Private 5G Networks

Why it matters

Most organisations use Wi-Fi when they need wireless connectivity. It’s standard, familiar and inexpensive. But Wi-Fi has limitations in certain environments. In large warehouses, Wi-Fi coverage requires many access points. In manufacturing environments with metal and heavy machinery, RF interference degrades performance. For applications that need guaranteed quality of service (automated vehicles, real-time process control, autonomous systems) Wi-Fi’s best-effort approach isn’t reliable enough. In environments with dense populations of IoT devices, Wi-Fi’s capacity limitations become apparent.

Private 5G addresses these limitations. Built on the same technology as public mobile networks, private 5G is more reliable, more secure and more capable in demanding environments. It provides consistent coverage across large areas with less infrastructure. It’s built for mobility; devices can hand off between cells without interruption. It supports quality of service guarantees so critical traffic gets priority. It can support hundreds of thousands of simultaneously connected devices. The trade-off is spectrum licensing. You can’t simply deploy private 5G anywhere. You need licensed spectrum in your country (or region), and you need to apply for a licence. In most countries, spectrum is available for private 5G. The regulatory process is usually straightforward. Once you have spectrum, your private 5G network is yours. You don’t depend on a public carrier. You control access, security and performance.

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Private 5G networks can support 100 times the device density of Wi-Fi in the same coverage area, enabling deployments of thousands of autonomous devices in a single facility.

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Private 5G handover latency is typically below 100 milliseconds, enabling continuous mobility for autonomous systems and mobile robots without dropped connections.

Key features

Spectrum licensing and regulatory compliance

Private 5G requires licensed spectrum. We help you understand what spectrum is available in your country and region. We guide you through the regulatory process to obtain a licence. In many cases this is straightforward. In some regions there are waiting lists or auctions. We know the market and can help you work through it efficiently.

RF planning and network design

Once you have spectrum, we design the private 5G network to cover your sites and handle your expected device density. We survey your facility to understand RF propagation – how signals behave in your environment given the walls, equipment and materials. We design the cell layout and placement to provide the coverage and capacity you need.

Deployment and commissioning

We handle the installation of base stations, backhaul connectivity and core network. We test coverage and performance to ensure you get what was designed. We integrate with your existing systems, your enterprise management tools, your application systems, your security infrastructure. We commission the network and verify performance against your requirements.

Operations and optimisation

Once live, we provide ongoing support. We monitor the network continuously. We manage devices that connect, provisioning them onto the network, configuring their access policies, updating firmware. We optimise performance based on real-world usage patterns. As your requirements change, we adjust the network.

How it works

Step 1

Use case assessment and feasibility

We start by understanding your specific need. What are you trying to accomplish? How many devices do you expect to connect? What’s the geographic area? What are your reliability and latency requirements? We assess if private 5G is the right solution, or if Wi-Fi, other wireless technologies or wired connectivity would better serve your needs. Private 5G isn’t always the answer. We’re honest about that.

Step 2

Spectrum assessment and regulatory planning

If private 5G is appropriate, we assess spectrum availability in your region. What frequencies can you use? What’s the application process? How long does licensing typically take? We build a timeline and explain the requirements. We prepare you for the regulatory process so you know what to expect.

Step 3

RF planning and design

Based on your facility and requirements, we conduct RF planning. We survey your site to understand how radio signals propagate in your environment. We design the cell layout, antenna placement and backhaul connectivity. We produce detailed designs and specifications so you know exactly what the deployment will look like.

Step 4

Licensing and deployment

We coordinate the spectrum licensing process. Once your licence is approved, we order equipment and begin installation. We deploy base stations, backhaul connectivity and the core network. We test everything to verify coverage, capacity and performance. We train your teams on network operation and device management.

Step 5

Ongoing network management

Once live, we provide day-to-day operations. We monitor the network. We provision devices and manage access policies. We handle software updates and optimisation. We coordinate with Ericsson for technical issues. Your team can focus on using the network. We handle keeping it running.

Partners

We partner exclusively with Ericsson, a market leader in private 5G technology, enabling us to deliver specialist expertise in spectrum licensing, RF planning and deployment.

Ericsson is a market leader in private 5G technology. Their platforms and solutions are deployed globally in manufacturing, logistics, utilities and public sector environments. SCC’s partnership with Ericsson enables us to design, deploy and manage Ericsson-based private 5G networks. Ericsson’s approach has been developed over years of real-world deployments and brings practical solutions to demanding environments.

Awards and accreditations

Our partnership with Ericsson and specialist expertise in private 5G spectrum licensing and deployment enable us to deliver private 5G solutions aligned to your operational requirements.

Recognition of our expertise in Ericsson private 5G technology, including spectrum licensing, RF planning, deployment and ongoing operations.

Private 5G isn’t appropriate for every organisation

But for specific use cases – large warehouses, dense IoT environments, mission-critical automated systems – it’s the right answer. If you’re struggling with Wi-Fi performance in demanding environments, or if you need to support very high device density, it’s worth exploring if private 5G could work for you. Start with an honest assessment of how your current wireless approach may be limiting what you can do. From there, we can help you understand if private 5G is the right path forward.

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FAQs

How is EP5G different from Wi-Fi?

Several fundamental differences. Wi-Fi provides best-effort service. It works well most of the time but offers no guarantees. Private 5G guarantees performance through network slicing and prioritisation. Wi-Fi coverage requires many access points in large areas. Private 5G covers larger areas with fewer cells. Wi-Fi handover between access points can cause brief disconnections. Private 5G handover is smooth. Wi-Fi operates in unlicensed spectrum, so you share with other networks. Private 5G uses licensed spectrum, so interference is controlled. And Wi-Fi is designed to support some devices well. Private 5G is designed to support hundreds of thousands of simultaneous devices. The most appropriate choice depends on your requirements.

What industries benefit most from EP5G?

Manufacturing benefits when processes are fully automated and devices need guaranteed, reliable connectivity. Warehousing benefits from the density of devices: autonomous pickers, vehicles, tracking tags. Logistics and ports benefit from large facility coverage with high device density. Utilities benefit from coverage across wide areas for meter and sensor networks. Airports benefit from managing equipment and services across sprawling campuses. Universities and large hospitals benefit from supporting dense device populations in large buildings. Basically, if you have a large area, lots of devices and reliability requirements, private 5G can help.

Do we really need a spectrum licence?

In most countries, yes. Private 5G uses licensed spectrum so your network operates without interference. Some countries have unlicensed spectrum available for private 5G, but licensed is more common. The licensing process is usually straightforward. It’s typically a simple application, not an auction or complex regulatory process. Some regions have made spectrum access easier for enterprise private 5G specifically because it drives industrial innovation.

Can we start small and expand later?

Yes. You can deploy private 5G for a specific area (a warehouse, a manufacturing line, a section of campus) and expand as use cases prove themselves. The core network can grow as you add cells. Your spectrum licence is typically for a defined area, but you can expand within that area as needed.

What happens if we want to end the private 5G service?

Your licence ends, and the equipment is decommissioned. Most organisations that deploy private 5G keep it because the value proposition is strong, but there’s no long-term lock-in. You’re not dependent on a carrier relationship. You’re running your own network.