TECHNICAL
broader, less focused coverage of public cellular networks, private networks provide highly targeted coverage and service capabilities, specifically tailored to meet the needs of end users in both indoor and outdoor settings. Industry 4.0 Revolution & Standalone Private 5G Networks The growing significance of unobstructive wire-free connectivity to support increased mobility and flexible production as part of the fourth industrial revolution of manufacturing and process industries – commonly referred to as Industry 4.0 – is a principal theme that is accelerating the uptake of private 4G/5G networks. In particular, the Industry 4.0 revolution is widely regarded as a catalyst for cementing the business case for standalone 5G implementations that
In some cases – particularly in countries where suitable shared or locally licensed frequencies have not been set aside – regulators have imposed leasing obligations on public mobile operators’ national 5G licenses to provide spectrum for private networks in specific geographic locations. Furthermore, dedicated wide area spectrum is available in many countries for private networks serving specific vertical application scenarios, particularly in the critical communications domain, where national or regional coverage is required for PPDR (Public Protection & Disaster Relief), A2G (Air-to-Ground), railway and utility communications. Wireless Connectivity in Indoor, Industrial & Remote Environments
fundamental driver for the adoption of private 4G/5G networks. The coverage of on-premise Wi-Fi and wide area public cellular networks is often patchy in indoor and harsh industrial environments due to the type of construction, building materials and physical constraints that adversely affect the transmission of wireless signals. In addition, the challenging economics of deploying and operating networks in remote areas limit the commercial provision of mobile operator services. Unlike Wi-Fi, which operates at relatively lower power levels and uses unlicensed spectrum prone to interference, private 4G/5G networks leverage higher transmission power, dedicated spectrum and more robust signal penetration, enabling superior performance in challenging environments with fewer access points. Furthermore, unlike the
The lack of reliable wireless coverage and service availability is perhaps the most
May 2025 Volume 47 No.2
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