Wi-Fi/Private Networks
Networking on your own terms
What is a next-generation private wireless network?
4.9G/LTE and 5G are providing the next generation of private wireless networks for our connected world, supporting automation, safety, security and new levels of quality, efficiency and productivity.
To meet the requirements of AI, machine learning and automation, industries need highly reliable, low latency and secure wireless connectivity with high bandwidth. 4.9G/LTE and 5G industrial-grade private wireless networks are the only wireless solutions available that have proven records to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 mission- and business-critical applications. They provide robust, secure and reliable connectivity for everything that is critical to your operations, from people and machines to sensors and analytics.
We’ve made a number of links available on this page if you are interested in exploring different aspects of private wireless in more depth.
- Easy to deploy
- Total cost of ownership (TCO)
- More spectrum options available every day
- 4.9G/LTE or 5G?
- Use cases for industry
How easy is it to deploy private wireless networks?
Deploying the Nokia private wireless solution isn’t much different than a Wi-Fi network, but there are a few extras to consider.
The basic requirements for a private wireless network are:
- A radio network (RAN)
- A core network
- A backhaul network
- Access to licensed, shared or unlicensed radio spectrum.
Radio access points provide coverage of your outdoor and indoor spaces, similar to Wi-Fi, but you will need far fewer. Unlike Wi-Fi, there is a core network, which is the key to enabling mobility, ensuring security and maintaining quality-of-service parameters. Depending on the size of your site, it can even run on a small desktop-sized edge server deployed in a server room.
The backhaul network is no different than what you would use to connect Wi-Fi access points, whether cabled Ethernet, passive optical LAN and/or microwave depending on the application and the distances served.
Private wireless total cost of ownership (TCO)
For most mission- and business-critical industrial applications, the Nokia private wireless network solution is the most cost-efficient compared to other wireless solutions because:
- It provides the greatest capacity
- The widest coverage
- A connectivity layer able to operate in challenging radio conditions typical of industrial environments.
Further benefits of a private wireless network
Private wireless requires far fewer access points than other wireless solutions to cover the same area, which means less supporting infrastructure as well (power, cabling, poles, etc.). Engineering and planning the radio coverage is also much less expensive because of the characteristics of the radio spectrum used. Finally, you can consolidate all your current networks on a single 4.9G/LTE or 5G network, for significant operational cost savings.
We suggest using our TCO calculator to see what would be the best wireless solution for your industrial site.