Strengths and capabilities of different private network stakeholders
The different private network requirements and vertical dynamics, along with the need for flexible private network deployment options and scenarios, will drive various opportunities and business cases for new operators and owners to emerge across these industries. Traditional and new telcos have varying strengths and limitations across spectrum holdings/access, asset ownership, and telecoms and vertical expertise.
In addition to leveraging spectrum and public network infrastructure to support different deployment scenarios, MNOs’ major advantage over other players is that they know how to build and manage a cellular network, which grants them a leading role in many private network projects even if the deployment uses local spectrum and is isolated from the public network. Traditional telcos can also leverage private networks to access new regional markets where they do not own spectrum but want to support their international enterprise clients. An example is Verizon which is looking for private network opportunities in Europe.
In contrast, vertical players usually lack telecoms expertise, but their knowledge about specific industry applications, IT networking and stakeholders’ requirements is often a crucial factor in successfully designing and building a private network. Some players in industries such as railway and utility services often already have experience using wireless networks and technologies, and have highly specialised and mission-critical needs, and will therefore be less inclined to engage with telcos when developing their private networks.
Our report Private networks: Lessons so far and what next explores the recent developments in the private network market, regulatory activities and policies on local and shared spectrum, and the different deployment approaches and business cases for traditional telcos and the expanding range of other stakeholders.