Evaluating the benefits of private 5G networks

Darren Parkes at Kyndryl asks whether private 5G networks represent a new dawn of connectivity

UK businesses are rapidly waking up to the advantages of 5G. Recent research from UK5G found that 7 in 10 UK businesses were either already using 5G or planning to deploy the networks as part of their tech strategy. A further three-quarters (73%) of the businesses surveyed were confident they understood the benefits, while 70% had a plan for how they will use it to achieve competitive advantage.

The growth isn’t just limited to the UK. Since its launch in 2019, 5G networks have now been delivered by at least 209 operators, spanning 83 countries. While research from Deloitte suggests that consumers appear indifferent to 5G, businesses are certainly not. But why exactly is it so popular?

Welcome to the connected world

Organisations from every sector are starting to utilise the benefits of private networks to improve efficiencies, encourage innovation and keep up with demand. In fact, a recent report showed that the overall market for private networks within enterprise verticals will reach $109 billion by 2030.

We’re seeing early traction, particularly in Industry 4.0 deployments. Usage is growing exponentially, with some reports even suggesting that more than 90% of private networks in the manufacturing sector expect to use 5G by 2027.

Given the challenges organisations are facing when it comes to today’s connectivity requirements, it’s no surprise that they’re moving away from traditional Wi-Fi solutions. Private 5G networks are able to remedy some of the problems of the legacy solutions, such as tackling black spots – which is where the signal is too weak or unstable to maintain a connection. Caused by technological interference, physical obstruction, or geographical distance, black spots are a common occurrence, especially in industrial environments.

A secure connection

Whether it’s the adoption of SIM-based authentication methods or strong air interface ciphering, private networks provide substantial security benefits. For example, businesses are able to allocate different security roles to different devices, depending on the provided wireless identity, making it far easier to manage and secure their systems.

Private networks also allow for a new level of control when it comes to network management. While Wi-Fi solutions are typically based on a collaboration with a telecoms service provider, private networks allow businesses to gain independence from these providers.

The additional capabilities mean that organisations are able to determine exactly what can connect to the network and how. It’s even possible to set usage policies around what a device can access once it’s on the network.

Ensuring a smooth implementation

As with any new technology, deployment of private networks doesn’t come without its challenges. However, by choosing the right partner, organisations can effectively bridge the gap between new network technologies and heritage network domains.

To ensure a seamless adoption, organisations first need to understand the spectrum they are going to use and match it to the technology they’re going to deploy. Once the spectrum is acquired, networks can be deployed to fit the specific use cases for that working environment.

Each environment is unique, and there need to be considerations for connecting to local area networks, wide area networks, and the public cloud so data can be transferred or analysed.

Hybrid connectivity

While the transformational benefits of private networks are undeniable, no connectivity solution is perfect – each one will have its own challenges. In line with this, even amid the growth of 5G, Wi-Fi networks are likely to remain in use and continue to be the solution of choice for a variety of customers.

We’re also expecting to see further development in advanced wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi 6 – a technology which seems to be offering dramatic performance gains but still leaves room for improvement.

We should also anticipate that customers may need to start adopting a hybrid approach to connectivity. After all, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, and organisations need to pick what works best for them. It’s important to stay open and consider embracing a hybrid approach to connectivity to meet the unique needs and priorities of an organisation and its infrastructure.

As connectivity solutions become increasingly bespoke, customers will be looking for more than just the technology from their service providers. Customers are increasingly searching for a technology partner who will be able to guide them through the process in an unbiased manner and provide the expertise required for effective connectivity. 

Darren Parkes is Country Practice Leader, Network & Edge at Kyndryl  

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com