Within the Ericsson Private 5G solution, the network controller does much of the heavy lifting. The controller hosts several functions, including the dual mode 4G/5G mobile core and many other advanced software features.
Controller houses the core, but also much more
Organizations deploy Ericsson Private 5G with two network controllers that serve as redundant servers for higher availability. In fact, the system’s session continuity feature, via basebands, enables failover between two controllers in case of hardware or software failure. These controllers must be connected to both a wired network on the premises and to the internet, with the latter enabling the cloud-based network management portal.
That said, the controllers are mere hardware. It’s the software layered atop that hardware that provides so much control and advanced functionality for each private 5G network. These layers include:
- VPN software, which establishes and secures — Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256 and a public-key infrastructure — the connection to the cloud management tool.
- APIs
- Logging and data collection
- Lifecycle management
- SIM manager
- Dual mode 4G/5G mobile core
Intelligent to the core
The Ericsson Private 5G core is the same powerful “brain” that is used by hundreds of cellular operators around the world for their macro networks. It is a true dual mode core, meaning it supports 4G and 5G simultaneously — as do Ericsson’s industry-leading cellular radios. From a 5G perspective, the core supports both Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) modes.
The core also enables advanced features such as multisite support, which centralizes on one core serving distributed sites, and it also handles authentication of the SIM cards connected to the network.
