Issue link: https://hub.radisys.com/i/1302511
radisys.com 39 Radisys Series — Who Disaggregated My RAN? eBook Chapter 10: Open and Private at Once: Open RAN Solutions for Private Networks In my previous blog, I covered the promise and potential of network slicing. Another deployment use case which has seen tremendous interest and demand is the use of private networks. With the increasing digital connectivity of devices and equipment across different industry verticals and enterprises, there is a rising demand for private or more dedicated connectivity. Such networks are called private networks or non-public networks. As 3GPP defines it, non-public networks are for the exclusive use of a private entity deployed as a standalone network or hosted by an operator or it may be just a slice of an operator's network. In this blog we will discuss the needs, challenges and solution approaches for private networks and how open and disaggregated solutions are addressing these requirements. The Many Verticals, Use Cases and Their Needs There are many market drivers for private networks. First off, Industry 4.0 is here. This means that there is a transformation happening in industries that includes digitization of data, automation of workflows and connectivity to devices. Industry verticals like aerospace, mining, transport and so on are witnessing this change already. The other category of private network users includes enterprises, malls, hospitals, university campuses, etc. Smart cities, outdoor venues like stadiums, and agricultural sectors are another category of private networks. Given the diverse segments that private networks can cater to, there a lot of interesting use cases. In the case of industries, the use cases could include mobile robots, connected factory floors, industrial automation and sensors. Interactive aircraft maintenance, managing operations of an offshore oil field remotely, and the use of computer vision for predictive maintenance are all also made possible with the use of private networks. Yet another category of use cases specific to outdoor venues and malls are the use of AI enhanced applications with security cameras, sensors and AR/VR based entertainment. There is going to be an explosion of such advanced use cases with the availability of all pervasive 5G networks and dense deployments.