The adoption of 5G networks and edge computing is bringing new opportunities to a variety of industries. To unlock the potential of 5G, which allows the transfer of a very large amount of data at an incredible speed, requires an open edge ecosystem of hardware, software, application and network components to allow a better management of data, enabling private 5G networks and open RAN infrastructures to run applications closer to the source of data.
5G networks pushed to the edge can give enterprise options to enhance services and deliver new use cases with the level of control and investment they want. The challenge for telecommunications service providers is resolving how to get a good return on investment (ROI) on the expensive infrastructure for 5G networks. One solution is private 5G networks, defined as a network with dedicated bandwidth and infrastructure for specific use cases to meet business needs for specific customers.
Advantages and Use Case of Private 5G and Edge
By combining cloud solutions with edge computing and private 5G network, enterprise applications can operate with improved data security, lower latency, high throughput, mission-critical reliability, and enable better coverage and connectivity to support increasing real-time data demands, IoT applications, and AI-powered services.
Private 5G network and edge computing are applicable across many verticals and use cases in these sectors:
• Manufacturing
Optimize factory operations at scale with real-time video analytics, inventory monitor and updating over a private 5G network. Command and control of assembly line robots, quality control, and real-time automation. On-site analytics enable manufacturing plant managers, to maximize asset uptime and make smarter real-time decisions.
• Healthcare
Real-time diagnostics over 5G powered by private edge computing AI, to enable more efficient patient monitoring and video analytics tools for long-distance robotic surgery, in addition to rapid access to radiological scans on-site, and local processing of sensitive patient data.
• Smart Retail
Customize in-store digital display experience at scale in real-time, with quick identification of out-of-stock items, in-store customer traffic insights and journeys, and more efficient curbside pickups.
Challenges of Setting Up a Private 5G and Edge Network
Private 5G and edge are complementary and the combination can bring value to both communications service providers and enterprises. However, there is still the overall cost of the 5G infrastructure and the making of a solid business case that provides solid ROI for the costs involved.
Private 5G networks can be complicated and challenging to design and build as they target specific use cases and situations. Building the right network for a specific use case requires embracing the partner ecosystem, from service providers to software companies and hardware manufacturers in order to deliver a reliable, cost-effective, and easily maintainable design.
Lanner Private 5G & Edge Solution
HTCA-6600 Series with NoviFlow CyberMapper Edge MEC Platform
Lanner, NoviFlow and others have partnered together to build a pre-integrated, open-platform and adaptable MEC solution, that can also evolve with the customer’s needs. By providing both technology and consulting, Lanner and NoviFlow can bridge the gap between the business and technology aspects for telcos providers to explore their private 5G opportunities.
The HTCA-6600 is as high availability chassis 6U telecom network appliance with 6 x86 CPU blades and 6 I/O blades. The top 2 blade slots are reserved for switch or Ethernet NI blades, while the other four slots are solely used for Ethernet NI blades, which delivers thirty-two 10GbE ports. As the higher-end model, HTCA-6600 is designed with switch blade and CPU blade redundancy, when one of the blades is encountered with failure, the other blades can take over the workloads.