This section describes, in general terms, a practical approach for evaluating the different non-public network (NPN) deployment options that are available in the market for use at industrial enterprises.
Industrial 5G NPNs, also known as private networks, are provided and deployed in many ways in different parts of the world. Various possible solutions are typically available for implementing a given deployment. It can be challenging to evaluate the alternatives, since the marketing messages focus on specific attributes. Exclusively considering 3GPP-based technical aspects is also inadequate for gaining a thorough understanding of the meaningful differences. To help acquaint potential users with the currently available NPN options, 5G-ACIA recently published a white paper {link to new NPN White Paper here} that presents NPN deployments for some typical industrial operation scenarios and use cases.
The mentioned white paper shows that, even if an NPN will be deployed in a way that focuses on meeting the requirements of specific use cases, a range of options is available. These differ not in how well they perform an intended application, but rather in a set of partly interconnected aspects. For example, how an NPN is operated and managed, whether it requires external connections, how different communication domains are separated from one other, and the extent to which other parties such as public network operators are involved. These criteria are all important and should be considered. Ultimately, however, the choice depends on an industrial enterprise’s preferences.
A recommended practical approach for selecting an NPN is therefore to start by considering the requirements of the planned use cases. The next step is to choose a solution that meets them, independently of its 3GPP-defined type, while considering as many additional factors as possible.
For those who want a more in-depth look at potential NPN deployment options, an overview is given in the subtopic “Four NPN Deployment Options Derived from 3GPP Standards for Enterprises”.
