Private 5G Networks Making Way

 
Wireless networks have opened the world to the delivery of high-speed data. This includes commercial carriers like 3G, 4G, and 5G services, as well as more personal networks like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Wireless has improved so dramatically that streaming video at high resolutions is commonplace, expected, and demanded by data consumers. 

From personal use to private use to commercial, governmental, and even military, wireless protocols and transmission/reception systems are changing our world right before our eyes. Thus far, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have been made available to the masses, while cellular service has been reserved for a few big players. Newer generations of 5G devices like handhelds, switches, routers, and base stations are changing the cell tower architecture and making it possible for private 5G networks to be deployed by individuals, groups, and institutions. 5G private networks are on the rise.

Embraced by Industry

Many civic and industrial sectors are looking closely at implementing their own private 5G networks. Industrialists and fabrication facilities have taken a heightened interest in this. With so much automation within factories, control and data monitoring architectures have become global. A machine manufacturer may be connected to its machines in real time worldwide to perform advanced diagnostics, performance monitoring, and gather statistical process control data. 

Even operational control aspects can be delivered remotely. For optimizing production facilities, real-time order processing can be dovetailed into logistical supply chain operations and manufacturing schedules, allowing controlled shutdowns for maintenance and service. Since shutdown and startup procedures can consume valuable time and resources, the ability to plan and schedule in conjunction with needs means fewer shutdowns and line-down conditions. 

Private 5G networks have high speed and low latency characteristics, making possible more responsive control loops. A 50ms delay time from an occurrence of a cutting tool break until an orderly shutdown command, for example, could cause more damage to a milling machine. Wi-Fi and even 4G services can't deliver the 1-ms promised latency response time that 5G brings to the table. This means factories that could not take advantage of wireless technology now can. 

Another benefit of a private 5G network is the ability to screen out several classes of security threats. Even if links exist that connect a private network to the public internet, these become manageable with a single access point, eliminating endpoint and cyber-attacks, ransomware, and mischief that is easier to launch when every node on a network is directly and publicly accessible. The single access point architecture also allows lower costs since devices downstream do not need to pay for 5G subscription services. 

This is also important since dedicated AI and cloud services could be implementing AI functions that can use learned behavior to predict when a tool head will fail, for example, before it happens. With AI systems already outperforming human capabilities, a secure AI eyeball on the manufacturing process may reveal aspects of operational standards that should be improved.

Why the Push to Private 5G?

There are several reasons that the 5G networks are better suited for private consumption. Mainly, though, unlike 3G and 4G, 5G signals do not penetrate, meaning to cover an area with effective 5G signals of sufficient integrity, more cell towers must be located in more places, so that cell towers are closer to subscribers. It is an expensive venture to install more cell towers everywhere. 

But also, unlike 3G and 4G, 5G routers are small, lightweight, low power, and affordable, meaning private residences, office spaces, and remote locations can install their own 5G base stations, similar to a privately owned cell tower. Since fiber infrastructure has been built to become accessible in rural areas, a single low-cost localized 5G base station can be installed and maintained at a minimal cost. The cell tower for 5G has become the Wi-Fi router of the past. 

Another factor pushing the adoption of low-cost 5G base stations is the emergence of 5G chipsets from device manufacturers. Highly integrated processors and communications electronics can be made smaller when the wavelengths are in the millimeter range. Integrated antennas and PCB waveguides allow better performance at lower costs, especially since beam steering waveguides can be 3D printed instead of machined and fabricated using expensive and complicated processes. Already, distributors like Mouser offer Amphenol’s 5G family of integrated 5G RF connectors that can be integrated onto 5G circuit boards, cable assemblies, and 5G antenna arrays. 

An exciting aspect of 5G is that it uses beam steering technology to make transmission directional. This increases the power density of the RF waves to the line-of-sight points. The electronic steering does not require mechanical rotation or elevation adjustments. It is all done electronically. 

The other advantage of the more readily available and lower cost 5G chipsets is that IoT device makers can connect directly to a 5G network. While in most cases, this is overdoing it since most private IoT devices are simple, like thermostats, lights, and music controllers, it's not the case for all. Any devices that require high speed and low latencies can now enter the IoT world. 

This architecture also makes it less expensive for the carriers to implement 5G in all locations since each location will be its own cell tower. Aggregated or high-speed fiber or backbone 5G means blanketed coverage over large areas, which will be especially important as self-driving vehicles increase in number since safety is now a key concern. (Figure 1)

 Figure 1: As more self-driving and parking vehicles hit the streets, facilities will need to provide reliable high-speed connectivity. Soon, your car will drive to pick you up, then drop you off to park itself. (Source: Sergey Nivens/stock.adobe.com)

Critical in the deployment of private 5G networks is security. Facility and IT managers can set up, maintain, and change their security protection schemes, passwords, authentication, and reporting on a random schedule. Devices behind the private 5G base station can now communicate with higher security confidence. Device-to-device authentication behind the firewall becomes simpler, allowing connected devices to become lower cost, smaller sized, and faster since back and forth authentication techniques can be reduced. 

Not every 5G IoT device needs high data rates and low latencies, but customers who can set up their own, broader private 5G networks will have an added advantage.  Locally controlled 5G links will allow for increased AI integration with the devices all around us. As AI systems become available to the public more comprehensively, industry and factories will be able to leverage this technology locally, once again limiting exposure to hacking and ransomware. 

From military and law enforcement machines and drones, the high bandwidth speed and fast response times possible with 5G allows fleets or swarms of AI-controlled machines to moderate humanity efficiently. 

Where are we Now?

Assuming you have equipment ready to deploy, there are options for setting up a custom 5G network. You can use unlicensed spectrum like General Authorization Access (GAA) of the Citizens Broadband Radio Services (CBRS). This will be the most common form of private 5G deployment since end users do not have to worry about licensing and band tweaking. A simple set will get you up and running like a Wi-Fi router.  

Extensive facilities and industrial users may opt for a licensed spectrum from a group that has purchased Priority Access Licenses (PALs) in the FCC auctions. Typically, big players have the resources to get spectrum allocated for their use. Like the modern-day cellular carriers, these players will sell you access, typically on a monthly subscription rate. 

If you have deep pockets and a team of expert lawyers, you can apply and bid at FCC spectrum auctions, and hope you get an allocated spectrum. Once your allotted spectrum is allocated, you can set up your equipment to use the channels within that spectrum, the encryption scheme, and network architectures to suit your needs. Already, several major players are capitalizing on these provided services. Verizon, AT&T, Cisco, and Amazon, to name a few, are consuming the spectrum and licensing services to end customers with expertise and equipment. While still at the mercy of rates and services, big players can provide more turnkey, cloud, and AI solutions and help you with technical expertise. 

Conclusion

Private 5G networks are worth looking at for all-sized operations. The high-speed data coupled with low latency leaves room for an expansion of IoT devices and higher-level data-intensive services. Unless you have your own chunk of spectrum, you will need to set up your 5G base station for your carrier's frequencies. 

Here in the US, carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and AT&T use different bands. These frequencies also vary by nation and region. For example, Japan uses 2.7 to 28.28GHz, China uses 24.25 to 27.5GHz, Sweden uses 26.5 to 27.5 GHz, and the EU uses 24.25 to 27.5 GHz. 

Your equipment must be set up for the carrier you plan on using. Also, presently, the lower bands are in use for 3.5GHz to 6GHz, but the higher frequencies will be opening (24GHz to 40GHz). We are at the beginning stages of private 5G, so expect many new products and services to emerge. These will also vary from country to country and region to region. For example, China will be using 37GHz to 43.5GHz while the US will use 28GHz to 39GHz.   

The takeaway is that widely deployed 5G router base stations could replace Wi-Fi as the indoor standard of service. Private implementations of 5G allow more customized and specific encryptions and techniques and may be more secure than just using Wi-Fi for facility-wide communications. 

Manufacturers are ramping up product offerings for designers of equipment that can be used for 5G communications. Parts and services like Amphenol 5G connectors and cell carrier and cloud services are ready to help.