The commercialization & democratization of private 5G networks
Published in
2 min readMar 9, 2021
Summary
- Much of the buzz around 5G has focused on the public networks, but less talked about is the growing traction of private 5G networks in enterprises. Purpose-built private 5G networks are being deployed in retail stores, auto factories, electronics manufacturing, distribution facilities, oil refineries, sports arenas, campuses, and rural areas.
- These use cases capitalize on some of the key advantages of 5G — high speeds (up to 20 Gbps+), low latency (down to one millisecond), and ability to handle thousands of devices simultaneously. Private 5G networks can also be more reliable, more secure, and provide for more control than Wi-Fi or public cell networks.
- There’s been growing momentum around openness — “open RAN” architectures (which allow for more supplier flexibility through interoperability and standardization); open-source network management and edge computing software, and general access to unlicensed and shared spectrum, most notably the CBRS “Innovation Band.”
- Carriers are facing competition in private cell networks from non-traditional players capitalizing on unlicensed and shared CBRS spectrum. These include enterprises setting up their own private networks, carrier-neutral managed-network providers, specialist network operators focused on verticals, and “open 5G network” players.
Subscribe to read the full-length brief on the 6Pages website.
6Pages is a market-intelligence service that helps professional decision-makers make better and faster decisions in response to far-reaching shifts in business & tech. We scan thousands of news pieces, identify and connect signals of change, and turn them into deeply researched briefs each week on what’s happening and what it means.
Sign up to get free summaries of our briefs about market shifts and what they mean. You can also follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn for our curated feed of signals.
Share your thoughts with us at hello@6Pages.com.
