Coupling wired and wireless networks with private cellular unlocks much-needed innovation.
In most industries, a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 48%[1] is simply unheard of.
But that’s what we are seeing with the global private 5G market.
The rollout of 5G has advanced mobile networks around the world, and in a dozen countries so far, governments have now assigned 5G spectrum to be used by enterprises. This is what is referred to as private 5G. And it is predicted to grow 1400% – from 4,000 private cellular networks in 2022 to more than 60,000 networks in 2028.
We hold the viewpoint that private 5G and Wi-Fi can coexist, facilitating new client use cases where outdoor coverage and latency play crucial roles such as ports, defense applications, mining operations, and sporting events. This belief is not exclusively ours. Numerous enterprise IT departments are investigating enterprise-ready private 5G solutions available in the market and seeking ways to roll out complementary networks to enhance their connectivity.
Streamlined, unified solutions
In the past, the complexity and cost associated with private cellular adoption posed major obstacles. The consensus was that private 5G was too challenging and required too many resources for enterprises to implement and maintain. The integration and management of multiple components of such a network demanded specialized telecommunications expertise, which exceeded the skills of most IT network managers and engineers.
However, recent breakthroughs in private cellular technologies and service provider offerings have paved the way for enterprise usage and adoption.
The leading vendors in enterprise networking are crafting solutions to simplify private cellular and merge it with Wi-Fi. These solutions permit enterprise IT teams to utilize a single interface for preparing and launching private 5G. Consequently, security, visibility, and management are amalgamated in one system. This allows IT teams to manage and implement policies equally across the combined private cellular and Wi-Fi networks, irrespective of the deployment model – cloud, on-premises, or hybrid.
Integrating private 5G with Wi-Fi paves the way for the networking teams to launch private cellular in the same manner as they would with other networking products such as switches and access points. This significant change will reduce the demand for specialized cellular expertise. The IT teams can experiment with private 5G in their work setting, providing them with a more profound comprehension of the right places and methods for its implementation.
Furthermore, enterprises that cooperate with communication service providers (CSPs) can do well by opting for a private cellular provider who has a broad partner ecosystem. This can assure a seamless deployment.
The 2023 Ryder Cup is a prime example of this.
Early adopters are now exploring the use of Wi-Fi in combination with private cellular networks. One instance of this trend took place during the 2023 Ryder Cup. The organizers of the event sought to enhance security, increase coverage, and improve the overall experience for fans and staff during the elite golf tournament.
In collaboration with HPE Aruba Networking, the planners of the Ryder Cup implemented a combined private 5G and Wi-Fi 6e network. This network supplied continual connectivity for 250,000 spectators and provided a secure, private network for operational staff on a 350+ acre venue.
This high level of connectivity, facilitated by the acquisition of Athonet’s private cellular solution by HPE, was achieved at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club in Rome. This accomplishment required the overcoming of numerous obstacles due to the limited existing connectivity, restrictions concerning temporary event cabling due to the venue’s archeological significance, and a variety of environmental factors.
The event was able to offer high-capacity Wi-Fi connectivity to hundreds of thousands of spectators. This allowed fans to use app-enabled devices to access a wide range of features, such as an interactive player locator. Supporters could also access individual scores, match predictions, commentary on each shot, and visual tracking of shots.
Private 5G simultaneously provided extended wide-area coverage to more remote parts of the golf course, as well as a secure network for operations staff. Unaffected by the crowd’s high demand for high-bandwidth apps, event organizers had full-course operational coverage for critical services like security, stewarding, ticketing, and scoring.
In addition, the solution enabled data collection for everything from weather sensors, which collected 15 different measurements every three seconds, to locating players on the course and feeding that data to the fan app.
Opening the door to innovation
The Ryder Cup is a great example of the possibilities for private 5G, as this one event includes several of the primary situations where it is advantageous to pair Wi-Fi and private 5G connectivity.
Across various enterprise applications, we’re seeing strong interest from our customers in five such primary situations:
Begin Your Journey Now
With private cellular adoption anticipated to grow strong and swiftly, enterprises are already delineating their evaluation and deployment plans to confirm their innovative advantages. From creating smarter Cities to enhancing surgical outcomes, enterprises are merely beginning to tap into the potential that integrating Wi-Fi with private 5G can bring.
To kick start your private cellular journey, read The introductory guide to enterprise private 5G.
Enterprises will spend USD9 billion on private networks by 2028 but the market will not have reached its potential, Analysys Mason, January 22, 2024
