Is Private 5G is the answer for all Enterprise wireless needs?

Enterprises have always benefited from a good and reliable connection. While 3G and 4G was considered all about connectivity, 5G is considered as the first generation of mobile communications that was built to handle enterprise applications which demands significantly lower latency, ultra-reliable links for machine-to-machine communications and connecting large no. of Internet of Thing (IoT) devices & sensors.

The term Private networks is not new. Such networks are deployed for a very specific use-cases serving some geographical area for certain group of users/devices who have some specific requirement. So, in that context, a private 5G network is a network designed and configured for a private-i.e., non-public-use that don't share traffic with other cellular networks in that area. Example or use-cases of private 5G networks are the factories of future or industry 4.0 smart factories.

Now the question arise, does 5G or private 5G per se, have the potential to replace all Enterprise existing types of networks and can act as a single platform of connectivity, answer to this question is Yes or like everything in networking; it depends but then as the famous saying goes “with sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine”. However, this is not necessarily a good idea as somebody has to pay for it.

To build a private 5G network, enterprises need to have the spectrum from the government, mobile network operators (MNOs) or third-party spectrum providers, purchase 5G modules, terminals and deploy RAN/Core network from network infrastructure providers/operator. This constitutes the initial capex for the Enterprises. Once deployed, this network needs to be operationally managed as well. Currently Enterprises are lacking the required expertise to fill this gap. Enterprise network professionals started with Routing, Switching and Wi-Fi, that have helped them to do their day-to-day job of design and operate. But there are many aspects of cellular network that require a learning curve for enterprise network folks. Bear in mind that entire cellular network technology stack is new for enterprises. So, there is a serious skills gap that needs to be filled before 5G or private 5G becomes a manageable enterprise solution.

So cost of deployment, system complexity, time to market are the things that we need to watch out before 5G becomes a norm for an Enterprise. But as highlighted briefly above, 5G is the answer to all the emerging Enterprise application needs so is there a way where 5G and wi-fi can co-exist. Let’s look at this with latest standard of Wi-Fi i.e., Wi-Fi6.

Both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G are built from the same foundation i.e., High Throughput, Low latency, High Capacity. They both provide higher data rates to support new applications and increase in network capacity that provide the ability to onboard more users and devices. But private 5G helps where Wi-Fi struggles, for example a large manufacturing plant where you have big machinery or multi-building warehouses. Consider an example of a manufacturing plant spread across 10,000 sq. feet, where to provide connectivity via Wi-Fi, you need multiple Access Points to cover entire area. Still there can be dead spots across walls, weak signals, interference issues as well as latency and bandwidth challenges while the same area can be covered with a single 5G new radio meeting all the stringent application connectivity requirement.

Private 5G is getting lots of traction in Industry 4.0 space and being targeted for a non-carpeted environments like mining industries, oil and gas extraction, farming, Auto-sector and manufacturing units, basically covering the OT side of the story whereas Wi-Fi is still suitable for campus connectivity covering IT infrastructure part.

Having said this, both technologies are continuing to evolve, and in some cases, both may be used simultaneously as well, for example Wi-Fi may be used for a connected cars in vehicle applications and 5G cellular network for connecting the car itself. At last, both 5G and Wi-Fi 6 complement each other’s strengths, it is basically the environment, type of application and use cases of the enterprise that will decide which will be the better fit. So, as stated above and like the famous saying in networking field, it depends which one to choose.