This write-up explains different use cases of Private 5G Networks, specifically in IoT & Edge-Computing domains.
Problems with existing Enterprise Networks
Enterprise networks are under strain, because:
- Increasing internet connected-serving applications.
- Increasing number of users.
- Increasing number of Connected IoT Devices.
- Increased Video content consumption.
- Low Latency requirements.
- Wired networks are inflexible and expensive to expand
- Wi-Fi networks suffer from Coverage, Reliability & Capacity issues.
Advantages of 5G Networks
- Reliable network connectivity for use cases that involve device mobility.
- Longer range than Wi-Fi networks.
- Better coverage, especially in industrial/hospital environments.
- Low-latency connectivity for IoT-Edge applications.
- Full enterprise control over users, devices, network utilization and data. Implement enterprise-specific network configuration and security policies.
- Convenience of CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) in the US with no need to acquire spectrum licenses.(US specific)
Private 5G use-cases
- Indoor Scenarios such as Industrial Manufacturing Hub or Hospitals or Retail stores
- Improved coverage and reliability close to wired networks with flexibility as Wi-Fi.
- Connect autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), automated guided vehicles (AGVs), video surveillance systems.
- Underground deployments, where cellular network is often difficult to reach, unreliable.
- Mining sites can be a great scenario for connectivity to Iot Sensors, video surveillance.
- Point-of-sale (PoS) transactions, video surveillance in Retail stores.
- Outdoor Scenarios such as Transport Hubs
- Increase range and penetration over Wi-Fi in shipping ports, airports, train and bus terminals.
- Reliable connectivity for IoT sensor data for predictive maintenance, video feeds for safety, push-to-talk (PTT) applications for communications.
- Remote Places where public network services are not available like Oil-Gas, Mining IIoT sites
- On-premise IoT-Edge-AI-ML Analysis
- Low latency use-cases can be a reality as in case of Internet of Medical things (IoMT).
- Real-time AI-ML diagnosis on sensors, video data.
- Large Images/Videos data analysis
- As in case of Radiology scans or live video, or Raw image data, which are relatively large chunks of data.
- with 5G low latency and dedicated network without the risk of channel interference, these loads can be transmitted in real-time and analysis be performed on it or it can be made available for remote monitoring or diagnosis services.
- AR-VR applications
- with all of the promises of 5G networks such as Low Latency, dedicated bandwidth, AR/VR application experiances can be made production grade, deployed and simultaneously used by large gatherings.
AWS Private 5G
- It simplifies the procurement, deployment, and installation process
- Allowing customers to deploy their own 4G/LTE or 5G network.
- In the US, AWS Private 5G uses CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service), avoiding the need to procure spectrum licenses.
- Integration with Spectrum Access System (SAS) for FCC regulation compliance are handled by AWS.
- Delivers, provisions, and maintains all the preintegrated hardware, 5G Core and RAN software, and SIM cards.
- Small cell radio units (RUs) are deployed on premises and the 5G Core (5GC) software runs either in an AWS Region or on premises using AWS managed infrastructure (AWS Outposts).
- Setup Customized Bandwidths, Latency and Quality of Service (QoS) profiles for groups of devices and applications.
- Pricing is based on Network Coverage and Capacity requirements, but not the number of connected devices.
- Zero upfront charges for radio units, on-premises hardware, and SIMs. No installation charges or additional software licensing fees.
- Provision a private cellular network of any size.
- Expand coverage, and scale number of connected devices as needed.
- AWS IAM integration to manage access between AWS services and devices in the network.
- 5G-powered SIM cards are treated as IAM resources.
- Manage SIM control policies.
- Amazon CloudWatch Monitoring
- Query metrics for network status, connected APs or SIMs, uplink and downlink usage by user, device, network categories.