Sponsored The concept of a private 5G network is gaining momentum in many parts of the world. Existing cable networks, Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G and traditional private corporate networks are unable to adapt to the digital changes of the Industry 4.0 era. Instead, the acceleration of digitalization in industry has led to the adoption of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) in industrial networks.
The advent of 5G provided high bandwidth, low latency and high capacity connections. It supports modern technologies such as networking, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, edge computing and the cloud computing platform that vertical industries need.
A new generation of private 5G networks is emerging that meet the vital requirements of wireless communication. These private networks – physical or virtual cellular systems – serve business-critical or business-critical cases in industries such as smart city, utilities, healthcare, agriculture and mining, transport and manufacturing.
Using a 5G network Network Functionalization (NFV) and Software Defined Network (SDN) and end-to-end automatic orchestration technology allow operators to customize their private networks for thousands of businesses by building on public network resources.
“Before 5G, special mobile networks could only use special mobile frequencies and special physical devices to build specialized physical networks,” explains Mr. Jason Toe, chief scientist of NFV / SDN at ZTE Corporation. “Not only is this extremely expensive, but mobile frequency may not be available to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in most countries.”
By laying a strategic foundation that operators can take advantage of today, rather than waiting for killer applications to emerge, 5G creates the potential for new revenue opportunities for the sale of personalized private networks and end-to-end cloud services to businesses.
Smart in the city
ZTE currently offers comprehensive 5G private network planning for precise industry empowerment with four private network models – 5G private line, 5G virtual private network, 5G hybrid private network, 5G physical private network – that can be flexibly adapted to application scenarios. various industries and specific customers.
This is important because thousands of private networks with completely different requirements require a huge workforce and experience for O&M. By implementing AI and big data tools, operators can precisely organize and secure multiple service level agreements (SLAs) for different vertical applications on different private networks.
“For example, cutting networks allows the creation of private 5G networks for different businesses, from the core to the edge,” says Mr Tu. “Some factories may require traffic to flow locally on the premises due to low latency and security requirements. The operator will manage ZTE solutions, such as base station and core network transmission, located at the plant. Operators are in a good position to provide a higher quality of service due to their resources, experience and expertise in maintaining network deployments. “
The service levels or KPIs of these custom networks include user numbers, reliability, bandwidth, security, and latency. For SMEs looking for more flexibility and efficiency, self-built data centers are gradually being replaced by public cloud services. Similarly, private enterprise networks will be gradually replaced by private network services provided by operators.
In the case of using a smart city, such as a network of street lamps, flexibility, security and cost are more critical considerations than latency. Due to their large number, the cost of connecting each street lamp must be economical and secure. Each street lamp in the exclusive private network can have its own unique IP address and connect only to a central server, which is protected by a firewall and stable high-level protection. But cost and performance requirements can also vary depending on the number and complexity of data collection devices that can be installed on the street lamp ladder.
Another case of using 5G is the smart water meter. The main requirements for the water meter network include low energy consumption to maintain battery life for more than ten years and good signal coverage to reach water meters, which are often located in basements or outdoors on the alley, garden or sidewalks. Cutting the 5G network and the unique radio frequencies will allow the management of intelligent energy consumption through a private network.
These uses stimulate IoT adoption and demand for cloud and mobile computing (MEC). “We will see the 5G network as a larger application running in the cloud,” said Mr Tu. “The country of the main network and the country of transmission are already closed or are defined by software. Faced with disruptions caused by the current pandemic, this transformation can be applied to the benefit of all vertical industries. “
Operator and integrator
An operator with end-to-end data centers close to vertical customers in the industry will be in a good position to be transformed from a communications service provider (CSP) into a digital service provider (DSP). After all, the private 5G network, which connects water meters and street lamps, complements final cloud services as well as integration services.
“For example, the manufacturer needs 5G connectivity and a cloud management system for robots and AGV, and they need DSP to help them integrate robots and AGV with their production systems,” says Mr. Tu.
ZTE is also working with equipment maker Sany Group and Beijing Mobile Communications Co Ltd, a division of China Mobile, to launch an integrated cloud network solution for wider use of 5G technology in the manufacturing sector. The solution facilitates the innovative integration of 5G and the industrial Internet.
Using China Mobile’s private network, the integrated cloud networking solution is designed to optimally match business scenarios in industrial parks and enables the use of applications such as data collection, machine vision and digital twins, virtual representation of a physical object or system in his whole circle of life.
Meanwhile, as an innovator in the 5G industry, ZTE has launched the private 5G All-in-One Private solution for vertical markets, providing 5G end-to-end products such as access network, bearer network, core network (i5GC stands for 5G Core) and MEC to provide on-demand IT cloud and telecommunications networking capabilities in vertical industrial applications.
Other ZTE innovations that enable operators to differentiate their private 5G network services include NodeEngine, a base station-based mobile endpoint with computing, storage and unloading capabilities that deeply integrates end-to-end computing and industrial park deployment applications. In addition, Precise RAN Solution allows operators to provide private 5G networks that can be quickly deployed, meet extreme service requirements, and win competitive competition.
ZTE and the network operator’s partners have gained valuable experience in innovating the 5G business model by implementing 5G applications in various industries. Together, ZTE and operators can replicate this experience and expertise to stimulate digital transformation initiatives in vertical industries, while generating revenue from 5G investments and improving return on investment.
Sponsored by ZTE