Private networks will change the way businesses operate over the coming years – and small cells will be at the heart of this change. SCF is helping enterprise, industry and government understand the potential benefits of private networks. We’re also creating blueprints to help the industry achieve scalable and sustainable multi-technology private cellular networks.
Private 5G network blueprints
Our latest work in the area of private networks is focused on developing blueprints for enterprise and industry. Reference blueprints go beyond technical specifications to provide common guidelines, based on real world experience, for deployment in specific scenarios and industries, and for specific purposes. This greatly reduces the time and cost of deployment. Our latest release document outlines our proposed work on blueprints that will take place between 2021 and 2023.
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Our latest publication: Private cellular networks with small cells
The aim of this foundational paper is to describe the role of small cells in the context of private networks, to outline market drivers, use cases and recommendations for LTE-based private networks, and to look at the inevitable evolution of cellular communications to 5G and what that will mean for future private networks.
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Edge computing and small cell networks
This document provides a comprehensive overview of edge computing. In particular, it looks at how edge computing impacts the future of small cell networks. It also pinpoints existing gaps in the evolution and application of edge computing. Much still needs to be done in such areas as standardization and industry practices. How can these gaps be filled in order to allow edge computing and small cell networks to be deployed quickly and at scale?
DownloadWhat our members are working on
Our aim is to help enterprise, industry, and government understand the benefits of private networks to support their digital connectivity needs.
We are also working to support private network service providers better understand the benefits which are most valued by the different types of customer.
Enterprise engagement: Requirements for ports
This work is the first step in what we hope will be on-going engagement with ports, where the focus is on a deep dive into the sector’s evolving business requirements and how these must be supported by the 5G-Era technologies. To this end, SCF engaged with a dozen ports and ports organizations in EMEA of various sizes and at quite different stages of their digital journeys.
This is very much a first step and outputs include a paper that capture initial conversations to provide a snapshot of business and operational priorities, perceptions and challenges. This will be followed by a workshop with key stakeholders from the sector.
Management solutions for private networks
One of the areas of highest growth and value for private network service providers lies in the delivery of extremely demanding B2B services – SLA-based services, critical availability, guaranteed QoE for enterprises providing services to customers.
Existing service assurance needs to evolve management, operations and analytics to better align with hosted network architectures and the requirements of enterprise users. This work item aims to establish requirements and an evolutionary roadmap that takes account of the needs of MNOs, alternative deployers and their customers.
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You might also be interested in the following documents
Multi-operator indoor coverage for your enterprise with neutral-hosted small cells
Enterprises demand excellent connectivity – including mobile signals for all operators.
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Edge computing and small cell networks
This paper looks in detail at the architectures and deployment considerations for edge and small cells in specific premises-based use cases.
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Small cell SON and orchestration from 4G to 5G
One of the first and most important examples of automation being developed for the RAN is SON (self-organizing or self-optimizing network), which has been a central element of SCF’s work programme and outputs for some years.
Download Find out morePrivate networks and small cells
Private cellular networks provide higher-quality, more secure mobile connectivity than Wi-Fi or public networks. They also have a more extensive ecosystem of technology suppliers, system integrators and service providers than proprietary solutions.
LTE-based private networks have been extensively deployed in a wide range of settings. More will follow as 5G rolls out. Small cells ware integral to delivering private networking. They will also enable added network value through edge computing and access to virtualized resources.
Our work is addressing all the ways in which small cells will need to adjust to this new paradigm. There will be new deployment models, new players – such as neutral hosts – and new approaches to spectrum usage. The role of distributed core in the deployment of private networks in supporting a RAN-agnostic network will be a key enabler. Small cells will be key, bringing connectivity into the very heart of private networks supporting ports, factories, offices, government and much, much more.
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A blueprint for profitable roll-out of private LTE networks
This blog explains how SCFs latest research and analysis has identified the need for a blueprint for the profitable roll out of private networks, and it sets out our plans for further work items and release documents on the topic.