You manage a large organization that sits on expansive floor space, or run a warehouse that covers thousands of square meters. One of your key challenges will be getting your team members to communicate securely and cost-effectively wherever on the premises they may be.
You could give all of them access to the Internet via Wi-Fi, but equipment can be expensive and signal spotty. You could have them use cellular data, but you don’t want to have to deal with the congestion of thousands of users on a public network. There also may be limitations on the amount of data you can transfer on these public networks, and it’s difficult to confirm their security.
The beauty of a private cellular network is that it will help you overcome these limitations. It can also be configured to meet your organization’s specific needs.
How Do Private Cellular Networks Work?
If you’re familiar with computer networks, you’ve come across the acronym LAN (Local Area Network). Even if you’re not, you may be aware that your organization works using a LAN. As the name suggests, this network connects devices, servers, workstations and peripheral devices within an organization.
The network may be cabled or wireless, but as long as the connected devices are within a specific location, it qualifies as a LAN. A private cellular network is like having your regular cellular service configured into a LAN that serves only your organization or office. Instead of Wi-Fi or network cables, a private cellular network uses the LTE (Long-Term Evaluation) 5G technology your smartphone is connected to.
Private cellular networks are only accessible to devices granted access, so security concerns are assuaged.
Various cellular network service providers are rolling out 5G technology, but full implementation will take around another year. In full bloom, however, 5G will bring not just higher speeds but lower latency and connectivity for multiple devices—all of which can help streamline your organization’s communication.
What Kinds of Companies Use Private Cellular Networks?
Organizations that operate in huge spaces, such as logistics companies handling cargo at seaports, will be ideal candidates for this technology. A private cellular network would ease communication between staff in warehouses, those loading or unloading cargo from vessels, and IoT sensors on equipment collecting and transmitting data.
Cities looking to rely on technology for public surveillance and safety can consider setting up a private cellular network. This network will allow data from surveillance cameras to be easily transmitted to control rooms. It will also facilitate the upload of police dashboard and body cameras. Should there be a need to set up incident command centers, they can be connected to the mother systems using private cellular networks.
These networks will also prove very useful in mining or oil and gas exploration setups. They can be used to retrieve data from equipment fitted with IoT sensors and connect engineers using mobile or wearable devices.
In such setups, using Wi-Fi may be impractical because of the need to install access points. Using fiber-optic networks would be costly, and laying the cable over distances that could extend into hundreds of miles is time-consuming.
Private Cellular Networks vs. Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi may also be non-viable from a technical standpoint in some settings. Its signal may be interfered with by steel walls or spectrum noise. It may also not be feasible to deploy Wi-Fi from a financial standpoint, especially in large spaces that will require many access points. Deploying fiber over such large areas to provide Internet access to these hotspots will further bump up the costs.
Other areas where private LTE and 5G networks trump Wi-Fi include:
- Security: While Wi-Fi provides WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), security on this platform can hardly be considered robust. If you can guess the WPA password, you can easily breach the network. To access a private cellular network, you require an authorized SIM card. Security is particularly essential for organizations that hold sensitive personal data like hospitals and state security agencies.
- Reliability: Private cellular networks are not prone to the connectivity breakages that affect Wi-Fi from time to time.
Looking at the advantages of private LTE and 5G networks in terms of cost, efficacy and security, it’s unsurprising to hear that the size of this market is forecasted to triple in the next four years.
The Early Bird…
More and more businesses are seeing the value of investing in private cellular networks. Enterprises that adopt these nascent technologies will gain a cutting edge over their competition. They will offer their clients faster, more reliable service while assuring them that their sensitive data is well-protected. Start exploring this technology now, so you can maximize your benefits in the long run.
