Secure, Fast, and Scalable: Building the Business Case for Private 5G

5G has been commercially deployed for close to five years and there’s still opportunities to identify new 5G use cases. Private 5G has emerged as a massive opportunity for organisations that want secure, highly scalable and high-performance networking deployed in a specific location.?

Unlike public networks, private networks are only accessible to a specific set of authorised personnel and devices. This means network speeds are more responsive and connection is more secure. Private networks are appearing more frequently in large-scale enterprises, government organisations, and education facilities due to their unique capabilities.

According to Grandview Research, the global private 5G network market size was estimated to be $2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 54.1% from 2024 to 2030. Private 5G is growing massively across the globe.

In March 2024, du announced a partnership with Ericsson at Mobile World Congress (MWC) to provide?its private 5G solutions to customers and enable smart services for government departments and enterprises UAE.

Just recently at the end of July 2024, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) launched a public consultation to gather insights and feedback from key stakeholders regarding the potential deployment of private 5G networks in the UAE. The document provided by the TDRA says, “The primary objective is to ensure that the deployment strategy is well-informed and addresses various aspects of implementing private 5G networks.”

Private 5G is ramping up in the UAE and there’s an opportunity for organisations across the UAE to see if it’s a networking model that will deliver the outcomes they’re looking for.

Exploring Your 5G Future

The biggest advantage of private 5G is that any organisation with the help of an expert partner can tailor wireless networking to match their specific needs and align it with unique use cases. For example, a shipping port might use a private 5G network to capture the data flowing from ships, containers and trucks to be used in AI systems for optimising storage. ?

In a scenario like this, a public 5G connection is not ideal. The volume of data, the performance required, and the security-sensitive nature of a port all mean a private connection is required. Even in places where there is high-performance public 5G available, organisations still need enterprise-grade reliability and consistency.

Performance testing conducted by xvolv during the Paris Olympics 2024 found that there was high-performance 5G available, but it wasn’t evenly distributed. In central Paris, one provider was very strong but then had patchy and inconsistent coverage in different neighbourhoods. It found the weaker players in central Paris provided stronger performance across the entire city. Public 5G is not one-size-fits-all and generally focused more on consumer use cases, rather than enterprises.

Private 5G networks are perfect solutions for industries which require high levels of data security, low latency, and the ability to support a large number of connected devices. Manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, and smart cities are some of the areas where the technology can be best utilised.

Considering 5G for Your Organisation

In today’s digital world, data is one of the most valuable resources and assets of any organisation. The UAE is at the forefront of that digitalisation, continuously implementing data protection regulations, updating privacy rules and securing the regions data storage solutions. For businesses who handle large volumes of data, like financial institutions or healthcare providers, the security of data is crucial.

Private 5G allows considerably more control of data, offering enhanced security compared to public networks. With a private connection, data will not leave the organisations premises, which significantly reduces the risk of data breach or cyberattacks. This level of control is particularly important across the UAE as firmer protection laws are being implemented daily.

Public 5G networks have come on a long way since the introduction of 1G in 1979. 5G networks are able to offer high speeds and broad coverage, even in some remote locations, however, public 5G will often struggle with load during peak usage times leading to reduced performance. For businesses in the bustling UAE business metropolis, downtime is not an option. This is where private 5G can be a great option for organisations. External factors like congestion or network interference don’t play a part in private 5G, meaning critical operations are guaranteed. This level of reliability is essential in the UAE where the market is highly competitive and every second counts.

Innovation and Transformation

The UAE is well-known for its digital abilities and driving forces behind innovating throughout the region. To achieve the title of ‘best for technology’, businesses must embrace digital transformation and leverage new technologies, especially if they want to stay relevant and competitive. 5G networks are a big part of enabling this for the region, and businesses have been given the opportunity through private 5G to change the way that business models, products, and services are delivered.

Within a smart city environment, private 5G will support the enablement and deployment of technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Traffic management will become more transparent and accurate through monitors and sensors which will be able to report back real-time findings and action appropriate changes as soon as they need to happen. In healthcare, private 5G can enable telemedicine and remote surgeries, allowing doctors to perform surgeries with precision and minimal latency.

Changing the Speed of Business

Working with an expert partner to understand the opportunity presented with private 5G will allow businesses to work together and develop a business case for the revolutionary technology. Private 5G offers a new, powerful, opportunity for businesses who are looking to enhance security, improve operational efficiency, and drive innovation. Investing in private 5G means that businesses across the world can position themselves as a digital leader, as well as maintaining strong operations and reliable communications.