What is a Private Cellular Network?

A private cellular network gives organizations the flexibility, control, and security to rely on 5G or LTE for wireless LAN

Keeping a sprawling organization connected can be a challenge. Whether it's a school campus or large manufacturing and logistics hub, ensuring reliable data flow across a large area is crucial. But traditional Wi-Fi can be unreliable and unsecure, while public cellular networks leave you at the mercy of coverage and data limitations.

For organizations with a large geographic footprint, setting up a private cellular network is a cost-effective and secure way to establish a wireless local-area network (LAN). But what is a private cellular network?  

Private 5G and LTE networks leverage localized micro-towers and small cells, or access points, to provide coverage and connectivity, similar to a scaled-down version of a public cellular network.  A private cellular network  is an on-premises network deployed for an organization’s exclusive use. It combines the control and fixed cost of a private network with the flexibility, security, and macro-network benefits of cellular. For this reason, a private wireless network often makes sense across places like distribution centers, ports, manufacturing sites.  

Who provides private 5G and LTE networks, and with what spectrum?

There are three primary models for establishing private 5G networks, distinguished by their level of integration with public cellular networks and service providers: 

• Licensed spectrum: Network operators offer licensed spectrum dedicated to enterprises or third-party providers, like a system integrator. They can also operate a private mobile network as a managed service with flat-rate pricing. 

• Unlicensed spectrum: Some private networks operate using unlicensed spectrum, providing flexibility but potentially with limitations surrounding coverage and interference.  

• Shared spectrum: Another common deployment model, especially in the U.S., involves utilizing shared spectrum, which is owned but underutilized. In the U.S., organizations use Citizen Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum, while similar shared licensing exists in other countries such as Germany, France and Japan. 

These models cater to various needs and regulatory environments, offering organizations diverse options for deploying and managing their private cellular networks. 

What equipment do you need for private cellular?

Organizations wanting to learn how to build a private 5G network will need these primary components: 

• Cellular access points (CAPs): These can be deployed indoors or outdoors, and on licensed, shared, or unlicensed spectrum. CAPs allow user equipment like a router or a device like a cell phone with a private SIM to connect to the private cellular network. 

• Cellular core: Also known as the “brains'' of the private cellular network, the cellular core can be located on-premises or in the cloud. In the core, policies are set that decide which devices can access the network and how traffic flows throughout the network. 

• Endpoints: These include 5G and LTE routers that accept user-provided SIMs and are CBRS-compatible. 

• Private SIMs: A private SIM allows devices such as cell phones, security cameras, scanners, and more to join the private network. These authenticate the device to the cellular core and can be physical SIM cards located in the device or embedded eSIMs. 

• Network management tools: A unified, cloud-based network management tool, like NetCloud Manager, allows IT teams to configure, troubleshoot, and monitor the network from a single platform, from anywhere.  

Organizations can put together this type of network themselves or through a managed service provider. Either way, when an organization is choosing between private 5G vs. Wi-Fi, they are given a highly secure, high-performance option for wireless LAN coverage in large areas.