How important business digitalization really is becomes especially clear in times of crisis. More digitized companies are more sustainable and competitive. A special challenge for companies is the digitalization of business processes, for example, build your own 5g network. However, such digital transformation brings profound changes, often in the way employees, factories and companies work.

Why is the demand for private 5G networks growing?

Now companies recognize that different technologies serve similar roles as digital tools, each serving its own purpose, but can also overlap or complement each other. While manufacturing environments are rapidly embracing robotics, automation, and IoT technologies, there are already limitations to some other, especially older, technologies that can lead to bottlenecks. One of the bottlenecks at a time when more and more machines, robots, sensors, automated carts and other solutions that rely on wireless to operate are also becoming Wi-Fi.

With more devices or connections, Wi-Fi quickly outgrows its limits. You can already find this in your home environment when multiple devices are connected to the wireless router that “demand” Internet connection at the same time, and the user interaction deteriorates. In manufacturing environments that want to conform to the concept of the Internet of Things, where systems, applications, machines, tools and other solutions are constantly interacting with each other, this problem is even more evident. Some company solves this problem by building their own 5G network.

Advantages of implementing private 5G networks

Of course, the reason for such a demand to build or expand your own 5g network is the benefits. 5G networks have many advantages. Potentially, the business not only increases the speed of data transfer several times, but also eliminates the problem of saturation with devices and sensors that need to be connected for flawless operation. This is one of the biggest advantages of 5G networks, as they can connect up to a million devices per square kilometer, about five hundred times more than 4G networks, while boasting low response times (comparable to fiber-optic connections) and low energy consumption. 

By the way, in a few years we were able to connect no more than 512 devices to a Wi-Fi access point (but in practice much less), and the current Wi-Fi 6 standard supports up to 3000 devices (in theory). Unlike current IoT services, which are forced to compromise on the ability to get the best results from today’s wireless technologies, 5G networks are thus designed to provide the level of performance required by the vast number of connected devices.

Challenges facing the introduction of a private 5G network

Not so long ago, companies around the world got the opportunity to build and use their own 5G networks. However, when implementing such projects, companies face various challenges.

5G: a tool for IoT, artificial intelligence, edge computing

5G is more than just a network upgrade. In most cases, companies do not keep a structured record where 5G can be used in the company.

Instead, they often focus on specific use cases, such as unmanned vehicles. However, 5G should be seen as a tool for IoT, artificial intelligence, edge computing and other topics.

Therefore, a holistic analysis of 5G capabilities is inevitable. This is the only way to determine individual areas of application, which leads to the emergence of new business models. In addition, a single use case is usually not enough to justify the costs of acquiring and configuring the necessary infrastructure. Rather, companies should look to the future and be open to new options.

The use of new technologies must justify itself

Large investments require a sound business plan. Companies should carefully examine the use of new technology from business, technical and legal perspectives.

In the case of private 5G, you are rarely faced with a scratch scenario where planning is much simpler. Rather, the existing ICT infrastructure must be integrated so that processes continue to operate seamlessly once the campus network is operational.

In addition, a quality radio network above a certain transmission power requires additional permits to, for example, comply with radiation restrictions. A comprehensive cost-benefit and location analysis is therefore essential.

Clarify the operational model and architecture of the 5G network

Companies need to clarify questions about the operating model and architecture. In principle, private 5G networks, for example by UCtel, can be implemented as private networks with their own core or jointly with the public network of network operators.

The choice of operator model affects the performance, security and flexibility of networks and must therefore be adapted to individual requirements:

• Will 5G be considered from the point of view of holistic digitalization?
• Then it is necessary to find out further questions: What data architecture is needed?
• How can the systems be combined?
• How should the security architecture be designed?
• What skills do employees need?

And you should ask yourself even more such questions, depending on your field of activity and business format.

How to build your private 5G network?

The way to build your own private 5G is not a classic deployment project. It is not “only” necessary to install new components here. At the early stage of the 5G private networks build you still need many adjustments in terms of design and implementation, and in some cases, the necessary technology is missing – for example, 5G modules. So need to choose a reliable contractor, like UCtel, to get all of it done. 

Moreover, until the current generation, mobile communication technology was also reserved exclusively for telecom operators. Thus, experience in the traditional corporate networking sector is limited here. Companies should therefore engage an experienced partner if they want to get the most out of their 5G network.

Conclusion

Of course, 5G technology will go even further and penetrate other areas such as transportation, energy, healthcare, entertainment, smart cities and communities. And many implementations of private 5G networks will aim to mitigate wireless reliability issues with Wi-Fi networks. Then companies will realize that they can build new competitive advantages on it.