dominate the global market for private networks. More secure and reliable communications for a diverse set of devices, as well as granular control of machinery, drive the implementation of this technology. There are myriad others, but the bigger question is less about the use case and more about building the network itself. In other words, the market has agreed on the “why” of private networks but still needs help on the “how.”
Here are the best practices and considerations that need to be taken into account when building some of the world’s most successful private network deployments.
What type of network do you need?
The characteristics that make private mobile networks so attractive for specific use cases also pose new design decisions for CIOs. First and foremost for private cellular is the vast difference in coverage and range between Wi-Fi and LTE or 5G. Cellular technologies are designed specifically to perform well in outdoor environments and thus have significantly better range and coverage than Wi-Fi with fewer access points required. Campus networks, parking lots, transportation hubs, ports, railyards, stadiums, festivals, and other outdoor venues are all ideal use cases for private cellular versus Wi-Fi.
Capacity and performance for each technology is also highly variable. Wi-Fi often delivers superior bandwidth versus cellular technologies, but 5G is pushing that limit and will continue to do so with guaranteed capacity leveraging network slicing. What’s more, cellular technologies deliver superior latency. With 5G Rel 18 coming to market, private 5G networks will be able to deliver true Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) capabilities. Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 provide better reliability, but at its core, Wi-Fi will always be a “best effort” technology versus 5G being mission critical technology.
Private cellular’s security and privacy capabilities are generally superior to Wi-Fi, although some managed Wi-Fi has begun to incorporate Zero-Trust Network Access (ZTNA) principles to improve this stance.
Finally, network cost is also an important consideration when making a decision between cellular and Wi-Fi for Enterprise private networks mainly driven by the use case to serve and the underlying business, operational, and technical criteria to meet.
What design challenges should you expect in building private mobile networks?
The biggest design challenge when it comes to private mobile networks is ensuring proper access to the spectrum required for your use case. Local regulations are often challenging to navigate. To avoid the costs of using licensed spectrum for US market, the unlicensed Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band opens up a major opportunity for unlicensed users and enterprise organizations who want to use 5G, LTE, or even 3GPP spectra to establish their own private mobile networks. However, you still need to navigate a system to secure access to the unlicensed band and also ensure you don’t suffer from interference from incumbents such as the U.S. Navy. Any component supporting a CBRS antenna or antenna array is the Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device (CBSD). CBSDs register with an SAS and request spectrum grants. Grants specify parameters including the allocated radio channels, required Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP), or maximum transmission power. That’s why it is important to validate the compliance of the network during the design phase.
Once you get the spectrum, ensuring the accuracy of the design will also be critical. Is this network optimized for your use case? Is roaming coverage something you need to consider?
Best practices you need to consider
Once you have access to the appropriate spectra and you’ve identified the use case and its requirements, take these best practices into account as you begin to design and build the network itself.
First and foremost, make sure that no matter what wireless technology you decide to implement, the equipment you select is solid and ideal for your use case. For that matter, the design tool must provide a large selection of choice for network components from various equipment vendors. Once that is complete, the planning can begin. This is the most critical element of the process. Optimizing antenna placement, radio access, cell size, capacity choices...all of these will define your final choices. A holistic analysis of your combined indoor and outdoor coverage areas is critical to reduce any risk of major interference and leakage negatively impacting network SLA.
Selecting the right design tools will also be important. It goes back to planning, designing, and optimizing - find a complete solution that can do it all. This will be key in keeping you from overspending on your network build.
Conclusion
The technology landscape for private mobile networks is very dynamic and the suggestions we’ve made today could easily be very different in just a few months. We’re already starting to hear a lot about AI and its applications such as automation, robotics, and new life-critical use cases in healthcare. All of these are driving the need for optimized network design. These applications will drive innovation in the networks as well. What will remain the same is the importance of a solid design process to ensure your successful network build.
