WHITE PAPER

The Role of Overview

Private LTE in
Our world is now dominated by IoT devices — and by the data-
rich, highly actionable business insights they enable. Even the
largest and most remote locations need the flexibility of wireless

Revolutionizing
connectivity for both wide area networks (WAN) and local area
networks (LAN) so they can connect those devices. But existing
LAN technologies, including WiFi, aren’t sufficient to address this

Wireless LAN challenge:

—— The sheer size and scope of many deployments demands

long-range coverage, and the number of WiFi access
points needed to cover that range isn’t feasible.

—— Highly sensitive information calls for layers of security not

How Licensed, Unlicensed & currently available in WiFi.

Shared Spectrum are Slicing —— Stringent budgetary limitations, particularly in the public
sector, make it important to minimize infrastructure
Costs & Boosting What’s expenditures as much as possible.

Possible for Large-Area —— Applications like live streaming of HD footage require

low latency.
Network Deployments
—— The broad scope of what organizations connect puts a
premium on the ability to monitor, control, and automate
network traffic flow and Quality-of-Service (QoS).

Think about all of the Internet-connected staff, devices, vehicles,

and applications spread across warehouses, manufacturing plants,
mines, airports, ports, hospitals, and many other expansive areas.
And with the boundless potential of 5G expanding companies’
long-term ideas and vision, the complexity of these scenarios is
sure to grow.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 1
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

For these use cases in which sprawling areas must have a wireless LAN, Private LTE has arisen. It’s an option that’s increasingly
sought by organizations with locations that require wireless connectivity but are not well supported by WiFi and may not even be
ideal for public LTE usage.

Private LTE is beginning to play a unique role in the world of wireless LAN, providing benefits that range from reduced congestion
and enhanced traffic flow to better information security and dramatic cost savings.

How Private LTE Works

Most businesses and agencies today are at least somewhat familiar with the process of using cellular-based broadband for WAN —
whether for primary links, failover, or augmentation. But turning LTE into wireless LAN? For most organizations, that’s new territory.

Placing micro towers and small cells — similar to WiFi access points — on-site allows companies to mimic a standard public
cellular network. This creates a wireless LAN that is more reliable, high-performing, secure, and cost-effective than WiFi. It is
particularly cost-effective when most of an organization’s data can be kept on-site.

Private LTE architecture usually includes several pieces of hardware; on-premises servers, applications, and services; and public cloud
services. That said, Private LTE networks can be delivered various ways: by either a third-party network provider, a traditional cellular
operator, or the enterprise customer itself. The decision of which operator or infrastructure provider to use mostly hinges on the
spectrum of choice, and the level of private management the enterprise is willing to take on.

Private LTE

Shared Spectrum Licensed Spectrum Unlicensed Spectrum

In the U.S., CBRS is a lightly licensed Network operators can install their Both enterprises and operators can
spectrum within the 3.5 GHz band. The own equipment using the same operate Private LTE networks in
U.S. FCC will auction off this spectrum, spectrum they use in the macro unlicensed spectrum such as the 5
but the auction winner will only receive network. The operator would most GHZ band that is used for WiFi; well-
priority access, not exclusivity. In many likely deliver this private network as a known examples include MulteFire
cases, enterprises will operate their managed service with flat-rate pricing. and LTE-U. Operators can aggregate
own Private LTE networks by using unlicensed bands with their own
the CBRS spectrum. In the rest of the spectrum to expand their bandwidth
world, many countries are exploring for Private LTE scenarios.
similar spectrum sharing for industrial
IoT.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 2
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

Addressing the Challenges of WiFi in Performance & Reliability

Large Areas Even if an organization can afford to bear the cost of
widespread WiFi throughout a large area, limitations
In an office, store, or vehicle, WiFi enabled by access
regarding performance and reliability likely will derail
points and other network hardware is an excellent tool
success. WiFi isn’t sufficiently stable or robust — without
for connecting a multitude of devices. However, for
significant cost — to support the types of high-bandwidth
organizations that oversee operations across vast, sprawling
applications that are becoming more standard in most
areas and/or rapidly changing spaces, WiFi is challenging, if
business operations situations, especially across vast areas.
not untenable. Private LTE can help companies address the
Examples include wireless robotic devices and real-time
problems associated with using WiFi as wireless LAN.
video surveillance streaming.

Costs
One of the reasons for WiFi’s deficiency is that the client
— such as an IoT endpoint, computer, or phone — decides
Most big campuses and facilities now deploy hundreds of
when to roam from one AP to another (sometimes with
video surveillance cameras that overlook every nook and
the help of the AP), but with virtually no ability to improve
cranny where malicious activity Addor major accidents could
performance when it lags. With LTE, the cellular network
occur. Unfortunately, laying fiber in the ground and installing
and its infrastructure are in control of connections. Through
a huge quantity of WiFi access points is exceptionally
priority and preemption, the network equipment can provide
expensive. Outfitting just one large site could cost many
better Quality-of-Service (QoS) to designated SIMs and
millions of dollars for the fiber alone.
devices.

The infrastructure needed for Private LTE is far less expensive

than a widespread WiFi deployment, which requires
extensive wired line installation. Also, whereas dozens of
WiFi access points would be required in a sprawling area, a
LAN based on Private LTE would call for just a few specially
designed cellular access points.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 3
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

Security

WiFi security is limited to a username and password, which may be acceptable for logging in at a coffee shop but is concerning
within the framework of a large organization’s corporate network. When various types of sensitive data and IoT devices are at
stake, additional layers of security are necessary.

LTE deployments include SIM cards and edge networking devices, providing additional layers of security that aren’t possible with
WiFi. A PIN can also be required to unlock a SIM inside a router. This is a form of two-factor security for the edge device.

Network architecture with Private LTE usually includes on-site servers, enabling organizations to keep traffic between IoT devices
and corporate servers on the wireless LAN instead of the public Internet.

Altogether, these factors give Private LTE inherent security advantages over WiFi and help protect an organization’s most critical
information from malicious attacks.

When Public LTE isn’t the Best Available Option

LTE has proven itself to be an excellent WAN option in both backup and primary roles, depending on the use case. However, in
certain scenarios, public LTE doesn’t provide the cost-efficient, unwavering high performance needed to keep high-bandwidth
applications running smoothly 24x7.

For instance, many enterprises operate sites that gather and pass huge amounts of data, including a lot of information that is
pushed to the corporate data center. This traffic drives up latency and costs when carried via a public LTE network with pay-per-bit
pricing.

Also, sometimes these sites are located in remote areas where sufficient public LTE infrastructure isn’t readily available. However,
even when infrastructure is in place, if high-traffic neighborhoods or business parks are located nearby, network traffic fluctuations
at certain times of day could make high-bandwidth applications — such as robotics in a manufacturing plant — unreliable.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 4
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

Private LTE eliminates these potential obstacles of public When High-Risk Information is Common
LTE across broad areas, providing several key benefits:
In some scenarios, highly sensitive information that is
—— Infrastructure: Private LTE can be deployed rather very valuable to hackers is unavoidable. Organizations
easily in locations where public LTE isn’t available. such as hospitals can keep important information on-
site via Private LTE, enabling additional layers of security
—— Costs: Keeping high-bandwidth content on-site
unavailable through WiFi.
with Private LTE and local servers reduces costs in
situations when that content doesn’t need to leave
IoT Devices Requiring a Secure Separate
the area. Also, using CBRS eliminates the need
Network
for recurring fixed-rate cellular data costs. Even
in scenarios where MSPs are used for Private LTE,
When many IoT devices are compiling large quantities
flat-rate plans likely will drive down costs.
of data within a widespread area, Private LTE makes it
possible to set up a separate, secure network without the
—— Latency: The ability to avoid sending high-
separate SSID or infrastructure that would be necessary
bandwidth information off-site minimizes latency.
through WiFi.
—— Security: Whenever possible, most enterprises
prefer the extra level of security afforded by High-Bandwidth Traffic Within Budgetary
keeping data local instead of sending it elsewhere. Limitations

—— Congestion: Putting an organization’s network Organizations looking to connect many video surveillance
on a different frequency alleviates the need to cameras could use public LTE, but data usage likely would
compete for coverage against nearby users. be cost-prohibitive. Fixed-rate Private LTE is a much more
Additionally, priority and pre-emption can be cost-effective option.
activated for control over how traffic is prioritized
— a level of QoS that isn’t possible through public Remote Locations Lacking Wireless
cellular networks. Infrastructure

In the middle of nowhere — in places where carriers have

When & How Organizations Use not set up wireless infrastructure — organizations can
relatively easily set up a wireless LAN via Private LTE.
Private LTE
Given the ubiquity of IoT and connectivity-dependent
The benefits of Private LTE are piquing interest in virtually technologies, Private LTE is becoming very applicable
every industry where organizations have large areas filled in most industries. The ability to set up a wireless LAN
with lots of devices and applications that absolutely must that is much more high-performing, reliable, flexible,
be connected at all times — and where sensitive data cost-effective, and secure than a WiFi network meets the
must be gathered and then shared between devices and specific needs found in many use cases.
servers. When WiFi and even public LTE aren’t possible or
even ideal, Private LTE fills needs in several key specific
use cases:

In Vast Areas with Complex Networking Needs

In large spaces with complex network requirements and

hundreds of users and devices, Private LTE helps prevent
the congestion likely with WiFi and public LTE and is much
less expensive to provision and maintain.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 5
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

Emerging Uses for Private LTE

Manufacturing Facilities Warehouses Mines

What’s Connected What’s Connected What’s Connected
—— Wireless robotic devices —— Surveillance video cameras —— Surveillance video cameras

—— Human machine interfaces (HMIs) —— Automated machinery

—— Fork lifts & telemetry data
—— Environmental sensors/monitoring —— Voice communications above &
—— GPS &/or Bluetooth device tracking below ground
—— Proprietary apps
—— Supply-chain apps —— Human machine interfaces (HMIs)
Benefits of Private LTE
—— Predictive maintenance
Benefits of Private LTE
—— More layers of information security
—— Ability to ensure higher QoS for —— Mobile devices for field staff
—— Low latency supports high- mission-critical devices
bandwidth applications Benefits of Private LTE
—— Reduced costs through fixed-rate
—— Ability to ensure higher QoS for plans & locally stored & accessed —— LTE broadband in areas lacking wired
mission-critical devices information infrastructure & public LTE coverage

—— More layers of information security

—— Low latency supports high-

bandwidth applications

Airports Cities Hospitals

What’s Connected What’s Connected What’s Connected
—— Surveillance video cameras —— Surveillance video cameras —— Critical care health monitoring
integrated with facial recognition devices
—— Remote diagnostics & incident software & video analytics
reporting apps —— Data management applications
—— Smart lighting controller (electronic health records)
—— IoT for aircraft data & analytics
—— Digital signage
Benefits of Private LTE
—— Vehicles
Benefits of Private LTE —— HIPAA-compliant isolation of patient
—— Digital signage data
—— Higher performance enabling real-
Benefits of Private LTE time HD video streaming —— More consistency in network
performance supports critical-care
—— Less traffic congestion ensures —— Isolation of sensitive information on services
accuracy of real-time data a private network that is accessible
only to law enforcement teams
—— Reduced costs due to minimal
infrastructure footprint —— Long-range capabilities attainable
with much less infrastructure
—— More layers of information security

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 6
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

Getting Started with Private LTE

Interest in Private LTE is growing at a rapid rate, as organizations begin to envision its potential to evolve wireless LAN in most
industries. But getting started often is the hardest part. Here are some best-practice steps for getting started:

1. Gather information about your environment. To accurately determine whether Private LTE is a good fit for your organization,
you must first understand as much as possible about the location(s) in question and factors in play.

2. Clearly state the problems to solve. Is latency your project’s main inhibitor? How about security or infrastructure
expenditures? Knowing the main barriers to address is the best path toward a successful Private LTE deployment.

3. Investigate infrastructure providers. Cradlepoint can help you engage with a Private LTE infrastructure provider.
4. Select an LTE-enabled edge routing solution that supports CBRS. Cradlepoint provides several cloud-managed edge
routers that support CBRS.

Private LTE infrastructure, which

can be on the premises or in the
cloud, varies widely based on
factors such as the use case and
who is operating the network.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 7
WHITE PAPER PRIVATE LTE

Cradlepoint Solutions for Private LTE

To accommodate Private LTE, organizations must have edge solutions that support certain bands, including CBRS. All of
Cradlepoint’s Gigabit-Class LTE solutions are certified for CBRS and support licensed, unlicensed, and shared spectrum. These
solutions also are on the pathway to 5G, as Gigabit-Class LTE is a foundational component of this highly anticipated technology.

AER2200-1200M COR IBR1700-1200M COR IBR900-1200M CBA850-1200M

Advanced edge routing Ruggedized Gigabit-Class Compact, ruggedized Turnkey networking

& Gigabit-Class LTE for LTE router for the most Gigabit-Class LTE router adapter for Gigabit-Class
cloud-managed branch demanding mobile and dock for in-vehicle LTE connectivity
networking networking applications connectivity

About Cradlepoint
Cradlepoint is the global leader in cloud-delivered wireless edge solutions for branch, mobile, and IoT networks. The Cradlepoint
Elastic Edge™ vision — powered by NetCloud services — provides a blueprint for agile, pervasive, and software-driven wireless
WANs that leverage 4G and 5G services to connect people, places, and things everywhere with resiliency, security, and control.

More than 25,000 enterprise and government organizations around the world, including 75 percent of the world’s top retailers, 50
percent of the Fortune 100, and first responders in 10 of the largest U.S. cities, rely on Cradlepoint to keep critical branches, points
of commerce, field forces, vehicles, and IoT devices always connected and protected. Major service providers use Cradlepoint
wireless solutions as the foundation for innovative managed network services. Founded in 2006, Cradlepoint is a privately held
company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a development center in Silicon Valley and international offices in the UK and
Australia.

Explore Private LTE solutions at cradlepoint.com.

+1.855.813.3385 | cradlepoint.com 8