Key private network deployment strategy equips enterprises to streamline infrastructure at distributed sites
The potential business results of private cellular networks are real and vast. But it’s the finer details of how your company sets up private 5G that move the technology from “potential impact” to “real-world ROI.”
This need for flexibility and customization becomes even more acute as enterprises expand their private network footprint from one site to many — an evolution marked by great business value but also potential challenges. For one thing, extending private 5G beyond one main site complicates the architecture, requiring more hardware and extensive deployment time.
What’s more, all of this can increase costs beyond some enterprises’ comfort level. But there are features that help companies expand private 5G while maintaining optimal cost-effectiveness. For enterprises that have numerous large sites situated all over the map, multisite functionality can be a critical feature for ROI within the Ericsson Private 5G solution.
What is multisite private 5G connectivity for distributed deployments?
The multisite feature within the Ericsson Private 5G solution enables companies to centralize the controllers and core — effectively the brains of each private 5G network — at a single site, rather than replicating every single piece of infrastructure on every single site.
By leveraging the existing backhaul infrastructure at each distributed site for remote transport, the multisite feature works with just one main router being deployed, at the main flagship site.
This feature provides a deployment model that’s similar to how Wi-Fi systems work. It’s the type of flexibility that enterprises have come to expect and now can have even with a robust private 5G network.
Once deployed, private 5G at all of the distributed sites can easily be monitored and managed through Ericsson’s cloud-based management platform.
Why support multiple sites with one private 5G core?
The arguments for using one core to control multiple distributed factories, warehouses, mines, or other large areas are fairly clear.
Lower costs
For one thing, less total infrastructure means more cost certainty for organizations that are working within a fairly strict total investment budget for an overall private 5G project. Traditionally, private 5G at each site involves the use of two mobile cores via two network controllers — one for primary use, and the other for redundancy. The multisite deployment model gives the freedom to centralize the core at the main site, which saves a lot of money. Let’s say an enterprise has five sites with private 5G; it only has to purchase two controllers/cores instead of 10.
Better mobility
When better, more consistent connection coverage for device mobility is an enterprise’s No. 1 goal for private 5G, multisite functionality is an excellent way to deploy well and then consistently replicate quickly and cost-effectively in new places.
Additionally, all devices using private 5G SIMs will connect at any of the distributed sites, which is important for companies that need to intermittently move their devices between multiple sites.
Overall, multisite functionality provides the ability to roll out private 5G at new sites in different ways, on a case-by-case basis. When mobility, reduced infrastructure, and cost savings top your project checklist, streamline by centralizing the network core.
