Private Networks + EdgE + IIoT How New Technologies Implement Digital Transformation

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1.? Introduction?

The services and applications made possible by the new networks architecture based in Edge Computing, associated with IoT devices, can be enhanced with the broad connectivity offered by 4G/5G Private Networks, enabling the introduction of the set of technologies of the so-called Industry 4.0.

Bringing this into a practical context, the Digital Transformation of any company, any vertical can be implemented by adding the forces of these new solutions. At the same time the data obtained on the factory floor can be treated and formatted by Big Data techniques, analyzed and understood with Data Analytics and the possible solutions or enhancements can be found using AI and ML.

This article will briefly describe these technologies, explore the gains they provide, and discuss the many ways they can be implemented.

2.? Cloud computing

Network architecture has undergone a profound evolution over the past 50 years. At the beginning of the so-called 4th Industrial Revolution, the computing environment in companies and universities was composed of mainframes with simple access terminals. After this period, there was a shift towards PCs, with all SWs running locally on the machines. Evolution continued with the introduction of the client/server model, followed by the architecture of public and private clouds. Now, with the need for agility, minimal response times, and many critical use cases, the Edge architecture quickly imposes itself:

?Cloud computing means accessing an on-demand network that provides a shared pool of configurable computing resources (networks, servers, storage, applications and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal service provider management effort.

Cloud architectures are classified into different types depending on the level of control the company or organization has over the cloud computing infrastructure and the cloud computing resources they use. The four main cloud architectures are: private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud and multicloud. But after all, which one is ideal for your business?

Below, we explain each of these architecture types in detail:

·???????? Private cloud: is a unique cloud infrastructure for an organization. The company has complete control over the architecture, security and compliance of cloud resources. The private cloud can be managed by the organization in-house or outsourced to a company that offers private cloud services. This architecture is ideal for companies that want a high level of control over their data and cloud computing resources.

·???????? Public cloud: is a model where cloud computing resources are offered by third-party cloud service providers. This architecture is highly scalable and flexible, allowing companies to pay only for the resources they use. The public cloud is ideal for companies that don't have a lot of resources to invest in IT infrastructure and want to take advantage of the scalability and flexibility offered by the clouds.

·???????? Hybrid cloud: is a combination of public and private cloud, allowing companies to enjoy the benefits of both architectures. The hybrid cloud can be configured in a variety of ways, depending on the organization's needs. For example, the organization can keep its most sensitive data in the private cloud and use the public cloud for less critical resources. Or, the organization can use the public cloud to meet peak demand needs and the private cloud for day-to-day needs.

·???????? Multicloud: is an architecture that allows an organization to use multiple cloud providers, public or private, at the same time. This architecture offers more flexibility and resiliency than a single public or private cloud. However, managing multiple cloud providers can be complex and may require greater investment in systems integration and management.

?In short, the choice of cloud architecture will depend on the organization's needs and available resources. The private cloud is the most secure, but it can also be the most expensive. The public cloud is highly scalable and flexible, but it can be less secure. Hybrid and multicloud clouds offer a balance of security and flexibility but can be more complex to manage. Currently around 90% of workloads are processed through cloud data centers.

3.? Edge Computing

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) brings processing and storage resources closer to where they are needed, relieving the cloud (core of IT & Telecom networks). Edge Computing consists of a decentralized data processing topology, managed from a central platform. It is a shift in the technology landscape that is already underway and has the potential to dramatically change the way data is created and processed.

Edge computing is tied to the evolution of the internet of things (IoT). As various industries push to connect all kinds of objects to their networks and to the internet, the way in which these objects communicate will change. For some uses, low latency is crucial: a self-driving car or an AGV that needs to avoid an object in the road or in a factory. Computation will need to take place at the outer edges and closest to the objects themselves.

An Edge Device can be anything that provides an entry point to a network, for example routers, APs, WANs and switches. They will function as mini DataCenters capable of communicating with each other and will typically be used to communicate urgent and critical data.

In many IIoT applications, the amount of data that needs to be collected is so large that it becomes very difficult to transfer it to a central processing platform (cloud). There are also cases of applications that require short latency times that can only be obtained by processing the data in the place where the machine is installed.

Applications in an automobile, manufacturing, fleet management, emergency and disaster response, where it simply isn't adequate to transmit data back to a central, distant datacenter.

There is also Fog Computing: distributed micro data centers, between the Cloud and the Edge, safely processing real-time data. These are additional services, not mandatory in an Edge-Cloud architecture.

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?Edge/Fog architecture provides:

·???????? Greater protection for sensitive data that should not be propagated on the network;

·???????? Minimum delays, suitable for certain mission critical applications (URLLC);

·???????? Lower demand on network bandwidth;

·???????? Operations even when networks are disrupted;

·???????? Lower power consumption due to dedicated chipsets and devices.

Some possibilities for different business verticals:

·???????? In telecommunications, Edge Computing enables the enhancement of content delivery and the deployment of virtual network functions for 5G deployments.

·???????? In manufacturing, it enables you to establish smart and efficient production lines and warehouses through advanced robotics and sensors (real-time analytics and action based on IoT/sensor data).

·???????? In transport and logistics, it enables automatically guided vehicles (AGV) and autonomous cars, in addition to advances in cargo monitoring and intelligent transport systems.

·???????? In retail, it enables a reinvented customer experience through smart mirrors, smart shopping carts, automated teller machines, digital signage, targeted advertising and real-time inventory tracking and replenishment.

4.? IoT

IoT are intelligent, connected sensors and electromechanical actuators used for data collection and to improve processes, allowing companies to detect inefficiencies and problems, saving time and money, while supporting business intelligence efforts.

In manufacturing specifically, IIoT (industrial IoT) has great potential for quality and process control, sustainable practices and supply chain traceability. In an industrial environment, IIoT is critical for processes such as predictive maintenance, field services, energy management and asset tracking.

These devices have been operating since the days of 2G networks, with GPRS connectivity. There are also those that operate in non-licensed networks such as SigFox, LoRa, RPMA, Symphony Link and Weightless.

a.???? IoT over 4G LTE:

NB-IoT and Cat-M1 are specifications for IoT devices standardized in the 3GPP Release 13. While complementary to each other, they are intended for different types of use cases, based on the required network capabilities:

·???????? NB-IoT supports low complexity devices with very narrow bandwidth, 200 kHz, with peak data around 250 Kb/s. An NB-IoT bearer can be deployed in the guard band of an LTE bearer, without impacting traffic in the licensed band.

·???????? On the other hand, Cat-M1 operates with 1.4 MHz bandwidth with higher device complexity/cost than NB-IoT. This allows the Cat-M1 to achieve data rates of up to 1 Mbps, lower latency and more accurate positioning capabilities. Cat-M1 supports voice and mobility calls.

·???????? NB-IoT and Cat-M1 devices can remain inert for long periods of time, which greatly reduces device power consumption.

·???????? The most common use cases for NB-IoT include meters and sensors for utilities. Typical usage scenarios for the Cat-M1 include connected vehicles, wearables, trackers and alarm panels.

However, there are restrictions for these IoT devices in 4G: low device density (endpoints per km2) and low data rate. The new 5G networks came to solve these and other issues.

b.???? IoT over 5G NR:

The first version of the 5G NR standard, 3GPP Release 15, supported two classes of devices for IoT, namely Cat-M1 for 1.4 MHz channels and NB-IoT for 200 kHz channels.

With the improvements introduced in 3GPP Release 16, both classes of devices can coexist with 5G devices on the same NR channel. The 3GPP Release 16 also introduced specifications for 5G devices for URLLC to meet the stringent requirements of mission-critical IoT, with support for millisecond latencies and 99.9999% reliability.

3GPP specified in the Release 17 a lightweight version of the 5G standard called 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) to address low cost and complexity needs. 5G RedCap will give hardware vendors a viable option to develop 5G IoT devices that can compete with their 4G counterparts on price. RedCap devices can support 150Mbps / 50Mbps (downlink / uplink).

RedCap can coexist with these layers of IoT devices and eMBB devices on the same 5G NR channel, which was initially called by different names: NR-lite, NR-light or Industrial Wireless Sensor Networks (IWSN).

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The initial use cases for 5G RedCap in Release 17 are listed below:

·???????? Industrial sensors: pressure sensors, humidity sensors, thermometers, motion sensors, accelerometers and actuators;

·???????? Surveillance cameras: smart cities, factories and other industrial sites;

·???????? Wearables: smartwatches, health-related devices and medical monitoring devices.

5.? Private 5G Network

The Enterprise sector is moving quickly towards Digital Transformation, despite the ongoing economic crises, pandemic and geopolitical problems that have plagued the world. Large companies are undergoing unprecedented changes, driven by the adoption of cloud services, IIoT, Data Analytics, AI, AR / VR, Edge and Blockchain. Although the degree of implementation of these technologies varies in each vertical, there is a common factor: the need for connectivity, in a fast, secure and manageable network.

The allocation of 5G frequencies to establish private networks has been introduced and standardized in several countries in recent years. In Brazil, there are many possibilities. For instance: 100 Mhz of bandwidth was allocated in 3700-3800 MHz (n78 band). The new 5G frequencies for use in private networks are expressed in various terms, such as unlicensed, private, local or shared frequencies, such as the service known as CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) as a prime example, in use in the US.

These networks can be deployed in a variety of flavors that are much more flexible than previous generations of 3G and 4G. You can use equipment completely separate from public networks or you can implement Private Networks in varying degrees of sharing with operators.

For RAN sharing, the two most used solutions are known as MORAN (Multi Operator RAN) and MOCN (Multi Operator Core Network).

·???????? In the MORAN architecture, everything in the RAN (antenna, tower, site, power) except the radio spectrum is shared between the private network and the operator. Network Cores are kept separate.

·???????? In the MOCN architecture, the networks share the same RAN, which means that the bandwidths are also shared. Network Cores are kept separate. MOCN is the most resource-efficient solution as it gives mobile operators the opportunity to pool their respective spectrum allocations, resulting in greater efficiency.

In addition to the existing solutions above, Private Networks can be implemented using part of the Core shared by public operators, in various formats, as shown in the figure below:

?Currently, equipment for independent 4G/5G Private Networks is supplied in a small rack, with a server running the Core - fully implemented in SW (VNF/CNF) - and with the macro and/or small cells in the locations (on premises). If necessary, local processing capacity can be implemented via Edge Computing.

Basically, what is needed are:

·???????? The core network, implemented via SW on a large capacity server or in a cloud environment;

·???????? The base-stations (gNodeB);

·???????? The antennas;

·???????? The backhaul (usually fiber) for external connectivity.

6.? Edge + IoT + Private Networks

As we saw above, Private Networks, Edge Computing and IoT are complementary technologies that enable the introduction of the Industry 4.0. IoT devices generate vital data traffic, which is transported by 5G networks, while edge computing stores and processes this data, with low delay and high reliability and security, providing important insights for companies, via AI and ML.

?7.? Conclusions

?The 5G networks will take a long time to reach end users. For instance, in Brazil the agenda established by Anatel predicts almost 10 years for 5G to be available in small locations. The 4G coverage, 10 years after the auction, still has low national coverage, mainly in the countryside. Agribusiness, manufacturing industries, warehouses, commerce, ports/airports, mining, hospitals, utilities will need to build their own 5G networks if they want wide and reliable coverage.

The implementation of 5G Private Networks is becoming more and more economical, with several solutions, both from traditional suppliers and from new players that develop OpenRAN solutions.

The association of these three technologies enables the rapid introduction of advanced use cases, with data processing using data analytics and ML/AI techniques at the edge of the network, providing feedback and insights for better operation and profitability.

Despite these technologies being mature, with many commercial solutions available, the vast majority of companies in the most diverse verticals - from hospitals to mining - need “evangelization”, as they still do not know these potentialities in depth. This is a process that must be carried out respecting local and sectoral realities.

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