TECHNICAL
for secure and reliable connectivity across both IT and OT domains, private networks pave the way for a unified zero trust model and greater cross-domain visibility, while supporting segregation between critical operational traffic and less-sensitive IT services. Key industries & use cases Private 4G/5G networks are continuing their upward trajectory with deployments targeting a multitude of use cases across a host of industries. Dozens of manufacturers across the automotive, aerospace, shipbuilding, steelmaking, chemical production, electronics and heavy machinery segments are investing in private 4G/5G networks for Industry 4.0 applications such as AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) and AMR (Autonomous Mobile Robot) communications. Private cellular infrastructure is also being employed to provide industrial-grade wireless connectivity for autonomous material transportation and other applications in the warehousing vertical. In the oil and gas, mining and energy industries, private 4G/5G networks are increasingly being deployed at refineries, mines, power plants, wind farms and other remote facilities to enhance productivity and safety by enabling site-wide communications between workers, real-time video monitoring and teleoperation of equipment. In the transportation sector, private networks are being utilised to provide voice, data, messaging and IoT connectivity services for internal operations at airports, maritime ports and across railway lines. Militaries around the globe are investing in permanent private 4G/5G networks at military bases, as well as rapidly deployable systems for warfighters at the tactical edge. In the wider public sector,
range from high-speed broadband access, carrier-grade telephony, messaging, telepresence and video conferencing to smart building operations, security management and monitoring, and autonomous mobile robots for convenience services such as delivering packages, coffee and lunch boxes.
meet the performance, security, reliability and availability requirements of wireless communications for industrial digitisation and automation goals. Although most existing private cellular networks are based on 4G LTE technology, manufacturers and other end user organisations are starting to adopt standalone private 5G networks without 4G dependency to take advantage of 5G’s full capabilities in supporting demanding industrial application scenarios, especially time-sensitive Industrial IoT use cases requiring lower latency and greater reliability.
Neutral Hosting & DAS Replacement
Private 4G/5G networks are also gaining recognition as a cost-effective alternative to DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) for delivering neutral host cellular coverage in both carpeted enterprise spaces and industrial facilities, whereby staff and visitors gain access to public mobile operator networks from a private network. This trend is particularly prevalent in the United States due to the open accessibility of the GAA (General Authorized Access) tier of 3.5GHz CBRS spectrum.
Critical Communications Broadband Evolution
Critical communications user groups have traditionally relied on narrowband LMR (Land Mobile Radio) networks for mission- critical voice and low-speed data services. The industry is going through an evolution to support broadband-dependent field applications for public safety agencies, railway operators, utilities and other user groups, which in turn has led to aspirations to transition from LMR, GSM-R and other legacy technologies to private 4G LTE and eventually 5G networks.
Security & IT/OT Convergence
Although private 4G/5G networks use the same security protocols and technologies that are used to secure commercial mobile operator networks, they can be tailored to provide higher levels of protection to fulfill specific physical and cyber security requirements. In addition, as data does not have to traverse over public network infrastructure, private networks ensure that sensitive or proprietary information is fully secured and controlled locally. In industrial settings, private 4G/5G networks are increasingly being viewed as a means to drive the convergence of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) systems, which have traditionally depended on separate networks and protocols. By enabling users to leverage a common infrastructure
Enterprise Transformation Initiatives
In addition to the Industry 4.0 and critical communications broadband movements, which focus on specific vertical sectors, horizontally-oriented digital transformation initiatives targeting enterprise environments are also driving demand for private 4G/5G networks, primarily to provide localised cellular coverage at offices, commercial buildings and business parks. Potential applications
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May 2025 Volume 47 No.2
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