Technology breakthroughs like private 5G are reshaping enterprise connectivity. Industrial sites, in particular, face significant challenges—crowded factory floors, outdoor areas with RF interference, and network congestion. Critical applications such as Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), IoT devices, and scanners demand seamless mobility and reliable data flow.
As Industry 4.0 accelerates, businesses need more than just traditional wireless solutions. Private Cellular Networks (PCNs) are emerging as a game-changing alternative, delivering superior coverage, security, and performance. A recent ZK Research study found that 92% of organizations have already deployed or plan to deploy private 4G/5G networks.
Private Cellular Networks: The Promise
The most recent innovation of private 5G technology enables private cellular networks to attain 2unparalleled levels of connectivity. These private cellular networks support global enterprises efficiently through seamless connectivity and specialized communication channels that are designed to serve a wide array of industry use cases. Furthermore, a targeted and tailored approach to use cases helps meet specific business outcomes, something that is essential to achieving success in today’s world of connectivity challenges.
As highlighted in the ZK Report- The value of private cellular networks rests in their ability to alter numerous industries by improving operational efficiency, security, and creativity. Private cellular networks allow modern technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, augmented reality (AR), and autonomous systems to be used in industries including manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.
Why Choose Private Cellular Networks?
Private cellular networks (PCN) fill a major gap in enterprise access technology, combining the reliability and coverage of cellular with the cost-effectiveness of Wi-Fi—while enabling advanced use cases beyond traditional connectivity.
Source: ZK Research
Economics
Wi-Fi is initially affordable, but its limited scalability and dense access point requirements drive up costs in large deployments like factories and outdoor environments. Public LTE (DAS) incurs high infrastructure and carrier dependency costs.
✅ PCN provides a cost-effective, high-performance alternative that balances reliability and affordability.
✅ PCN provides a cost-effective, high-performance alternative that balances reliability and affordability.
Predictable Performance
Wi-Fi suffers from congestion and interference, leading to inconsistent performance. Public LTE (DAS) offers better predictability but is limited by carrier-controlled resources.
✅ PCN delivers enterprise-grade performance with dedicated spectrum and resource allocation for reliable connectivity.
✅ PCN delivers enterprise-grade performance with dedicated spectrum and resource allocation for reliable connectivity.
Range
Wi-Fi requires multiple access points to cover large areas, increasing complexity and cost. Public LTE (DAS) offers broader coverage but is not ideal for remote or large-scale deployments.
✅ PCN provides extensive coverage with fewer nodes, making it ideal for industrial sites and campuses.
✅ PCN provides extensive coverage with fewer nodes, making it ideal for industrial sites and campuses.
Mobility
Wi-Fi lacks seamless mobility, causing disruptions when devices switch between access points. Public LTE (DAS) supports mobility but lacks enterprise flexibility for security, network slicing, and custom configurations.
✅ PCN ensures smooth mobility across large areas, eliminating connectivity disruptions in dynamic environments like warehouses, campuses, and hospitals.
✅ PCN ensures smooth mobility across large areas, eliminating connectivity disruptions in dynamic environments like warehouses, campuses, and hospitals.
Latency
Wi-Fi experiences high latency in congested environments, making it unreliable for real-time applications. Public LTE (DAS) has moderate latency but is not optimized for low-latency enterprise needs.
✅ PCN delivers ultra-low latency, enabling real-time applications like robotics, automation, and safety systems.
✅ PCN delivers ultra-low latency, enabling real-time applications like robotics, automation, and safety systems.
Security Concerns
Wi-Fi is vulnerable to hacking and interference, making it less secure for mission-critical operations. Public LTE (DAS) provides moderate security but lacks enterprise control over data and access policies.
✅ PCN offers enterprise-grade security with tight access control, encryption, and isolation from public networks.
✅ PCN offers enterprise-grade security with tight access control, encryption, and isolation from public networks.
Neutral Host
Wi-Fi does not support neutral hosting, limiting its ability to scale in shared environments. Public LTE (DAS) supports neutral hosting, but at a high cost and with restricted customization.
✅ PCN enables efficient multi-operator support, ensuring flexible and cost-effective network sharing.
✅ PCN enables efficient multi-operator support, ensuring flexible and cost-effective network sharing.
Private Network
Wi-Fi has been the default enterprise wireless technology, but it lacks dedicated, interference-free, and highly secure access at scale. Public LTE (DAS) is carrier-controlled, restricting enterprise autonomy.
✅ PCN provides a dedicated, secure, and enterprise-controlled network, ensuring full ownership over connectivity, security, and performance.
✅ PCN provides a dedicated, secure, and enterprise-controlled network, ensuring full ownership over connectivity, security, and performance.
Private Cellular Networks (PCN) vs. Traditional Wireless Solutions
Category |
Key Benefits |
| Performance, Coverage & Cost | PCN offers higher data rates (large data transmission and high throughput), longer range, and better battery life than Wi-Fi. LTE/CBRS supports low-power IoT devices with no monthly data fees. ✔ Low-cost, low-energy devices ✔ Small data volumes |
| High Reliability | PCN operates on licensed spectrum, eliminating interference issues common with Wi-Fi. ✔ High throughput & low latency ✔ Supports large data volumes |
| Mobility, Security & Convenience | LTE/5G ensures SIM-based security and seamless handovers between private and public networks. ✔ Ultra-reliable, ultra-low latency ✔ High availability |
| Quality of Service | LTE/5G delivers high-quality voice and video, even under heavy user loads. ✔ Industrial protocols ✔ Time-sensitive networks ✔ Precise indoor positioning |
Private cellular networks are the next-generation platforms for real-time data access and control, driving new levels of enterprise value creation. Private cellular networks, together with the availability of freely available spectrum (CBRS), as well as CBRS band and multi-eSIM functionality on phones and gadgets, enable huge transformation. It is vital for firms in compliance-heavy industries to avoid using public networks when dealing with sensitive data. The allure of private cellular is the potential to provide bespoke solutions that match an organization’s specific needs.
Whether it’s a busy hospital that requires secure and dependable connectivity for medical devices or a manufacturing plant that aims to deploy Industry 4.0 technology, the flexibility of these networks leads to enhanced operational efficiency.
Whether it’s a busy hospital that requires secure and dependable connectivity for medical devices or a manufacturing plant that aims to deploy Industry 4.0 technology, the flexibility of these networks leads to enhanced operational efficiency.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Connectivity
With the continuous push for digitization, the network has never been more crucial. In the ZK Research 2024 Network Decision Makers Study, 93% of respondents stated that the network is more important to business operations than it was just two years ago.
Importantly, the enterprise network—particularly wireless—has not fully evolved or kept up with modern use cases and projects. Although Wi-Fi has improved in speed, it still suffers from overcrowded spectrum and unpredictable performance. Private cellular options are sometimes prohibitively expensive (e.g. DAS) or complex (telco-centric private 5G/LTE), making them unsuitable for most organizations.
Highway 9 Mobile Cloud is the first cloud-native, enterprise-grade private cellular solution for businesses. By taking advantage of a cloud-based structure and operational, it provides businesses with private cellular networks that are easy to deploy and use.
Importantly, the enterprise network—particularly wireless—has not fully evolved or kept up with modern use cases and projects. Although Wi-Fi has improved in speed, it still suffers from overcrowded spectrum and unpredictable performance. Private cellular options are sometimes prohibitively expensive (e.g. DAS) or complex (telco-centric private 5G/LTE), making them unsuitable for most organizations.
Highway 9 Mobile Cloud is the first cloud-native, enterprise-grade private cellular solution for businesses. By taking advantage of a cloud-based structure and operational, it provides businesses with private cellular networks that are easy to deploy and use.
To learn more about private cellular networks and deployment recommendations, read this research report:
Simplifying Enterprise Private Cellular with a Cloud-First Approach
Discover expert insights from ZK Research on transforming enterprise connectivity.
