Council Discourse: Harnessing the Potential of Personalized Cellular Networks
Frequently, individuals rely on public mobile networks for daily to hourly usage. However, certain businesses demand more secure, dependable, and adaptable solutions. Consequently, various industries are exploring the use of private mobile networks for their connectivity needs.
Utilizing advanced technologies such as 4G LTE and 5G, these networks offer high-performance wireless communication customizable to specific needs and applications. This proposition is alluring as private networks grant unparalleled control, customization, and performance compared to traditional public networks.
Personalized Connectivity Solutions
Public mobile networks have long served as connectivity's primary foundation, excelling in providing extensive coverage. Yet, these networks possess limitations, including coverage gaps, extended latency, and minimal control over data. As traffic travels via a centralized infrastructure managed by mobile network operators, enterprises have minimal room for customization.
Private mobile networks, on the other hand, cater to specific clients or groups. By employing exclusive spectrum, businesses can secure comprehensive and reliable coverage across designated areas, such as vast industrial campuses or underground mines. There's no necessity to send data through a distant central core, enabling faster response times and lower latency. Furthermore, private networks safeguard data on-site, ensuring higher security.
Companies can choose from three main deployment models, each tailored to varying operational priorities. On-site private networks, entirely owned and managed by the organization, offer the greatest levels of control and security. However, these networks incur the highest initial costs.
Cloud-based private networks, operated and managed by cloud providers, represent a less expensive option due to minimal on-site infrastructure requirements. In return, they offer more scalability and simplified management, with just slightly less control.
Hybrid private networks integrate on-site hardware with cloud-based components, striking a balance between cost, control, and scalability. Popular among medium-to-large enterprises, this model supplies both flexibility and robust data management.
Leader Industry Sectors
Mining And Energy
Private networks provide automation and remote monitoring capabilities in heavy industries like mining and energy. Since mines can dynamically adjust radio sites in response to land shifts, this ensures continuous connectivity in remote and hazardous settings.
Rail And Ports
Rail networks often rely on private systems like GSM-R for automation and safety. They require networks that operate 24/7, devoid of critical operation failures, as do ports. Private networks eliminate the risk of outages caused by external maintenance or updates.
Manufacturing And Smart Cities
The proliferation of IoT devices, robotics, and digital twins necessitates robust connectivity. For example, manufacturing plants might employ a private network to wirelessly connect high-bandwidth applications such as surveillance cameras or autonomous robots. Smart cities also rely on private networks to optimize public safety, traffic management, and utility services.
Healthcare And Events
Hospitals utilize private networks for telemedicine, connected medical devices, and immersive training. Large complexes and events deploy them for secure communication and enhanced visitor experiences. Fans at sporting events can order beverages and snacks directly to their seats without overloading the network during major events.
Budgets And Bandwidth
Despite their benefits, private mobile networks face significant challenges, beginning with radio frequency spectrum access. This resource is scarce and regulated by governments, with not all frequencies available for private use. However, in the U.S., the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) provides shared spectrum in the 3.5 GHz band, making private networks more accessible. Europe and Australia have introduced enterprise-focused spectrum allocations to uphold private deployments.
Constructing infrastructure, acquiring spectrum rights, and maintaining a private network comes at a cost. Ensuring a private network's longevity necessitates technical expertise. However, for businesses that prioritize security, reliability, and control, the benefits often outweigh the costs.
The Future Belongs To The Private
Private mobile networks are revolutionizing applications across various industries. Immersive VR and AR healthcare training sessions are currently supported by private networks, offering healthcare workers a safe and repeatable learning environment. In the future, surgeons might be on the opposite side of the world, conducting remote procedures assisted by private networks.
AR tools can aid industrial workers in real-time. Companies like Boeing and Caterpillar employ AR to guide technicians in assembling aircraft parts or serving heavy equipment. Some sports stadiums and arenas are experimenting with private networks and AR to enhance fan experiences, such as accessing instant replays and player statistics during live events.
Many of these advancements could not occur without the ultra-low latency, high-bandwidth, and dependable connectivity offered by private mobile networks. Whether it's ensuring safety in a distant oil rig, optimizing city infrastructure, or connecting autonomous vehicles and crop monitoring systems, private mobile networks present versatile and transformative solutions.
Our Expert Technology Council is an invitation-only community for distinguished CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. Could I be a member?
Incorporating private mobile networks into their operations, various industries, such as mining and energy, rail and ports, manufacturing, smart cities, healthcare, and events, can benefit from increased automation, remote monitoring, and enhanced security. Stephen Farrugia, as a technology executive, might be interested in joining the invitation-only Expert Technology Council to discuss the advantages and challenges of implementing private mobile networks.
