You won CBRS spectrum, what next?

The Federal Communications Commissions’ (FCC) Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) spectrum auction finished recently with several dozen companies successful securing CBRS spectrum assets across various parts of the US.

Securing spectrum is a critical step in the process of launching a Private LTE network, but while important, it's only one of the key components needed.

Especially for companies looking to deploy a Private LTE network for something other than a wireless broadband use case, now comes the need to figure out what numbering resources are needed and where to source those from, whether to deploy a mobile core network in-house or source it as-a-service, whether the desired service can be delivered with the Private LTE Radio Access Network (RAN) only or whether roaming or wholesale access is needed on a macro-network (i.e. a nationwide or regional wireless carrier) or networks (i.e. multiple nationwide or regional wireless carriers) and whether the network monitoring and management will be done in-house or outsourced to a specialist company.

Like with most things in life, this is where expertise and experience can save significant amounts of money both in terms of CAPEX and OPEX, shorten time-to-market, reduce risks and ensure that strategic flexibility is not sacrificed by making wrong decisions early on.

In light of this, the sensible first step for many companies is to secure access to the expertise and experience. There’s a growing number of consulting companies offering their services for e.g. high-level strategic planning around Private LTE, but most lack the deep technical and operational expertise and experience to advise on the design and deployment, as well as the operational aspects of a greenfield wireless network.

In light of this, it’s worth considering whether the support needed is for high-level strategy only or whether the ideal strategic partner is an entity with not only expertise and experience but also assets and capabilities – making them a partner in the on-going service delivery, rather just the initial planning.

Radio Access Network

For many people, a Private LTE network is mostly about building private network coverage in a business-critical area, which can be e.g. an oil field, factory, utility network, office or school campus, hospital, military base, government building, etc.

The drivers for the desired coverage vary and may include for example looking to establish coverage where it doesn’t exist today (e.g. a deep mine), improve coverage and quality of wireless access (e.g. an oil and gas field), drive cost savings compared to using macro-network access (e.g. utility network), enhance ability to deliver wireless services / communications (e.g. office or school / university campus network) or security (e.g. military bases or government buildings).

The RAN is the one CAPEX element that’s hard to avoid and the focus therefore needs to be in getting decisions right regarding RAN design i.e. optimising the size of the network, number of RAN sites as well as backhaul.

In addition to optimising the RAN design, critical decisions include selecting the right Network Equipment Provider (NEP) to deliver the RAN equipment, negotiating a good deal and managing efficient RAN deployment – both in terms of time and cost as significant delays are common given dependency on needing to source approvals, contract tower companies, etc. and these delays often translate into significant costs.

Numbering Resources

The numbering resource requirements for a Private LTE network will vary depending on the desired service – for the simplest technical proposition (i.e. a closed IoT network), virtual numbers may be sufficient or using a shared Home Network Identifier (HNI), which are available for CBRS spectrum holders to apply for.

However, for more ambitious strategies or complex technical deployments, wireless carrier International Mobile Subscriber Identities (IMSI) are needed and if messaging of voice to or from the Private LTE network need to be supported, a Mobile Stations International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) may also be needed.

These are not available to CRBS spectrum holders today and as such, need to be sourced from a specialist wireless carrier, as nationwide US wireless carriers do not lease their IMSI’s, especially to be hosted and managed on an external mobile core network.

The strategy on numbering will also depend on whether the Private LTE RAN is sufficient in delivering the required coverage or whether there’s a need to have access to a macro-network (e.g. nationwide wireless carrier) or networks. This relates to the fact that if using a shared HNI, establishing roaming becomes very difficult, so the easiest option for gaining access to roaming or wholesale access (i.e. permanent roaming) on macro-networks is using a US wireless carrier IMSI from the start.

Choosing a US IMSI is important to ensure that appropriate regulatory fees, taxes and security requirements are adhered to – with foreign IMSI’s typically not satisfying the regulations as those were never intended to permanently roam in a foreign market.

Mobile Core Network

Strategy with regards to the mobile core network is one of the most significant decisions with regards to OPEX – the key questions include whether to deploy a mobile core network in-house as well as build the operational team to monitor, manage and support it or whether to pursue an as-a-service strategy by partnering with a specialist company and leveraging a shared mobile core network as-a-service, which in most cases will deliver significant CAPEX and OPEX savings, while also reducing risks and time-to-market.

Factors influencing the evaluation of whether to pursue an in-house or outsourced strategy include what functionality is needed both initially and in the medium-term (e.g. support for voice through VoLTE), as well as whether the company looking to deploy a Private LTE network wants a mobile core network from a Tier 1 Network Equipment Provider (NEP) or whether a simpler and less costly solution from a Tier 2 or Tier 3 with suffice.

Network Operations Center

Another major OPEX cost driver is network monitoring and management, which from a HR stand-point can be split into two major areas: field technicians looking after the physical RAN by performing regular physical inspections and maintenance as well as supporting e.g. optimisation as well as the Network Operations Center (NOC) monitoring the performance or the RAN and mobile core network - although if the mobile core network is outsourced, the NOC function for the core is also delivered by the specialist company delivering the service.

In light of this, the NOC referenced here is in consideration to the monitoring and management of the RAN including identifying and monitoring critical Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure that the RAN is operating at the optimal desired level.

Establishing and operating a professional specialist telecom NOC requires investment e.g. into network management systems, recruitment and training of people, developing and refining reporting and processes, etc. – i.e. takes time as well as investment, and therefore starting by outsourcing this function to a specialist company at the start makes sense for most companies rolling out greenfield Private LTE networks and many will end up staying with the outsourced NOC.

Conclusion

The availability of CBRS and other sources of spectrum for Private LTE has opened up a huge amount of opportunities for enterprises across the US. However, deciding to deploy a Private LTE network does not automatically translate to needing to have everything in-house – in today’s specialist economy, most companies are likely to conclude that to maximise the potential of Private LTE, both in terms of identifying how it can be used to take advantage of as well as to optimize the network deployment and management, the right strategy is identifying a strategic partner and outsourcing as much as possible to leverage their specialist assets, capabilities as well as expertise and experience!

Limitless Mobile

Limitless Mobile is a specialist company leveraging its status as an FCC-regulated US wireless carrier along with its wireless carrier assets, capabilities as well as deep strategic, commercial and technical / operational expertise and experience, developed through designing, deploying and managing advanced wireless solutions, to help companies maximise the potential from wireless opportunities.

As a wireless carrier serving both retail customers on our own RAN as well as wholesale customers both nationwide in the US and internationally, we know wireless and would love to help you leverage our assets, capabilities as well as expertise and experience.

If your company is planning to deploy a Private LTE network using either CBRS spectrum or leveraging other spectrum assets, we would love to hear from you at [email protected] to organize a call and share how we could help ensure your Private LTE strategy is a success!