While the uptake of private 5G networks in the UK and Europe has been slow to date, things are about to change. However, there are a number of fundamental issues that will need to be addressed to deliver the emerging network’s true potential.
For the uninitiated, private 5G is a dedicated, non-public mobile network that uses 5G technology to meet the needs of a specific business. It's different from public 5G, which is shared with everyone.
Private 5G networks offer greater reliability and security because they're not shared with others and can be customised to an organisation’s needs.
Until now, the UK has not been a hotbed of activity where private 5G is concerned. While highly industrialised economies such as China and Germany have been early adopters of this type of network, the UK has been slower to realise their potential. However, that could all be about to change.
Big four – 5G roll-out
The roll-out of 5G in the UK is primarily led by four commercial mobile network operators (MNOs) - EE (owned by BT), Three, Vodafone, and O2 (a joint venture with Virgin Media). Companies called mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs, such as Tesco Mobile and Giffgaff) pay to access an MNO’s network and offer mobile services to customers.
5G infrastructure can also be delivered by ‘neutral hosts’ - these are companies that build infrastructure (such as masts) then lease access to MNOs, but do not offer mobile services themselves.
Finally, private 5G networks can be provided by network operators other than the MNOs (who are regulated as providers of public communications networks). A private network is a bespoke, non-public telecoms network. Private 5G networks work in largely the same way as the public 5G network, but they allow the owner to control features such as access and coverage. They are increasingly used to provide high capacity, low latency, and reliable coverage in, for example, industrial settings such as factories and ports.
In the UK, MNOs have struggled with the business case for private 5G, due mainly to the country’s relatively good existing coverage. The primary driver for private 5G networks is based on need. And unless there are specific circumstances (such as remote location or historically poor mast coverage), the case for non-public 5G is hard to make.
Early adopters of private 5G
In San Sebastian, Spanish airport operator AENA has deployed drones for security and advanced environmental monitoring on a private 5G network operated by Cellnex. The drones collect environmental data including air quality, temperature, humidity and noise which is then analysed to help manage airport operations more sustainably and minimise impact on the local environment.
Similarly, telecoms business Verizon has deployed a private 5G network at the Port of Southampton, one of the busiest docks in the UK responsible for £40 billion in exports. The network is enabling the port’s operator Associated British Ports (ABP) to offer service innovations such as asset tracking, autonomous guided vehicles, workflow management, predictive maintenance and safety monitoring.
It is interesting to consider what prompted ABP to consider such a pioneering solution, given the novelty of private 5G in the UK. While the operator was struggling with an aging private mobile radio comms infrastructure, the fact that it is located next to the English Channel, means that it is on the edge of the MNO coverage network.
Local government kick-start?
In 2023, the UK government launched a £40m 5G innovation fund, which has enabled several local councils, such as Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, to invest in appropriate infrastructures.
While this is encouraging as part of a wider strategy to support growing businesses in rural areas, it’s unlikely that we will see meaningful Private 5G growth unless sectors such as manufacturing, medical, transport and logistics adopt their own networks. This is starting to happen globally; however we await further clarification of the UK government’s industrial strategy which could act as a meaningful catalyst for this nascent technology.
Looking across the Channel, the European Commission has also committed public funding of more than €700 million through the Horizon 2020 Programme to support 5G growth, which is already encouraging adoption in France, Germany, Spain and Italy.
According to consultancy Analysys Mason, spending on private 5G networks is expected to reach $9.2 billion by 2028. However, despite interest in private 5G being high, it remains something of a ‘Cinderella’ technology, due to limited availability and the high cost of 5G devices in the market.
Currently, adoption is limited to large enterprises with the personnel and financial capital required to build at scale. However, as awareness of the benefits of private networks increases and access becomes more widely available, adoption is expected to increase markedly over the next five years.
Technical challenges
Industrial users of private 5G are keen to exploit the high bandwidth/low latency that such networks bring, but are also looking for reliability, robust design and competitively priced solutions that deliver best-in-class performance.
From an RF design perspective, there are significant opportunities for more innovation, which can improve private 5G performance, while reducing hardware cost. 5G is like 4G but typically offers better latency and higher data rates per unit of bandwidth.
Beam steering and 5G mmWave
While the major MNOs tend to use the 3 GHz space to deliver 5G networks, this does not prevent private 5G operators from using other frequencies. However, there is a trade-off here – as the use of higher frequencies reduces range, thus requiring a denser infrastructure. This challenge can be overcome by technologies such as beam steered antennae solution in the infrastructure to improve signal to noise ratios.
Another advantage of this approach is that it supports the use of 5G mmWave solutions which typically operate at 28 GHz. This novel technology has been developed by the R&D team at Novocomm, supported by a SBRI grant.
Connecting to the base station via line of sight, the CPE/UES effectively creates a ‘fat’ data pipe of 1 GB, filling the building with rich data coverage.
Inevitably, the market for private 5G will grow significantly in the UK and Europe over the next five years. Be it the growing use of AI, IoT applications in manufacturing or autonomous vehicles, the need for robust, reliable 5G in areas not covered by MNOs is undeniable.
The risks facing an organisation considering switching to a private 5G network are numerous, and not inconsiderate given the novel nature of this type of network.
When picking an implementation partner you need to find one with a strong track record in this field – that’s certainly s prerequisite, as is identifying a RF provider that can ‘think outside the box’ and provide hybrid systems capable of delivering performance at a competitive price.
Author details: David Tanner, business development director of Novocomms
