Private LTE & 5G Networks

Accelerating Towards a Mature Marketplace

A Disruptive Analysis Thought-Leadership eBook - October 2023
Table of Contents
Introduction: Private Networks Come of Age ��������������������������������������������������� 3

Definition, Scale & Scope of Private Networks��������������������������������������������������� 4

Motivations & Use-cases������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9

Local Spectrum, CBRS and Global Differences������������������������������������������������� 14

The Role of MNOs, Telcos and Network-slicing������������������������������������������������ 17

The New Private LTE/5G Value Chain��������������������������������������������������������������� 19

Conclusions and Predictions ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 21

Introduction: Private Networks
Come of Age
Background and Objectives of This eBook What Has Changed?
This eBook gives a top-level view of the evolution of In 2019, iBwave and Disruptive Analysis published
private 4G and 5G networks, how they are enabled an initial ground-breaking eBook about Private LTE
and delivered, and the rationale for enterprises and CBRS. At the time, the concept was novel for
and other organizations to deploy them. many businesses. The report examined the rationale
for enterprises and others to deploy private 4G
It covers both the US market, where the CBRS cellular, as well as the US opening of the 3.55-3.7GHz
spectrum band has become almost synonymous CBRS band as a key catalyst for the market.
with private cellular, and encompasses the broader
global environment, where there are some Since then, there has been a huge surge in innovation
important differences – and major opportunities. and deployment, with numerous applications and vertical
sectors driving adoption. The US market for private
Readers should be aware that iBwave has published wireless has been vibrant, alongside parallel growth in
a significant number of other eBooks and articles on places such as German, UK and Japan. Certain sectors
this and related areas. There are specific resources have exceeded expectations in terms of adoption,
available about 5G use cases, top-level innovations, while others have not lived up to the initial hype. Some
and trends in private networks1, as well as several countries have been slower to adopt the concept,
publications about particular verticals such as mining2, often wary of new competition for traditional mobile
utilities3 or transport 4. These can be found here5. operators hoping to sell into the B2B marketplace.

To avoid too much overlap, this eBook focuses on Initially, the focus of CBRS and similar initiatives was
the following key aspects of private 4G and 5G: on private LTE/4G. But over this period, private 5G has
become more viable, alongside the maturing of private
ĉ Defining the sector properly: different types and 4G – although adoption has been slower than initially
scales of private / local networks predicted. The vendor landscape and value chain has
evolved hugely, with multiple new stakeholders emerging
ĉ The broad top-level reasons for enterprises and others
with a complex mesh of partnerships. Going forward,
to deploy private networks
5G – especially with “standalone” core networks,
ĉ CBRS driving the US private network market & the cloud-based “network-as-a-service” propositions,
wider sector and new features in future standards releases – will
ĉ Spectrum, deployment trends and other differences become central to private cellular in most instances.
around the world
ĉ The evolving value chain for PLTE/P5G: what Not everything has been straightforward, however. While
stakeholder types are involved? regulators and governments around the world have
ĉ What is the role of service providers for private made spectrum available for private 4G/5G, it spans a
networks, and how is changing? fragmented range of different bands, with widely varying
rules for allocation and use. There has also been patchy
availability of suitable end-devices, although that is now
improving. Other essential elements, such as design
and test tools, systems integration expertise, and in-
house skills and training are now maturing as well.

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 3

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Definition, Scale & Scope of
Private Networks
Definitions
Simplistically, private networks are 4G/5G systems public networks should be included here – in particular,
designed for specific sites or companies. Sometimes the idea of 5G network slicing applied to local networks or
Wi-Fi is included as well, but few observers would specific enterprises. There are also various hybrid models,
call a Wi-Fi-only installation a “private network.” such as the use of a national radio network with a degree
of local “semi-private” control and coverage extensions.
However, the reality is not that simple.
The confusion is unhelpful, especially when related topics
Even the term “private network” is not universal. such as radio spectrum and wider government industrial
Some vendors and commentators refer to “dedicated policy considerations are blended into the discussion.
networks” or “private wireless.” Others refer to
them as “campus networks,” “local networks,” They broadly cover three options:
“enterprise networks,” or “vertical networks.”
ĉ Standard mobile network services and applications
One of the challenges in defining and assessing the market sold to, or used by, industrial and enterprise customers
for private networks – even just restricted to private cellular ĉ Mobile operator networks optimized, extended or
networks - is the sheer diversity of network types and use virtualized for industrial and enterprise requirements
cases that are being proposed and deployed, compared to ĉ Mobile networks built exclusively for, or owned by,
the “traditional” national public MNOs or wireless carriers. industrial companies and other enterprises.

These may or may not include

other technologies beyond
4G and 5G – some include
Wi-Fi, local meshes, point-to-
point microwave, TETRA/P25
or various IoT and proprietary
connectivity systems.
Original Vision for MNO-Led “Enterprise 5G” Is Changing
Even the 3GPP’s clunky and
somewhat-disparaging term
“Private 5G” usually
NPN (“non-public network”) “Public 5G”
refers to these models
is not particularly useful,
as various current “public”
Enterprise
networks (defined as having Standard
Enterprise
private
MNO
MNO as
Enterprise /
vertical
3rd-party private
a government-issued PLMN mobile
services
Enterprise-
focused
APN for IoT
custom
slice of 5G
platform for private core
Neutral
Host
mobile on-
prem
(via MNO on-prem network +
ID) include unusual providers sold to
enterprise
MVNO
macro
macro
network
SliceAAS MNO radio
network on-
prem
network
(own or via
such as railway operators, network) extension
MSP/SI)
public safety agencies,
MVNOs and wholesalers. Plus many hybrids & variations (e.g., spectrum
/ asset ownership, outsourcing)
It is also unclear whether various August 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023
types of “private partitions” of

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 Here, we are defining “private” networks as business- locations typically have multiple use cases, outdoor
focused cellular networks, where the enterprise and indoor areas, and often include challenging
has some degree of ownership or control over the zones for either public cellular or Wi-Fi to cover.
infrastructure, operation, services – and, increasingly,
the physical radio network itself. This mostly fits the Larger private networks tend to be special cases, often
second and especially the third bullets on the list above. with dedicated spectrum and government involvement
as part of national infrastructure projects. Smaller
Scale private networks are likely to be oriented on single
buildings, with an emphasis on indoor coverage and
It is worth stressing that private LTE & 5G highly specialized applications, or perhaps a need for
deployments vary widely in scale. They can be “neutral host” services for public network tenants.
nationwide networks (for example, for utility grids,
public safety, or rail), or highly localized, such Market Size and Growth of PLTE/P5G
as for an individual factory, ship, or hotel.
Private cellular is not new. The market has existed for
In the future, they may even scale down to a over 20 years. In the past, small numbers of 2G/3G/4G
small individual office, store or even home. networks were used at some mining sites, oil and gas
extraction facilities, military bases, and other locations
where public cellular carrier
coverage is absent or unsuitable.
Rail networks have used special
variants such as GSM-R. But these
networks were rare – maybe a few
hundred worldwide, often designed
and deployed at considerable
Private LTE/5G Networks Are Deployed at a Wide Range of Scales cost by specialist providers and
managed by expert staff.
Global / Supply Chain
Region / distribution
National / transmission
However, the advent of more
Application / Site / plant mainstream spectrum availability
Testbed
– especially CBRS in the US and
local licenses in Japan, Germany
and the UK – has, together with
new small cells and cloud platforms
– led to rapid expansion in the
last 3-4 years, with many experts
viewing this as an inflection point
for accelerating adoption.
August 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023

Various estimates and forecasts of

the private network market have
been published by analyst firms,
However, from the perspective of most enterprises, vendors, and trade associations. Most methodologies
the current “sweet spot” for private cellular is in the now point to low 1,000s already deployed worldwide,
1-10km site size range – which covers most major although widely varying in scale and with a mix of
industrial plants, ports, airports, mines, energy trial sites and “production” facilities. It is realistic to
facilities, major sports venues, and universities. Such forecast that figure expanding to 10,000s of networks
in the next five years, or even optimistic scenarios of installed base of sites. It has split these into two
with another zero or two by the end of the decade. size categories for simplicity – large, mostly outdoor
networks of 5km2 or above, and small/mid-size networks
Many in the private 5G industry hope to make for indoor use and smaller campuses, below 5km2.
private cellular “as easy as Wi-Fi”, although that
seems to be something of a stretch. It is, however, The first segment covers areas for oil and gas fields,
fair to describe it as becoming progressively large airports, wind farms, utility and rail networks, smart
“democratized.” A similar ambition is held within the cities, and local fixed-wireless access for communities.
public MNO sector around network slicing, although The smaller sites include factories, logistics hubs,
that (as discussed later) seems less realistic. most university campuses, and indoor/outdoor use in
offices and retail stores. It should be stressed that these
Some industry associations, such as the GSA, use an figures are rough estimates and have many sensitivities
arbitrary cutoff of only counting networks costing to unpredictable regulatory and market conditions.
>US$100K, to exclude smaller installations from
market size estimates. That seems a poor fit in an The market has several phases on the way to mass-market
era of cloud-delivered 5G NaaS with promises of deployments and is currently transitioning from early
“no upfront capex”, or scenarios where multiple commercial uses and smaller trials, to mainstream and
small networks may be deployed by a single “productized” installations. The next big jump will occur
company across many sites, for instance, in retail. with multi-site private network use in sectors such as retail,
plus wider use of indoor cellular for neutral-host coverage.
Disruptive Analysis has created its own forecasts for
the private and dedicated LTE/5G market, in terms

Estimated Global Installed Base of Dedicated 4G/5G Networks

45000
Large area >5 sq km, eg airport, Large multi-site
utility, oilfield, FWA deployments, neutral host
40000 39000
indoors, diverse channel
Small / Mid <5 sq km, eg factory,
office, warehouse, retail
35000
Massmarket deployments
+ cloud & automation
30000 28000

Trials & commercial

Sites,
25000 deployments ramp up, 5G
year-end products launch
20000 19000

Local spectrum first becomes

15000 easily available US CBRS,
UK, Germany, Japan etc 12000
Custom networks
10000 & one-off 8000
spectrum deals
2500 3500 5000
5000 400 900 1400 1900
40 100 200 1900
750 1000 1300 1600
15 20 30 60 100 150 200 280 400 550
0
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030

Source: Disruptive Analysis Estimates

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It is also worth noting that there is a separate “legacy Over time private 5G will start to become more
market” of older 2G and 3G private networks, which commoditized, with variants such as the future 5G
may account for 10,000+ small sites, in Japan, the RedCap variant reducing price points, but for the
Netherlands, and the UK, where small amounts of next 2-3 years, we can expect a heterogeneous mix
local spectrum have been available for a long time. of 4G and 5G, sometimes on the same sites.

Similarly, broad ranges are cited in terms of financial Community Networks, Neutral-Host and
market value and revenue from private networks. Fixed Wireless Access
Several sources assert an opportunity ranging
up to $5-10 billion annually in the medium term,
The main emphasis in the private network sector is
although that presumably must include infrastructure,
around enterprise and industrial “vertical” use-cases.
devices, integration services and much more.
As discussed in this report and other iBwave eBooks,
that spans domains such as manufacturing, mining,
4G or 5G? oil & gas, education, and transportation/logistics.

This eBook considers both 4G and 5G private

networks, reflecting today’s market reality, which
includes both technologies. The migration to 5G in
the sector is discussed in more depth in an earlier
publication on 2023 Private Network trends 6.

There are several considerations here, from Private 4G/5G Networks Segmenting Further (2023/24+)
both the demand and supply sides:
Critical
Communications Indoor / Guest + Outdoor /

ĉ Until 2022, there were very few 5G SA 4G/5G MC-PTT, Neutral Host metro /
infill
SCADA, safety- MNO roaming &
(standalone) cores available for private
neutral
critical etc coverage, local host

networks. SIMs etc

ĉ Some local spectrum bands, such as 3.8-4.2GHz Asymmetrical

overlaps
Future
“free 5G”

and 26/28GHz mmWave, are 5G-only. There are

hotspots
Hyper- Cloud & IT/IoT Wi-Fi
scale AGVs, robots,
no suitable 4G products available. cloud
integration video cameras,
integration

AR/VR, sensors
ĉ Other bands are 4G-only or have mostly 4G eg AWS
P5G
MNO
Public 5G

products. Some, such as the US CBRS band, slice

integration

are adopting 5G quite rapidly, while others are

unlikely to gain such support August 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023

ĉ Many baseline use cases for private networks,

such as replacing push-to-talk radios, do not
need 5G capabilities, and may only have 4G products
But these well-understood industries are only
available. Over time more demanding applications
part of the broader story for private or localized
such as high-definition cameras and low-latency
4G/5G networks. Vendors, systems integrators,
vehicle/system control are gaining importance, which
and network design professionals should also be
favors 5G.
aware of other adjacent sectors that use broadly
ĉ Private 4G is well-understood by integrators and
similar networks, spectrum, and tools:
certain larger enterprise users. It is much more
“productized,” lower-cost, and available “in a box.”
ĉ Public network extensions/expansion: In several
5G systems are more capable, but many market
countries, existing public mobile network operators
participants are still on the learning curve.
(variously known as MNOs, telcos or carriers) are
allowed to access local or shared spectrum resources
This is broadly similar to what is seen with other
for extra capacity or coverage, in addition to their own
network technologies. Some applications demand
exclusive frequency bands. This is most apparent in
innovative products and the highest performance
the US, with CBRS. As well as incumbent MNOs, this
and are designed with future-proofing in mind.
can also enable hybrid MVNO/MNOs, which blend
Others are better suited to more mainstream,
own-build and wholesale network capacity. Some of
well-understood solutions at lower costs.
the cable operators are the most prominent service
providers using this approach.

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ĉ Fixed wireless access providers: Also known as
WISPs (wireless ISPs), there is significant interest in
deploying private 5G (or sometimes 4G) for broadband
access in local spectrum such as US CBRS or the UK’s
3.8-4.2GHz band. Typically, such networks are used in
rural areas, with limited fiber access and aging copper/
cable plant. This is also seen as an alternative to Wi-Fi
or proprietary FWA solutions, especially in markets
where 100Mbps+ or gigabit wireless is a market
requirement or needed for accessing government
subsidy funding.
ĉ Government networks: There is a growing use of
private 4G/5G infrastructure and solutions in public-
sector wireless. Although some of this may be captured
in other well-defined verticals, such as health and
education, there is considerable added interest in the
public safety and defense sectors. Various countries are
using dedicated networks for nationwide emergency-
response communications, while there is also growth
in enabling more localized (sometimes temporary)
networks for fire or police operations. Military use
of private 5G is also growing rapidly, ranging from
deployments at large permanent bases to more tactical
in-field deployments. As well as the security aspects,
the interoperability of a single standard is important
for multi-agency/multi-country private networks, for
instance, run by organizations such as NATO.
ĉ Community networks: There is growing interest
in using localized dedicated/private networks for
communities that do not get good coverage (especially
with 5G) from the main national networks in their
country. This includes small clusters in rural areas, on
small islands or in remote or mountainous terrain. Such
networks may be completely separate or may roam (or
act as a neutral host) with the main MNOs. They may
combine local mobile access with FWA or offer IoT
capabilities for agriculture or other industries.
ĉ Neutral host networks: It is becoming possible to
use private network infrastructure and spectrum to
supply shared indoor/campus wireless coverage on
behalf of national MNOs. The concept of neutral hosts
– essentially a wholesale platform for public network
access – is common in the world of distributed antenna
systems (DAS) but can now be enabled on CBRS or
other local spectrum. This approach can either use
roaming or can interconnect directly between private
and MNO core networks. It should be noted that some
other countries, such as Germany, prohibit the use
of private networks and shared spectrum for public
network services.
ĉ Municipal networks: In several countries, regional
governments, councils or other municipal authorities
are deploying private 4G/5G networks, either on
their own or in partnership with service providers
or infrastructure investors. These may span cities

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 8

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 or broader districts and cover both outdoor and IoT systems. There are also small (often single cell)
indoor areas. Such networks have a variety of use networks in use on some aircraft and helicopters.
cases, including connectivity for in-house functions ĉ Temporary networks: Depending on local spectrum-
such as transport, waste management, and staff licensing rules, there is a significant interest in building
communications. They may also be used to offer private 5G coverage for short-term applications,
neutral-host capabilities (see above), backhaul for such as at major sporting events, music festivals, or
public Wi-Fi networks, or as a means of offering FWA public ceremonies. Such networks may be used for
for “connecting the unconnected”. broadcasting, onsite security or health agencies, or
ĉ Aviation and maritime: A growing number of cruise commercial functions such as payment terminals.
ships, cargo vessels, and yachts are adopting their
own private networks for use of crew, passengers, and

Motivations & Use-cases

Rationales for Private LTE/5G Coverage
As noted in the introduction, there are many The core reason for using private 4G/5G rather than
different types of private networks being deployed public MNO services is the limitations of public network
or designed. Every vertical and every site will have coverage. MNOs normally have license conditions – and
its differences. Together, they span an extremely financial targets - that prioritize covering residential
broad array of applications, organization types, and populations, and so tend to deploy network assets in
underlying rationales. However, some broad general areas with high population density, or along main roads.
themes can be seen. The key business reasons for
considering private cellular networks include: In addition, network upgrades such as 4G-to-5G tend to
proceed in a similar fashion, which means that marginal or
ĉ Coverage low-population areas are often a generation behind. and
ĉ Control (& security) often rely on spectrum bands that are more favorable for
ĉ Cloud broad coverage than capacity and enhanced features.
ĉ Cost
ĉ Compensation & monetization This means that there is often poor or unreliable network
coverage in places such as:

ĉ Indoors in large
buildings, such as factories
or warehouses, or interior
rooms and basements
of offices. While there
The 5 C’s: Rationales for private networks are options for indoor
COVERAGE CONTROL CLOUD COST COMPENSATION
coverage for MNOs’,
In-Building Security Productivity
these solutions tend to be
Edge computing Replace legacy
LMR quite expensive – and are
Rural Sovereignty Private SIMs
Lowest latency prioritized for visitor-centric
Industrial Customised Factory 4.0
Roaming sites such as shopping
IT / 5G integration
Offices Beyond Wi-Fi
Fibre replace Local MVNO
malls and sports stadiums.
Road / Rail Deployment Cloud marketplace ĉ Rural and remote areas,
Avoid carrier per- Govt funding
Utility Lifecycle GB fees such as agricultural regions,
5G in IoT platform
Metro areas Mobility Local FWA mines, and oil & gas sites
TCO for IoT
Military / Govt Private QoS Digital Twins connectivity MNO offload ĉ Alongside railways
and secondary roads,
without gaps and with
February 2021 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023
sufficient capacity

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ĉ On industrial sites such as chemical plants, quarries, control of machinery, they can customize and optimize
ports, etc radio resource management and redundancy.
ĉ Islands and offshore facilities
ĉ Temporary sites such as music festivals, or military For instance, high-definition cameras need more
forward bases. uplink capacity than may be available on public
networks, especially in TDD (time-division duplex)
These are also often the same types of locations spectrum bands primarily intended for consumer
where many enterprise or dedicated networks are usage of streaming media and downloads. Using
needed most. As a result, private networks’ key dedicated 4G/5G networks and local spectrum licenses,
role is in the provision of dedicated, high-quality they can optimize for traffic flows of this type.
coverage suitable for an enterprise’s activities.
Other elements of “control” include:
It is worth noting that such areas are also often lacking
good backhaul (fiber) connectivity, which may mean that ĉ Accountability and liability for downtime or other
self-contained “network in a box” solutions are needed problems. Few MNOs are prepared to offer ironclad
with on-premises cores, or perhaps satellite connectivity. SLAs with financial guarantees or recompense for
consequential losses.
Control & Security ĉ Longevity and stability. For instance, utility and rail
companies often want to invest in assets with 20-40
Owning, specifying and/or operating private wireless year life. They do not want continued demands to
allows companies to define and optimize many network upgrade to 6G, 7G and 8G in coming decades, with
parameters themselves, taking direct responsibility older networks being switched off.
for security, reliability, performance, and reporting. ĉ Ability to develop customized or modified versions
of the technology. For instance, combining 4G/5G
radios with a non-3GPP core, using new forms of
Many organizations have their own compliance needs,
authentication or identity technology and so on.
which means they may be hesitant to allow confidential
Traditional operators are unlikely to be interested in
operational or personnel data to go outside their own IT
one-off customizations unless at a very large scale
domain, across networks and servers over which they have
(e.g., for national public safety networks).
limited visibility – even those operated by major MNOs.
ĉ Exclusive rights. The company may be unwilling to rely
on unlicensed spectrum (and Wi-Fi in particular) for
With private networks they can choose their own sensitive or business-critical systems.
mechanisms for redundancy and cybersecurity, aligning
with sector-specific best practices and regulations, or the
requirements of vehicles and specific analytical compute Cost
functions. They can employ their own preferred identity
credentials and encryption mechanisms. For demanding Private 4G/5G networks span a large array of costs and
applications like streaming video or low-latency remote business models. They may save direct costs compared
to alternative network technologies (or public 4G/5G
services) or may be elements in a more complex
calculation of “total cost of ownership” or help mitigate
operational risks that could lead to severe financial losses.

The costs of wireless networks for some industrial

verticals are a comparatively small proportion of overall
site expenditure on capex and opex. There may be some
pricing advantages of private 4G/5G compared to older
radio systems or microwave links, but the real benefits
may come from the ability to connect more endpoints –
whether those are IoT sensors, modules for vehicles and
machinery, or higher-specification handhelds for workers
which can support data and productivity applications.

One of the key benefits that has been realized in

recent years is the ability to use 4G/5G to create more

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 10

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flexible and reconfigurable workplaces, without the Cloud
need to re-wire fiber or ethernet connections. This is
an important advantage for Industry 4.0 and Smart Historically, private cellular networks have evolved
Factories, for instance, where production modules separately from cloud technologies. They have often
may be moved around a facility, and fiber connections been deployed in difficult areas for connectivity, such
would involve re-concreting parts of the floor. A as mines and oilfields, or else have been in critical-
similar calculation applies to connecting cameras infrastructure sectors which have been heavily reliant on
deployed for perimeter security or other purposes. dedicated computing hardware, such as rail and utilities.

In connection with the Control theme described above, However, the maturing of both cloud and private 4G/5G in
it is often a requirement to replace wireless legacy the wider enterprise marketplace means there is a growing
equipment with modern, multi-functional and ideally link between private wireless and hyperscale platforms.
cheaper alternatives – while keeping the historical levels
of performance and security. This may involve migrating
There are two main trends here:
gradually over time from one to the other. This includes
industrial network protocols, DECT and private two-way
radio systems, and little-used wired networks in offices. ĉ Networks are becoming more software-based and
cloud-delivered
ĉ Cloud-based applications are becoming more
There may also be a desire in some businesses to avoid
dependent on reliable local wireless
being locked-in to specific MNOs or paying per-use
for connectivity that could more cost-effectively be
delivered via Capex rather than Opex. Conversely, some Many software elements, such as network cores, are
of the emerging cloud-delivered “network as a service” being delivered via virtualization and containers, rather
models for private networks may enable a switch back than physical appliances. Large cloud platform providers
to an Opex-based model with low capital outlays. are increasingly offering their customers “network-as-
a-service” functions, either for the entire private 4G/5G
solution, such as Amazon AWS Private 5G, or for specific
Various comparisons are often made with Wi-Fi networks.
elements and capabilities, such as Microsoft Azure
In general, private 4G/5G requires fewer network nodes
Private 5G Core. HPE recently acquired Athonet, which
to cover an area – but devices, systems integration, and
offers cloud-managed private cellular capabilities. They
hiring appropriately-skilled people may be more costly.
are also frequently linking private cellular with their
managed edge computing services and solutions.
Not all private cellular networks can be considered low-
cost options. Some industries (such as utilities or transport
More broadly, cloud-based applications are being
hubs) may deploy “carrier-grade” or better networks,
deployed for running and optimizing enterprise
with multiple layers of redundancy and backups – for
operations. For instance, cloud-managed IoT platforms
instance, the ability to support full connectivity on a site,
even if one of the base stations or radio units fails.

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may enable preventative maintenance, digital twins, AI, or There is also an opportunity for vertical-oriented system
broad control over supply chains and multi-site operations. suppliers to use private networks to become (effectively)
Such systems use far more data, from many more sensors, industrial mobile operators. As an example, truck supplier
machinery, cameras and input sources. This volume Scania uses vehicle connectivity as a basis for subscription-
inherently needs networks with better coverage and much based services such as its “site optimization” toolset.
greater capacity, as well as support of mobile endpoints
such as vehicles or wearables. That aligns well with private In addition to these across-the-board drivers for private
cellular use cases, so large “transformation” projects networks, there are also a variety of sector-specific
may include both cloud and connectivity combined. reasons, and some of them are quite obscure and
counter-intuitive. For instance, a quarrying operation
Compensation and Monetisation has cited P5G base stations' longer range than outdoor
Wi-Fi as a reason for deployment – because when using
As described in the definitions section, there are explosive charges, rocks and gravel can travel for several
numerous categories of “dedicated” networks hundred meters and damage equipment if too close.
which are more like niche service providers, rather
than purely for internal enterprise connectivity. Vertical Sectors & Use-Cases
Some sectors use private networks as a potential source iBwave has recently published another eBook on
of revenue. For instance, by acting as “micro-MNOs” general 5G use cases7 which covers most of the
for 3rd party tenants onsite or delivering fixed-wireless major vertical sectors for private networks:
access in a local area. An example of this is how an
airport’s private network may provide (paid) services to ĉ Mining
the catering, maintenance and fuel companies’ vehicles ĉ Oil & gas
and personnel, or perhaps to the airlines themselves. ĉ Transport hubs & logistics
ĉ Energy & utilities
Some businesses want their own private LTE/5G networks ĉ Manufacturing
as a profit center, or to form part of other products and
ĉ Higher education
services. For instance, there may be a desire to add Wi-
Fi style local free access, offer wholesale propositions
such as neutral-host sharing, “offload” for MNOs, For most of these industries, iBwave has also published
or the creation of localized wholesale or concession separate in-depth eBooks. For the avoidance
models (e.g., venue-specific or time-limited MVNOs). of repetition, please see those documents for a
detailed examination of the applications, device
types, and deployment scenarios involved.

In addition to these, many other industries

have started to use private 4G/5G networks,
including smart cities and municipalities,
sports and entertainment venues, finance,
broadcasting, and defense/military.

Neutral host networks give potential for P5G monetisation While much of the historic focus around
Conventional DAS private cellular has been around industrial
sites, ports/airports, or wide-area
Indoor Shared in-building
operations such as railways and utility
Private network + NHN grids, in recent years a wide variety of
NHNs Metro / campus coverage
Based on
private other sectors and locations have started
networks
to deploy private LTE or 5G capabilities.
Rural (island / village)
Outdoor
Road / rail At present, the “carpeted enterprise”
Fixed Wireless Access
sector, which forms a key part of Wi-
Fi’s marketplace, is still mostly outside
August 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023 private cellular reach. However, this is
starting to change. Multi-dwelling units

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 12

TOC
(MDUs, apartment blocks), retail sites, hospitals, ĉ Voice connectivity over local or wide area, that goes
hotels and shared-office spaces and others are beyond “phone calls” to encompass two-way radios,
starting to see use cases emerge, especially for push-to-talk systems, public addresses and so forth.
outdoor areas such as car parks or campus sites. Voice connectivity may also include critical or safety-
related voice systems with priority pre-emption rights.
The key application and device “tenants” on a ĉ On-campus or near-campus FWA, many extended
private cellular network are connections for: sites have remote buildings or structures which are
difficult to connect with fiber, or which have previously
ĉ Moving IoT devices such as vehicles, robots, wearables relied on microwave or other niche fixed links. 4G/5G
and drones. A particular category here is the use of FWA can provide simpler connectivity. In some
“geofencing” so that dangerous machinery is halted sectors, there is also a need for off-site connectivity,
when humans get too close to it – for instance, for instance, a healthcare provider connecting nearby
automated trucks in a mine or quarry. There are patients’ homes that are otherwise lacking good
multiple sub-categories here, especially with the rise broadband for telemedicine.
of new categories such as AR/VR and new autonomous ĉ Indoor or on-site coverage for public MNOs’
vehicle types. subscribers. In the past, this would typically have
ĉ Static IoT devices such as lighting, ventilation, access- involved a system with the telcos’ radios as “signal
control security systems, environmental sensors, sources” connected to a shared set of antennas and
pipeline monitoring and so forth. cables (DAS – distributed antenna system). Now, some
ĉ Operational technology (OT) with high reliability venue owners want to use private 4G/5G networks and
and predictable latency requirements, including act as “neutral hosts”, either using roaming or secure
business-critical production and automation systems in shared access via gateways to the public networks.
manufacturing, or safety-critical machinery or public-
safety assets.

Key Use-Cases for Private 4G/5G Networks

Vehicle connectivity Cameras

Critical voice/PTT On-site FWA

Mobile robots/AGVs Asset tracking

In-field AR/VR Drone observations

+ normal employee SIMs/phone contracts + mobile broadband

June 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023

Local Spectrum,
CBRS & Global
Differences
Since the previous edition of this eBook was
published in 2019, the worldwide private
network market has been catalyzed by
the rapid commercialization of the CBRS
spectrum in the US, as well as the parallel
increase in the availability of suitable
frequency bands in many other countries.
The associated ecosystem of vendors, systems integrators,
and general awareness of the concept has grown rapidly, if
unevenly. There are now over 300,000 CBRS access points
ĉ Exclusive licenses for parts of a band. For instance,
(CBSDs) deployed in the US across a variety of use cases, in the UK, Ofcom assigns licenses for each 10MHz
with hundreds of local 4G/5G licenses in each of the channel width in the 3.8-4.2GHz range, with an option
leading markets such as Germany, the UK and Japan. for a 50m radius (low power) or 3km radius (medium
power) around a specific point.
There are, however, considerable differences between ĉ License-exempt spectrum, such as that at 2.4GHz
the evolution of private networks around the world. or 5GHz (and in some markets 6GHz) is available on
These largely relate to the varied approaches to a technology-neutral basis. While commonly used for
spectrum allocation for dedicated networks. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, these bands can also be used for
unlicensed versions of 4G and 5G, if they comply with
Regulators now have a growing range of options for rules on power and interference/coexistence.
providing spectrum suitable for private and local networks: ĉ Leasing of MNOs’ existing spectrum bands for private
use has occurred for some time, on a case-by-case
ĉ Shared spectrum licenses based on tiered access basis. This has typically occurred in remote areas for
to a specific band, with the most notable example applications such as mining, where the national MNOs
being CBRS (3.55-3.7GHz) in the US. This involves a would be unlikely to build out normal cellular coverage.
combination of existing spectrum users (like the US In some countries, new spectrum licenses are being
Navy and fixed-link operators), a group of protected issued with conditions that mandate leasing in some
license holders who have been granted priority access situations, although this is usually done manually with a
rights through county-level auctions, and a general complex legal and contractual process.
access (GAA) band that offers spectrum allocations ĉ Temporary licenses are typically used for sectors
whenever and wherever feasible. The management such as broadcasting and special events, for video
is coordinated through a system of coastal sensors and audio links, wireless cameras, and microphones
and a dynamic spectrum access system (SAS) for and similar uses. These are increasingly using 4G/5G
authorization purposes. technology for certain applications.
ĉ Exclusive licenses for entire bands, in defined ĉ Secondary use of existing MNO-allocated
areas. For instance, in Germany, applicants for the nationwide spectrum is possible in some instances,
BNetzA’s Campusnetze spectrum get assigned rights where public networks have not been built out
for 100MHz between 3.7-3.8GHz across a specific in specific areas and there are no plans to do
geographic area such as a factory or industrial plant so. The UK’s local access licenses work on this

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 14

TOC
 basis but can involve complex negotiations ĉ Band 48: 3.55-3.7GHz in the US (CBRS)
with the incumbent operator and regulator. ĉ Band 77: 3.8-4.2GHz, wholly or in part, in the UK and
ĉ Regional public licenses: In some countries, regulators under consideration for the rest of Europe and various
have auctioned normal spectrum bands for specific other countries
areas (such as remote regions of Canada, or offshore ĉ Band 78: 3.4-3.8GHz, which is primarily an MNO band
in the North Sea from Norway) with successful but sometimes now available for leasing, or else with
bidders, which are primarily intending to offer private the upper 100MHz available for vertical licensing
networking for enterprises. ĉ Band 79: 4.7-4.9GHz, used for private networks in
ĉ MNO spectrum for private networks: Where an several countries in Asia
MNO builds a dedicated/private network (or a local ĉ Bands 38 & 40: small ranges at 2.6GHz and 2.3GHz,
network slice) for an enterprise, they can choose from available in certain European markets like France, UK
their existing spectrum “inventory” to find suitable and Finland
bands at that location or apply for additional local ĉ Bands 257 & 258: mmWave bands between 24-29GHz
frequencies from one of the other methods above. This available in various countries, but currently little-used
gives a significant advantage to telcos in some cases, if
they have an internal spectrum-management team that In addition, various other sub-GHz bands in the
is flexible enough to accommodate such requests from 700-900MHz range are sometimes leased or made
their B2B integration arm. available in remote areas, especially for narrowband
applications such as push-to-talk voice or certain
This means that the most important bands classes of IoT. Several countries have made 450MHz
for private networks are now: allocations available for sectors such as utilities.

Globally, Many Regulators Are Adopting Localized

Mobile Spectrum Allocations
Spectrum Bands Available for Dedicated/Local Networks

CANADA: Various regional- scale NORWAY: 700/900 offshore

UK: 1.8, 2.3, 3.8 - 4.2GHz Future 3.8 - 4.2GHz leasing
lincense tiers at 3.5GHz, 2.5GHz, 26GHz indoor 2ndary licensing
700MHz. Consulting on local licens-
es 3.8-4.2GHz DENMARK: 3.7GHz leasing

IRELAND: 450MHz, 3.6GHz GERMANY: 5G 3.7GHz, 26GHz

CHINA: Various private / govt bands + 5.9-6.4GHz
US: CBRS 3.5GHz, SWEDEN: 3.7GHz + 26GHz
EBS 2.5GHz SOUTH KOREA: 28GHz + 4.8GHz
Various 7/8/900MHz
for utilities / IoT FINLAND: 2.3GHz, 26GHz
3.4-3.8GHz leased EU RSPG: Examining JAPAN: 1.9 GHz
3.8-4.2GHz MulteFire + 28GHz + 2.6GHz + 4.9GHz

TAIWAN: 4.8GHz

HONG KONG: 26GHz

SAUDI - may
do band 77
NEW ZEALAND:
2.6GHz
CZECH: 3.4GHz leasing
PORTUGAL:
CHILE: 2.6GHz 450MHz 2.6GHz
leased, 3.7GHz
MALAYSIA:
28GHz
NETHERLANDS & BELGIUM: 3.6GHz
BRAZIL: 3.7GHz local licenses + NL 1.8GHz, 2.3GHz

FRANCE: 2.6GHz + considering 3.8-4.0GHz AUSTRALIA: Local

sub-leasing + 28GHz
SPAIN: Considering 26GHz

January 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023

Note: Data changes frequently. Some bands have
limited availability or are under consideration.

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 15

TOC
 All these frequencies and allocation mechanisms Some of the challenges and differences around
come with additional rules and obligations that are spectrum for private 4G/5G networks include:
determined by the local regulators. The licenses are
likely to stipulate power limits, physical siting (e.g., ĉ Varying size of licensed areas covered – from as little
height above ground), mechanisms for geo-location, as 50m (UK) to entire counties (US), which may be
and duration of license validity. There may also be reflected in pricing, or with the risks of “first come, first
other non-spectrum rules for deployment, such as served” locking out latecomers in the same area. There
issuance of numbering resources, responsibilities for may be a secondary marketplace parcelling out sub-
reporting or lawful interception, and mechanisms licenses, but that is not yet a fluid marketplace.
for dealing with any interference with neighbors. ĉ Device support varies significantly, both in
smartphones and IoT products/modules. While CBRS is
All these licensing methods thus involve trade-offs, now supported in most new phones and a wide variety
which then feed through to the verticals and use cases of gateways and other products, some bands, such as
that fit best. This means that the patterns of private 3.8-4.2GHz, have had limited availability until recently.
network adoption are likely to fragment, with some ĉ Some bands support 5G only, some 4G only, and some
markets mostly geared towards outdoor or campus support both. That has multiple implications in terms of
use, and others (for instance, if only mmWave bands are costs, skills and application suitability.
available) more likely to be indoors in industrial settings. ĉ In some cases, there is a visible and effective industry
association and forum, for instance, in the US, the
Some markets, such as the UK, have rules that originally named CBRS Alliance, since rebranded as
favor applications such as rural FWA (fixed wireless OnGo. This has helped create an ecosystem, raise
access), and others are more oriented to industrial visibility, certify devices and promote a variety of
applications in factories and warehouses. use cases. Other markets have more fragmentation,
although some industries, such as manufacturing, have
The US CBRS model appears to offer “something” to international bodies supporting private networks such
many groups – from extra capacity for major MNOs, to as 5G-ACIA.
FWA, to extending campus coverage for enterprises. ĉ Regulatory constraints vary on creating hybrid
Nonetheless, it might fall short in delivering the public/private networks. This means that some
100%-reliable exclusive rights needed for the most countries are much easier for private networks
demanding business-critical applications. However, the to operate as neutral hosts, with roaming or
automation of its SAS model mean it is more agile than the interconnect models with national MNOs. The US
manual administration of applications typical in Europe. is now seeing much more interest in using private
networks to support visitor smartphones, while other
markets, such as Germany, are more oriented to
employees’ devices or corporate IoT machinery.
ĉ Length of license terms – in some cases, this may only
be 1-3 years, meaning unpredictability for long-term
business plans (e.g., lifetime of a factory or warehouse)
and fragility of building a financial case for deployment.
ĉ Difficulty of obtaining “bulk” applications for spectrum,
CBRS Three-Tier Model for Spectrum Allocation for instance, for retail chains wanting to deploy to 100s
of separate sites with a similar system.
ĉ Manual application processes (form-writing
and various legalistic details), as well as
manual approval/denial processes.
ĉ Length of time between application and confirmation
(or denial) of license.
ĉ Opacity of reasons why some licenses are denied,
and no suggestions of possible workarounds such
as using different spectrum bands, slight variations
August 2023 I Copyright Disruptive Analysis Ltd 2023 in location/boundaries of coverage, etc.

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 16

TOC
ĉ Lack of reliable mapping or “pre-application” data that Disruptive Analysis believes that many of these
could signal the likelihood of approval or denial. challenges and inconsistencies will be ironed out over
ĉ Costs of annual license fees, which may not the next 3-4 years. There are now enough alternative
reflect the regulator’s underlying time needed approaches and successes to determine what works,
(for instance, renewal should be easier and/ and where there is friction. It seems highly likely
or cheaper than initial applications). that regulators will adapt their licensing regimes
for more international harmonization of spectrum
bands, and more consistency in processes.

The Role of MNOs, Telcos

and Network-Slicing
5G has often been promoted as a platform
for MNOs to offer high-value connectivity
services to enterprises. The initial vision
often referenced IoT use cases and ultra-
low latency connectivity as capabilities that
could be monetized in industry verticals.

The reality has been somewhat different.

Enterprises have been rather slow to
adopt 5G, and in a surprising number
of cases have looked for options to
commission and build their own dedicated
networks (often with 4G initially) rather
than rely on public services from telcos.

There are several reasons for this:

ĉ Slow evolution of 5G from the earliest

versions (3GPP Release 15 in non-standalone mode, projects”. They have usually helped to fund indoor or
relying on existing 4G cores and coverage), to the later site-wide coverage in only the most strategic locations,
versions with many of the more-desired capabilities. where their customers expect to find well-performing
Most enterprise-friendly features are in releases 16, networks, such as stadiums and airports.
17 and 18, but these require operators to upgrade ĉ Business propositions that were not tuned to enterprise
to standalone core networks — itself a major project requirements for networks, such as service-level
often needing adoption of new cloud-based platforms agreements (SLAs), interoperability with corporate
as a prerequisite. security and compliance regimes, and integration
ĉ Initial MNO network deployment of 5G focused on the with a variety of device types and assorted industrial
coverage of metro areas and centers of population, systems. Few MNOs had suitable vertical-focused
rather than industrial zones and similar sites. Indoor partnerships.
coverage has been particularly low on the priority list.
ĉ Lack of understanding about 5G-enabled solutions In other words, the traditional mobile industry sold
within enterprises, and limited capability, skills and the vision of 5G, long before it was able to deliver it
staffing within MNOs to address complex applications to enterprises in full. Other suppliers – and regulators
and sites, which might require combinations of several offering localized spectrum – have stepped in to fill
network types. In the past, carriers have viewed the gaps, as enterprises looked for solutions that
enterprises and business sites mostly as “special could map to their near/medium-term needs.

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 17

TOC
However, this is now changing again. The telecoms their target industries and customers and are well-
industry has (in many cases) learned from its initial suited to adding private cellular to their portfolio of
missteps and is now finding grounds for improved offers. Disruptive Analysis believes that most telcos
competitiveness in private networks. This reflects both will focus on a few sectors – perhaps choosing to
technology evolution and business-model pragmatism. build expertise in the radio and application needs of
hospitals, or retail, or industrial plants, or warehouses.
Rather than waiting for their national networks to reach the They may build ecosystem partners to help fill in gaps
required levels of coverage and sophistication, they are in experience or deliver particularly complex solutions.
taking an “if you can’t beat them, join them” approach and ĉ Network slicing: As 5G standalone networks
offering dedicated private networks instead, sometimes (belatedly) roll out, MNOs are revisiting their
with added features and a clearer roadmap towards slicing propositions for enterprise networks, which
tighter integration between public and private domains. supply isolated network partitions for particular
sites or applications. Ultimately these may be
This approach has manifested in a number of ways: delivered using automated systems and APIs, but
for now, they are likely to be highly customized
projects. Some recent examples have been
ĉ Systems integration units: Several MNOs and
in domains such as broadcast networks 8.
converged fixed/mobile operators have solutions
units, that, in the past, provided IoT services, global ĉ Public/Private network hybrids: A number of MNOs
data network services, indoor systems, consultancy have started offering combined public and private
projects and other offers. These are now sometimes networks, either for onsite/offsite continuous coverage
taking on private 4G/5G work for B2B clients. These for vehicles and logistics, or to enable separate
are often pitched as “campus networks” for 4G and connections for public devices (such as employee
5G, incorporating both localized and customized and visitor smartphones) and enterprise IoT systems.
radio coverage, and more control for the enterprise by There are a variety of technical and business models
offering some form of “private core” functions. emerging here.
ĉ Vertical business units: Some telcos have business ĉ Major projects & government engagements: Several
groups targeted at specific industry verticals. For telcos are involved in dedicated 4G/5G networks
instance, Telstra (Australia) has targeted mining, Telus for major long-term projects, in sectors such as rail,
(Canada) has a healthcare practice, and Elisa (Finland) military, public safety and energy. These may have
has a manufacturing arm. These units understand dedicated spectrum and separate infrastructure
or could be part of large national programmes of
investment. A related category involved private
networks with local or regional municipal authorities,
sometimes combined with neutral-host capabilities.
ĉ Consortia: Some private networks are being delivered
via multi-party consortia, perhaps including vendors,
telecom operators, specialized vertical partners and
perhaps government-funded R&D or innovation teams
or even academia.
ĉ Solution elements: A number of telecom operators
are starting to offer component services for other
private network integrators or in-house enterprise
deployments. They may provide sub-contracted design
services, network operations management, fibre
backhaul, voice/video capabilities or other functions.
ĉ Spectrum leasing: In some countries, regulators
are deciding to enforce license conditions on
MNOs, rather than offer dedicated spectrum bands
or sharing solutions for private networks. One
option being explored (for instance, in Finland,
Denmark and maybe India in the future) is to
create a more fluid marketplace for MNO spectrum
bands to be leased or rented to enterprises.

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 18

TOC
The New
delivery models, complex webs of strategic and
tactical partnerships, “co-opetition”, integrators,
consultants and sub-contractors, OEM and white-

Private LTE &

label business models, cloud-delivered “as a service”
propositions and a far broader array of services
providers willing to move from adjacent domains
into building/running private or shared networks.

5G Value Chain In particular, there is much more involvement from

enterprise IT systems integrators (for instance,
Cap Gemini and Kyndryl), industrial systems (often
Today, public mobile networks have a relatively
“operational technology”) vendors such as Siemens
straightforward value chain. MNOs obtain spectrum
and Airbus, specialists in critical-communications
and licenses from governments; network infrastructure
systems, Internet/cloud players (notably Amazon
and software from major vendors and a few
AWS and Microsoft Azure), wireless towercos, and
specialists; use contracted engineering companies
even property developers looking at the value
for physical deployment and maintenance; and third-
derived from better connectivity in their buildings.
party tower and property owners for cell sites.

We are also seeing a new breed of “Industrial Mobile

National MNOs sell retail network and content
Operators” and managed service providers, often arms
services to consumers, and mostly standardised
of diversified “infracos” such as Cellnex, Boldyn (formerly
connections to enterprises. Some have growing IoT
BAI) and Digital Bridge. Another unanticipated branch of
services businesses, perhaps with vertical specialisms
the value-web is that of fixed-line enterprise SPs, such as
in areas such as connected cars. Some have limited
Verizon Business in Europe, or Tata Communications.
wholesale units that do carefully analyzed, heavily
customized deals with MVNOs and MVNAs.
Over the last few years, there has also been a growing
role for governmental bodies. As discussed elsewhere,
This value chain is now changing hugely, with
this ranges from local authorities and municipalities
the advent of private and neutral-host networks,
using private networks for smart city functions such as
shared/local spectrum, the integration of IoT
traffic control, through to military organizations such as
with many complex industrial processes for which
NATO looking at private 5G for a variety of use cases.
connectivity is a minor element, and the all-pervasive
nature of Internet and cloud businesses.
Increasingly, sectors with existing specialized
network expertise, such as defense, broadcast,
The private 4G/5G network world is now looking much
industrial systems and aviation, are bridging the gulf
more like the IT industry today. It has heterogeneous
between 4G/5G customer and service provider.

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 19

TOC
New Roles in the New Private LTE & 5G Value-Chain
Stakeholder group Roles in national MNO era Additional roles in private 4G/5G era
Spectrum ownership, network
Local breakout, system integration, network
deployment & operation, consumer
MNOs slices, vertical units, spectrum leasing,
& B2B mass-market services
government projects

Customers of B2B MNO services,

Local & some wide-area spectrum, private
use of private onsite networks (Wi-
Enterprises RANs & core networks, policy & regulatory,
Fi, proprietary, cellular DAS)
network-as-product

Ownership of shared radio- Private networks units, indoor systems,

TowerCo’s network assets neutral host, collaboration with municipalities,
rail & road networks

Provision of large-scale radio, core Dedicated network solutions, integration

Major vendors & transport networks, BSS/OSS & mgmt for verticals. Extensive partner
and integration/operation integrator reach

Small cells, niche core networks,

Optimised products for private use, eg easy
indoor systems, planning & design
Small vendors deploy, cloud pltfms, design & test tools,
tools, optical/backhaul, NFV
sales through MNOs.

Backhaul & transport, some Private 4G/5G provision, neutral host, vertical
Fixed / cable SPs
MVNO services solutions

Limited role in cell network Private network-aaS. Hosting cloud-based 5G

Cloud / Internet providers provision historically cores. Edge computing. IoT & AI solutions.
Open RAN

Limited role in cell network Industrial/process systems with integral

IoT / OT / industrial
provision historically 4G/5G. Major automation & Industry 4.0
automation system vendors
projects. Driving standards
Provision of indoor coverage
Local spectrum & neutral host network
systems & installation of MNOs’
Venue / property co’s projects, smart buildings & IoT, work with new
signal-sources/cells for DAS
classes of SP

Dedicated PMR/TETRA/P25
4G & 5G critical comms for verticals & public
Critical comms suppliers systems for industrial, transport &
safety. Legacy system integration & migration
public safety users

Limited role in cell network Advisory work on connected verticals,

IT systems integrators
provision historically private 5G, cloud + edge + AI solutions etc

Some offload & converged Some shift to local cellular eg CBRS + WiFi
WiFi vendors & SPs
network deployments hybrids. M&A eg (HPE Aruba + Athonet).

Private networks for public safety, own

Regulation, sites, some private
Govts & municipalities networks for smart cities/regions, roads,
cellular networks
rail, neutral hosts

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 20

TOC
Conclusions and
Predictions
The market for private cellular networks is this eBook was first published, the same sentence had
rapidly maturing. As recently as five years ago, one fewer zero). Further acceleration is possible if the
it was based around niches, especially sectors fully-automated “network as a service” vision promoted
like mining, oil, military and public-safety – by players such as Amazon AWS prove successful.
mostly for uses such as push-to-talk voice.
To put this into perspective, there are about a million
Now, private 4G/5G is becoming commonplace in existing commercial buildings worldwide with indoor
ports, airports, warehouses, manufacturing sites, sports/ cellular-coverage systems, and probably 10 million or
entertainment, and other verticals. Early deployments more with professional Wi-Fi installations (although some,
are being seen in offices, retail, and hospitality. such as retail stores, may just have a single access point).

There is little deployment in normal offices, hotels, retail This is going to continue to be one of the most dynamic –
facilities, or entertainment/sports venues – even though yet unpredictable – wireless sectors for the next few years.
the concept has been discussed for about 20 years. Agility will be essential, as will human skills, enabling
tools, and a willingness to partner across the value chain.
More importantly, the use cases and applications have
evolved rapidly as well. There is widespread use for By the time 6G appears in 2030, we can expect private
connecting cameras, whether for security or production networks to be “first-class citizens” in the mobile world.
automation and AI. Vehicles, both human-driven The early discussions by ITU (the International Telecoms
and autonomous, are popular use cases, especially Union) defining the requirements and expectations already
because the incremental cost of a 4G/5G radio is small highlight the importance of verticals and enterprise
compared with a complex machine which may cost upfront, which is an incredibly positive sign for the future.
many hundred thousands or even millions of dollars.

Ongoing shifts in spectrum policy and ecosystems of

vendors/integrators have proven to be game changers.
Many countries have watched US CBRS deployments and References
parallel early trends in Germany, UK and Japan. There [1] https://info.ibwave.com/ebook-top-trends-
is a wide range of suppliers and growing awareness for-private-networks-in-2023
among enterprises (and governments) of the benefits and [2] https://info.ibwave.com/ebook-
possibilities, although the traditional MNO sector still private-networks-for-mining
pushes back against spectrum allocations, instead arguing [3] https://info.ibwave.com/ebook-private-networks-
for approaches that favor its own solutions and services. for-utilities-and-energy-companies
[4] https://info.ibwave.com/ebook-private-
That said, there is also a measure of hype and networks-for-transportation-and-logistics
fragmentation. Some of the forecasts appear to have [5] https://ibwave.com/resources/ebooks/
been over-enthusiastic and underestimated the time to [6] https://info.ibwave.com/ebook-top-trends-for-private-
develop tools such as design/test products, develop networks-in-2023/
skills – and also go through lengthy trials and proofs-of- [7] https://info.ibwave.com/ebook-integrating-operating-5g-
concept in industries that can be quite conservative. use-cases/
[8] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/deanbubley_coronation-
Disruptive Analysis thinks that the jury is still out on exactly broadcasters-5g-activity-7072866866259456000-1Ct_
how far and fast the sector will change, but there are
some plausible mid-term scenarios in which the number
of private networks rises to tens of thousands, perhaps
hundreds of thousands. (As a historical note, in 2019 when

Private LTE & 5G Networks I E-Book 21

TOC
About iBwave
iBwave Solutions, the standard for converged indoor network planning, is the power
behind great in-building wireless experience, enabling billions of end users and
devices to connect inside a wide range of venues. As the global industry reference,
our software solutions allow for smarter planning, design, and deployment of any
project regardless of size, complexity, or technology. Along with innovative software,
we are recognized for world-class support in 100 countries, as the industry's most
comprehensive components database and as a well-established certification program.
For more information, visit: www.ibwave.com
w w w.i bw ave.co m