As you can quickly find out from different research works, 5G is only getting more popular according to UCtel. It also means that tools such as private networks for this generation are likely to get more prevalent. If you have heard of 5G private network services in the UK, then they’ve probably been mentioned in relation to public networks or even WiFi. Granted, all the above are linked to some extent, but private 5G does stand out and this piece will show you how.
Let’s take a look at private 5G and explore it in detail, which will include everything from how it works to how it differs from public 5G and WiFi. Afterwards, we’ll see how it fits into the UK’s business niches!
The tech in a nutshell
When a 5G network is private, access is limited to a specific customer, which is unlike the public variety that is owned by telecommunications companies. For those who have access to 5G private network solutions in the UK, this would mean having greater control over the network.
Said control allows organizations to make changes based on what they need. Because of the US’ CBRS’ existence, these networks are a possibility due to how simple it was made for the shared radio frequency spectrum to be acquired. It’s because of the CBRS existence that infrastructure was and continues to be developed for private 5G networks.
As these networks leverage 5G technology, they exist to fix many of the issues that something like WiFi has. Among the things these networks help with are the following:
- Increased speed, which is perfect for data-intensive tools such as IoT and Virtual reality
- Low latency, which is perfect for operations in real-time
- The improved reliability of 5G and security due to the control given to organization looking to deploy it, that allows them to restrict access
- The custom nature of things, allows enterprises to get the needed coverage and bandwidth, while also allowing scalability, as the organization’s needs shift
How it operates
The basic private 5G network requires the presence of 3 elements to work. These include the following:
- The 5G core: seen as the backbone of the network, this component is responsible for managing the network and the data traffic
- The Radio Access Network (RAN): connected to the core, this component consists of a host of other parts that come together to translate the data into digital signals before transmitting them
- The end users: these are the 5G devices that can access the private network
Different models
Also, based on what you want, these networks can come in a few different models. These are:
- The entirely owned models, which have the operation, build the entire system of the network on-site as well as manage it
- Entirely owned models where the service provider builds the entire system of the network, with all its components on site for the enterprise but manages it
- The neutral host model, which has a private network has its infrastructure leased to it, by a company
Its place in the UK business scene
The very nature of 5G private networks allows for them to be applied to businesses of all kinds in varying ways. If we’re to use other words, the 4G/5G private network services in the UK support a host of technologies that are considered to be game changers in the business space. Some of these technologies include things such as the Internet of Things (IoT), AR and VR.
The applications of these technologies fall across multiple fields, which makes businesses look at them with interest at the very least. You get a better understanding as to why that’s the case, let’s look at the following use cases for 5G private networks:
In the medical space
The high speeds and low latency that private 5G networks provide are perfect for the speedy management of data, which in this case, would be something like patient records. Said records would also be much safer under private network protection, as only authorized devices can access it.
Another area in the medical field that could see the use of 5G private networks is remote monitoring, which is something that IoT helps with. With said IoT, monitoring of patients can be done at a much more efficient level, which means that responses to changes are far more prompt.
In logistics
When looking at logistics, it’s obvious that the very IoT-supported remote, real-time tracking that is found in the medical field is needed here as well. Another area that could use this innovation is warehouse automation, which the UK actively participates in. For the robots used in related activities to function seamlessly, connectivity has to be heightened and this is exactly what private 5G Networks do.
In manufacturing
At this point, it’s pretty much a theme. The closer to automation we get, the more desirable 5G private networks are going to be. Manufacturing that relies on tech such as AI and ML requires high connectivity to help functionality, and by this point, it’s fairly obvious where that comes from.
Any problems?
Useful as they are, private 5G networks have some issues. For starters, they can be expensive to deploy, not just monetarily, but in the training of staff that will follow. Also, 5G spectrum sharing globally isn’t quite there yet, so regulations may be a problem there. However, this isn’t the case in the UK as it has the Shared Access License (SAL), which is offered by the regulatory body, Ofcom.
Final thoughts
From the above, it’s fair to say that private 5G networks are tools that we’ll see more of as time progresses. The above use cases are just a few that show that 5G private network services in the UK offer something that is tailored to the future of business technology and practices. Things such as IoT and AI do better with the reliability, security, speed and coverage private 5G offers, so any excitement regarding it is valid.
That said, deployment is going to be more expensive than WiFi. So if any of this interests you, be willing to provide the necessary resources. If you do, however, chances are that the expense will be made up for when your operation runs more efficiently.
