The recent, rapid rise of digitalization has brought with it a vast number of devices and applications that have been truly impactful and have revolutionized the way daily processes get done. A myriad of technological innovations are rapidly reshaping the landscape of a variety of industries, providing new revenue and value-producing opportunities, which has proven to be almost essential for business success nowadays. Amongst these innovations, one notably stands out in the impact it has had, that being 5G.
5G is expected to greatly change the way businesses work and the way people live, being faster and able to handle more connected devices than the existing 4G LTE (News - Alert) network. The fifth-generation wireless technology offers extremely low latency rates, which make for faster, smoother, and more reliable connections.
Along with public 5G comes private 5G, a mobile network that is technically the same as a public 5G network, but which allows the owner to provide priority access or licensing for its wireless spectrum. The technology enables enterprises to dedicate bandwidth for ultra-reliable low latency use cases such as industrial IoT and robotics, with complete control over data, security, and networks. Unlike general-purpose public networks, private 5G networks are designed with a specific purpose, enabling enterprises to be in control of their destiny in terms of partners, features, and connectivity.
The adoption of private 5G networks is slowly gaining traction around the world as regulators allocate more spectrum to enterprises so they can build and maintain their own private 5G networks. The global private 5G network market size is estimated to reach USD 14.28 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 39.7 percent between now and then.
However, the reason some enterprises are hesitant to begin leveraging a private 5G network is the challenge that is posed when it comes to the ability to have devices seamlessly transition from private networks to public networks. Traditionally, roaming seamlessly between private and public networks required multiple roaming agreements and the creation of multiple interconnections with MNOs; an approach that quickly becomes costly, complex, and time-consuming.
What’s necessary for these enterprises who are interested in private 5G, but don’t want to lose out on public 5G, is a solution that ensures critical operations continuity as moving devices, such as
automated guided vehicles, autonomous mobile robots, or push-to-talk applications for field personnel require uninterrupted connectivity, even at the edge where the private network may be unavailable or out of reach.
A solution of this type is considered a managed service and is becoming increasingly in demand as 5G, both public and private continues to become more commonplace. And finally, solutions like these are becoming available, such as the AWS Private 5G offered by AWS. These solutions make it easy to deploy, operate, and scale their own private cellular network, with all required hardware and software provided by the service provider.
With private 5G solutions such as AWS’, enterprises can build their own private cellular networks to take advantage of the technological benefits of 5G while maintaining the security and granular application and device controls of a private network. The technology offers a variety of use cases, holding the potential to enhance operations across numerous industries.
For example, in the industrial sector, private 5G solutions can be leveraged to create and run “Smart” factories. With a private 5G solution, enterprises can connect devices, sensors, machines, and legacy equipment within manufacturing facilities to track assembly line production in real-time with reliable data linkage across connected machines.
On top of this, these solutions can deliver reliable connectivity for campuses, event venues, and other areas with high internet traffic. Along with the high-quality, reliable connectivity, a private 5G solution can also support data and video communications, security, logistics, and more.
Finally, these networks can enable business-critical applications across a variety of industries. Low latency use cases such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) applications for design engineering, image analysis during medical procedures, and autonomous guided vehicles at fulfillment centers all become possible with a private 5G solution.
Overall, as we continue to venture further into a new digital age, the potential 5G has is only going to increase, leading to a rise in adoption and use. The technology will become critical for enterprises, and while getting started with new technologies like private cellular networks can be daunting, private 5G network solutions can provide enterprises with the technological advantages they seek to keep up with the competition.
To learn more about private 5G network solutions, AWS, in partnership with Syniverse (News - Alert), Athonet, and Federated Wireless, will be holding a session that details this new approach that removes
complexity and frees private network owners from establishing complex roaming agreements with
numerous national MNOs. This session will be one of many being held at the Enterprise 5G Live Event in Atlanta, Georgia, from April 25th-27th.