Why Enterprises Look at Private LTE Instead of Wi-Fi

When does a Private LTE Network make sense?

Wi-Fi devices dominate indoor internet connectivity. From coffee shops to healthcare facilities, all use Wi-Fi for public internet access; it provides excellent connectivity for your home but lacks many properties that today's enterprise requires. 

In contrast, private LTE networks are relatively new. There's still a general misunderstanding of what a private LTE network is and what the benefits of private LTE are. This blog compares private LTE and Wi-Fi and establishes when you want to consider a private LTE network for enterprise deployments. 

The Architectural Differences Between Private LTE and Wi-Fi 

Architecturally, a private LTE network resembles a commercial Wi-Fi network. You have a backhaul that connects your access points (APs) (when discussing LTE, these are called base stations) to the internet. Those base stations transmit LTE signal to a designated area, allowing end-user devices to access the internet. 

The architecture of private LTE networks differs from Wi-Fi in the following ways. First, a private LTE network needs to have an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). The Core consists of various components, such as the Mobility Management Entity (MME), the Serving Gateway (SGW), and the Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway, which work together to provide network management and services. To simplify private LTE networks, Baicells moved the EPC to the Cloud. This cloud-based EPC, or CloudCore, allows operators to quickly build a private LTE network without spending extra money on a core.

Second, private LTE networks must access specific radio spectrum channels to operate. In the United States, operators can deploy a private LTE network on the CBRS spectrum, which is easily accessible. Comparatively, Wi-Fi uses unlicensed spectrum, which makes setting up a Wi-Fi network easier; however, this makes Wi-Fi susceptible to interference and security breaches. 

Third, end-user devices must use SIM cards or e-SIMs to access a private LTE network. SIMs give network operators greater network control and ensure that only approved devices can access the network. This level of control improves security and management but requires that operators carefully plan which devices can access the network. Private LTE networks can still provide public internet access by installing a CPE like the Atom ID15, which converts the LTE signal into an accessible Wi-Fi signal. 

What are the benefits of private LTE? 

As mentioned, Wi-Fi is an excellent choice for general internet access. It's easy to set up, and anyone can connect to the network, but Wi-Fi has limitations. Private LTE networks are more specialized, allowing enterprises greater network control to support critical infrastructure and personnel. 

Private LTE networks offer five distinct benefits over Wi-Fi:

·   Coverage

·   Capacity

·   Security

·   Quality of Service (QoS)

·   Reliability

Coverage: LTE networks can cover much larger areas than Wi-Fi networks and support mobility applications like sensors attached to trucks. A single LTE base station can roughly cover 4x more ground when compared to a single Wi-Fi AP, making LTE ideal for campuses, warehouses, large retail venues, and outdoor locations like mining facilities. This improved range and mobility support make LTE a better choice for various applications, such as fleet management, public safety communications, security camera networks, and mobile robotics. 

Capacity: LTE supports many devices and users simultaneously without sacrificing performance. LTE typically can support twice the capacity of a Wi-Fi network. This improved capacity is vital for applications that require high-bandwidth data transfer, such as video surveillance or remote monitoring of critical infrastructure and sensors. 

Security: LTE networks use advanced encryption and authentication mechanisms in the form of SIMs to ensure the security of data transmitted over the network. This level of protection is essential for applications that involve sensitive or confidential data, such as financial transactions or healthcare records. Enterprise networks can minimize their risk of cybersecurity breaches by integrating a private LTE network. 

Quality of Service (QoS): LTE networks provide more advanced QoS capabilities than Wi-Fi networks, allowing network operators to prioritize traffic and ensure critical applications receive the necessary bandwidth and latency. School districts use the QoS of private LTE to monitor students' online activities and limit network access. Real-time communication or industrial automation applications require this degree of management, where minor delays or dropped packets can have serious consequences. 

Reliability: LTE networks are highly reliable, with redundant network infrastructure and automatic failover capabilities. Baicells takes this one step further with our HaloB technology, which directly integrates the MME portion of the Core directly onto the base station. Should the base station lose connectivity to the internet, it can still pass traffic to enable connectivity. This level of reliability is essential for applications that require constant connectivity, such as remote monitoring or emergency response. 

Overall, private LTE networks offer several advantages over Wi-Fi networks, particularly for applications requiring mobility, high-bandwidth data transfer, security, QoS, and reliability. However, Wi-Fi networks can still be a good choice for applications that require general-purpose wireless connectivity in smaller areas.