Let's quickly review how today's private LTE architectures can evolve to prioritize enterprise friendly deployment models and get ready for enterprise 5G - with the arrival of CBRS spectrum in the United States.
In today’s definition, the primary device of choice in a private LTE enterprise network is assumed to be enabled via operator licensed cellular wireless - as an extension of the macro network. Extending the existing approaches to private LTE architectures to app level service requirements and device/user specific authentication policies in the enterprise has not been possible. The option of being able to use the existing IT infrastructures as the underlay for cellular wireless have not been truly prioritized either in the way today's network designs have been drafted.
Today, they are built custom for each enterprise, as a separate overlay. Then to stitch things together, disparate products from different vendors for radio access, packet core, management are deployed. Unfortunately such products do not always utilize the go-to-market channels that are friendly to IT organizations: there are not many channel partners certified, eagerly waiting for the best architecture in town.
Enter CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) Spectrum.
It allows the conversation about cellular wireless in the enterprise to actually start with IT networking and application requirements in mind. It creates an opportunity to deliver an easy to scale solution - where devices and apps that are primarily used "at work" would be top of mind. This would integrate with existing device and network-level access policies and provide enterprise IT full ownership of network data and relevant business insights.
Such an architecture would be tightly integrated to the existing enterprise network underlay on day one, deployed as fast as you would deploy an enterprise Wi-Fi solution today - with the primary goal of serving apps that demand guaranteed service levels. With a flexible IT-friendly approach, it can enable custom implementations across islands within the enterprise: on the road, across remote sites, at the branch locations and within the campus - indoors and outdoors.
Once the deployment and integration of the solution are simplified, with operator participation, enterprise 5G can enable expansion and roaming to the mobile macro network. Enterprise-only and operator-enabled services can in fact be deployed in close alignment.
In summary, it is essential that if enterprises are thinking about making the CBRS spectrum part of their enterprise connectivity tech stack, they need to take a closer look at today's private LTE architectures and get ready for enterprise 5G.
If these are the principles of an enterprise 5G network, what makes Celona different from other approaches in the industry? Here is a three-point summary.
Celona’s architecture is designed to scale across remote, branch and campus.
Datapath performance in the Evolved Packet Core (EPC) elastically scale as cloud software, eliminating the need to manage capacity one server at a time. It can be deployed on-premise, in the private data center or in the cloud. Indoor radios self-organize and adapt to device density and app service level requirements. Outdoor radios in addition offer high power option to support larger coverage areas.
Celona solution is designed to integrate with existing enterprise IT network services.
Device groups and app flows on cellular wireless integrate seamlessly with existing VLAN / VxLANs, ACLs / roles, access control / identity management systems. Instead of setting up separate network segments, separate fiber links and separate switching infrastructure, Celona translates the existing network resources within the enterprise to cellular wireless.
Celona technology translates the cellular QoS and network slicing principles to enterprise networks.
Individual apps on a specific device or device groups can be assigned a guaranteed service level (SLA) as it traverses the cellular wireless - enabling low latency operation at the highest levels of reliability. Instead of treating all traffic types the same over the air with a single network slice in cellular wireless, it protects the integrity of individual business critical apps and devices.
To continue the discussion and evaluate the capabilities of the Celona solution architecture in your own environment, tune in to our webinar series.
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