HPE Aruba is launching a new private 5G service that aims to provide the simplicity and ease of management akin to traditional <a href="https://www.networkworld.com/article/968819/what-is-wi-fi-and-why-is-it-so-important.html" rel="nofollow" target="_b
_blank”>Wi-Fi solutions.
The new HPE Aruba Networking Enterprise Private 5G package (P5G) includes a unified 4G/5G core, HPE ProLiant Gen11 servers, SIM/eSIM cards, 4G/5G small cells, and a cloud-based management dashboard. This configuration leverages the 5G technology acquired from Athonet in 2023, featuring CBRS capability and 5G starter kits that provide essential components for rapidly deploying private cellular networks.
“Historically, setting up enterprise private cellular networks has been complex and required coordination across as many as seven different vendors. Our new Enterprise Private 5G simplifies this to a single-vendor solution that covers everything from cloud-based core and radio management to server hardware and SIMs, making it far more user-friendly, just like enterprise Wi-Fi,” explained Gayle Levin, head of wireless product marketing at HPE Aruba Networking.
“With the enterprise P5G, we introduce tools like wizards, automation, and zero-touch provisioning that are designed to ease management from initial deployment to ongoing operations,” added Levin. This approach significantly reduces deployment times from hours to minutes and removes the necessity for IT teams to master complex 3GPP cellular technologies, according to Levin.
The package can be managed through a central cloud-based dashboard. Likely by next year, 5G services will be integrated into Aruba Central, the main cloud-based management platform of the vendor, allowing customers to manage both Wi-Fi and private 5G networks from a unified interface, according to Levin. Additionally, the package will be accessible via Greenlake, HPE’s cloud and as-a-service offering.
The prospect of a private 5G solution that is simpler to deploy and manage could catch the interest of enterprises aiming to leverage this technology in diverse scenarios, such as manufacturing and branch office connectivity, experts indicate.
According to IDC: “Many enterprises that are considering private cellular networks are postponing investments until the solutions can integrate effectively with the existing IT and network frameworks. To meet this demand, some vendors are aiming to integrate at the network management level to present a cohesive, single-view approach that manages policy, security, and traffic control as is currently done for other networks. The objective is to integrate where possible to prevent just adding another layer of network, which would increase both complexity and costs,” stated the research entity in its Worldwide Private LTE/5G Wireless Infrastructure Forecast, 2023–2027.
Today, systems integrators (SIs) are predominately handling private cellular networks, with carriers, cloud providers, and distributors also participating. However, to accelerate the market growth globally and enable vendors to increase their profits, IDC anticipates the development of a traditional enterprise channel where a significant amount of equipment is distributed through distributors and value-added resellers (VARs).
