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Wi-Fi 6 and Private LTE/5G

Technology and Business
Models in Industrial IoT
Wireless trends and the different phases of technology adoption

With the recent availability of Wi-Fi

6 solutions, the launch of 5G pilot
projects tied to the ongoing 5G
Spectrum
worldwide spectrum allocation, and Industries
Standards
new shared license spectrum policies Use cases
Regulations
(i.e., Germany-BNetzA, Sweden
PTS, and U.S. CBRS), many decision
makers, systems integrators, and IoT Wireless
industry partners are wondering Technology
what the most appropriate wireless
strategy will be for the Industrial
Internet of Things (IIoT). Architecture Business
Products models
The answer? There is no one-size- Solutions TCO
fits-all solution. IIoT will require
multiple technologies to meet the
fluid demands of the varied industries
with complex infrastructures. Figure 1: Aspects of IIoT wireless technology adoption

This paper reviews the latest wireless trends and discusses the different phases
associated with technology adoption, including licensed, shared license, and unlicensed
spectrum; standards and regulations; architecture and equipment; and operational
requirements. It also describes business models that may be adopted when deciding to
integrate these new wireless trends.

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Network history The case for private cellular

Wi-Fi networks are everywhere, enabling connections within IIoT transportation
Networking history has
verticals (bus stations, railways, planes and cars), smart cities, health, utilities,
demonstrated that the network oil, and mining to consumer homes, small businesses, and global enterprises.
access layer consists of As illustrated in Figure 2, there are now more than 8 billion unique locations
multiple technologies while worldwide.
all data is exchanged over the
Internet Protocol (IP).

Figure 2: Wi-Fi statistics (source: https://wigle.net and https://wigle.net/stats#)

Mobile service providers deploy cellular infrastructures, mainly targeting mobile

phone users as well as IIoT machine-to-machine (M2M), remote, or mobile
Internet access from small businesses to global enterprises. Figure 3 shows a
visualization of one of these cellular databases.

Figure 3: Cellular infrastructure (source: https://opencellid.org)

However, vertical industries requiring IIoT solutions may not always get the
appropriate coverage from public cellular services. Therefore, deployment of
private cellular infrastructures is considered for use cases such as the following:

• Mining, ships, aircraft, oil fields, and other locations

with no public cellular service coverage
• Underground tunnels, factory floors, ports, warehouses with heavy
metallic environments, and other locations where signal propagation
may require too many Wi-Fi access points to deliver proper services
• Nuclear plants, defense locations, and other areas with strong
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government policies and regulations on wireless access
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Figure 4: IIoT wireless technologies trends in 2020

New multi- Spectrum drives access technology

gigabit wireless Whatever the technology or business model used, decision makers, systems
integrators, and business partners must address the availability of spectrum;
technologies standards and regulations; architecture and equipment; and automation and
security tools to ensure successful wireless services deployments. This will
In Industrial IoT, the be discussed in the following sections.
emergence of new multi- Regulatory environment and spectrum
gigabit wireless technologies
for access and backhaul— Spectrum is the critical resource for wireless infrastructures and is
ranging from low data rate categorized in three main buckets: unlicensed, licensed, and shared license.
(bps to kbps), i.e., LoRaWAN Strongly controlled and regulated around the world, the allocation of
or NB-IoT (narrowband IoT), to frequency bands attempts to keep aligned with market developments.
medium (kbps to Mbps), i.e., A country’s regulations are key elements of wireless operations. For example,
Wi-SUN, Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), local regulations for Wi-Fi apply to access points (APs), mandating that a
and 2G/3G to high, i.e., Wi-Fi product’s references to identify the country or the world region where it can
(802.11n/ac) and 4G/LTE— be deployed and the parameters of its radio coverage.
means that a new generation
of wireless standards is Local regulations for 5G and 4G may vary between mobile operators and fully
now emerging, enabling private deployment. Regulators are actively working to allocate and, in some
multigigabit data rate: IEEE cases, reallocate spectrum for the 5G transition across licensed, unlicensed,
802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6 and LTE and shared spectrum to support the anticipated demands. Regulators are
Cat.18 (gigabit LTE) and 5G. focused on balancing spectrum allocation to support the needs and growth
See Figure 4. in the expanding multiaccess environment. This balance includes spectrum
allocations between licensed, unlicensed, and shared as discussed in more
detail later in the paper.
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Spectrum categories
Spectrum is often referred to in the following three categories: low-band
(600 to 900 MHz), midband (1 to 6 GHz), and millimeter wave (mmW) (> 24
GHz). One evolution with the development of 5G technology is the opening
of mmW frequencies (above 24 GHz). Examples of current 5G frequency
allocations in some countries can be found in Figure 5 below.

Figure 5: 5G spectrum allocation sample as of today

Regulations and spectrum “harmonization” avoid issues related to the

interference in spectrum usage. Many users are very sensitive, and side-
band interference can create negative impacts to other services.

Spectrum types
Unlicensed spectrum
Unlicensed bands, such as 863 MHz, 915 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz, are
available internationally under the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM)
umbrella as defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
They are generally free of charge, regulated locally, and at the heart of many
industrial wireless networking protocols, such as Wi-Fi, Wi-SUN, Wireless
Hart, ISA100, and Bluetooth.

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Example for These frequencies are fundamental to the digital economy. With potentially
new allocation, i.e., 6 GHz in the United States, several attempts have been
U.S. FCC made to add unlicensed support to Long Term Evolution (LTE), such as
multeFire, and 5G services (3GPP release 16 5G New Radio (NR) unlicensed
In the U.S., CBRS is spectrum definitions). Wi-Fi 6 is ready for the new 6-GHz adoption, and work
a shared licensed is done in the 60-GHz band (IEEE 802.11ad).
spectrum access with
Licensed spectrum
three licensing options.
Mainly available for service providers offering 4G/LTE and soon 5G services,
In terms of CBRS licensed bands are allocated to operators at a negotiated cost (through
spectrum, two categories auctions) in each respective country. In addition, there is a potential for public
safety or industries to get some reserved licensed bands.
of base stations (CBSD)
are defined. There are significant differences from low-band to mmW related to coverage
and throughput capabilities. Low-band supports longer distances; however,
Category A is permitted it has lower data rates compared to mmW. As the spectrum map moves up
to a maximum Equivalent to mmW, there are much higher data rates, but the distances are very short
Isotropically Radiated Power and can require more than 100 times the number of antennas/NRs compared
(EIRP) of 30 dBm or 1 watt; to 4G/low-band spectrum deployments. FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr
if installed outdoors, the noted earlier this year that: “There are roughly 300,000 cell sites across the
antenna must not exceed 6 country today, but 5G is going to require a 10- to 100-fold increase in cell
meters or nearly 20 feet in sites.” This is known as the “5G densification” challenge for mmW build-
height. CBSD Category B outs. Figure 6 [from GSMA] provides a good visual representation of the
allows a maximum EIRP of 47 differences from low-band to mmW characteristics. It is important to note
dBm or 50 watts for outdoor that while mmW propagation is not as good, it has the potential for high-
antennas only, with a height spectrum reuse due to its short reach.
expected to be greater than 6
meters. CBRS client devices
are permitted to transmit at
maximum power 23 dBm or
200 mW. Category A CBRS
users, whether GAA or PAL,
are required to transmit their
FCC ID number, authorization
status, call sign, contact
information, manufacturer’s
serial number, air interface
or its affiliates.capability, and
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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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capability that they URL: www.
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
Category B CBRS users
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)
must support all of the
XX/XX
previous stated requirements
plus azimuth, beam-width, Figure 6: 4G/LTE and 5G coverage comparison
antenna gain, down-tilt angle,
and antenna height (above
ground).

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Antenna elements
5G R&D studies, such as
FP4-ICT-671650-mmMAGIC/
D1.1, assessed the suitability
of mm-wave spectrum on
key KPIs related to mobile
communications, i.e. coverage,
capacity, mobility and device
complexity.

Results validate the need for the

“5G densification,” estimating
the need to increase the
number of antennas, in order
to compensate the path loss,
roughly at the rate of square
of the frequency increment, as
shown in the table to the right.
Shared license spectrum
A number of countries currently provide shared license spectrum usage.
Many are studying the need and value for shared spectrum as well as
dedicated spectrum. The United States has Citizen Broadband Radio Service
(CBRS) —150 MHz of 3.5 GHz (band 48) — and Europe is looking at the 2.3 to
2.4 GHZ band for shared licensed spectrum [ETSI LSA]. Figure 7 provides a
global view of both shared and dedicated spectrum allocations to date.

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XX/XX

Figure 7: Dedicated/shared spectrum around the world

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Shared license Access to the shared license spectrum requires a management system, such
as the U.S. CBRS Spectrum Access System (SAS), to avoid interference
spectrum between incumbents and users sharing the spectrum. The U.S. CBRS model
has three levels of access as shown in Figure 8:
In the U.S., CBRS is a
• Incumbent Access (IA): Access that has absolute priority over
shared spectrum access
any other user(s), i.e., U.S. Navy or fixed satellite services.
with three licensing
• Priority Access License (PAL): A PAL will be granted to users, such
options:
as government agencies, utilities, or network operators, through
competitive bidding within the 3550 to 3650 MHz frequency. Licenses
Incumbent Access (IA)
(FCC rulemakings 12-354 and 17-258) are obtained for up to 10 years
for a well-defined geographical area and are renewable. PALs provide
Priority Access Licenses (PAL)
authorization to use a 10 MHz channel in a small geographical area. A
total of seven PALs may be assigned in any given county in the United
General Authorized Access
States;; a maximum of four PALs can go to a single applicant/user.
(GAA)
• General Authorized Access (GAA): This tier is referred to as the rule-
to-permit open flexible access to any portion of the 3350 to 3650 MHz
spectrum band not assigned to any higher tier applicants or users. GAA
also allows for operation in unused PAL channels. The goal of GAA is to
open up spectrum for a wide variety of potential users and use cases.

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XX/XX

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Standards While the shared license spectrum is an opportunity for private LTE or
5G deployments, the allocation process, cost, and duration must be well
development understood for the selected locations. In suitable use cases, CBRS or shared

organizations, licensed spectrum will complement Wi-Fi with wider coverage.

alliances, A subset of the shared spectrum is known as dedicated spectrum. Several

countries are providing a dedicated spectrum that is nonpublic/incumbent
and nonprofit spectrum that could be used for specific uses outside of the service provider

organizations model. Germany, Sweden, the U.K., and France are all active in creating
dedicated spectrum. Again, Figure 7 shows a summary of various countries’
activities. One of the key areas of focus is IIoT for the manufacturing vertical.
IEEE
Dedicated spectrum will require a country-specific license and a purpose-
built network that would be used to provide services run by an IT department
Wi-Fi Alliance
or a third-party contracted company.

3GPP
Standards
ITU
During the past 30 years, standardization has become one of the
fundamentals of the networking industry, enabling interoperability, easing
CBRS
regional and industrial certifications and compliances, and simplifying
architecture and design of solutions.

IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is the main
standards development organization (SDO) for LAN/MAN Layer 1 and Layer 2
specifications as well as for their manageability and enhanced functions sitting
between the ISO model Layer 2 and Layer 3. With more than 20 years of
development, the IEEE 802.11 working group has defined multiple generations
of wireless LAN standards (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac), referred to as Wi-Fi. The
latest generation—IEEE 802.11ax, also referred to as Wi-Fi 6 discussed in
Cisco Wi-Fi 6—was initially defined with the objectives of IEEE 802.11ax:

• Improving spectrum efficiency and area throughput

• Improving real-world performance in indoor and outdoor deployments
-- In the presence of interfering sources, dense heterogeneous networks,
and
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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
Standard status is that the 802.11ax Task Group called for an initial sponsor
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a ballot in July 2019, with planning for final approval by January 2020.
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

XX/XX The Wi-Fi Alliance leads the promotion, certification, and interoperability of
the technology. To increase the public recognition of the latest enhancements,
the Wi-Fi Alliance decided to brand each Wi-Fi generation, e.g., Wi-Fi 6 for
IEEE 802.11ax and Wi-Fi 5 for IEEE 802.11ac.

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3GPP 5G use Speed increases with each generation. With Wi-Fi 6, speeds reach over
1 Gbps while offering a symmetrical data rate of the bandwidth. And while
cases classification Wi-Fi clients are universal, individual countries have local regulations defined
for the AP characteristics that mandate compliance with specific transmit
Enhanced Mobile Broadband power and channels.
(eMBB)
One of the benefits of Wi-Fi 6, in addition to its enhanced performances
characteristics, is its backward compatibility with other Wi-Fi generations.
Massive IoT (mIoT)
Wi-Fi 6 APs can connect previous generations of devices, while Wi-Fi 6
client devices can connect to older generations of APs.
Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency
Communication (uRLLC) Also well known for the Ethernet standard suite (IEEE 802.3), one IEEE
Task Group of particular interest is the Time Sensitive Networking (TSN)
Task Group. It develops a set of specifications to provide deterministic
services over Layer 1 and Layer 2. While today it is implemented only on
Ethernet switches, i.e., the Cisco® Industrial Ethernet 4000 Series, to cover
manufacturing process or transportation use cases, there is a trend to
expand TSN to the new emerging wireless access technologies.

3GPP (4G/LTE and 5G)

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) leads the cellular
telecommunications network technologies’ architecture and specifications
(radio access, core transport network, and service capabilities) through
subsequent releases. Developed for mobile operators over multiple
generations (2G GSM/GPRS/Edge, 3G UMTS), the predominant technology
deployments around the world are known as 4G or LTE. 5G is the next
generation developed with the objectives of:

• Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)—Higher data

rate (+ Gbps), area capacity, and traffic/users
• Massive IoT (mIoT)—Large number of devices per square km
• Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (uRLLC)

Other alliances and organizations

Several alliances work on products’ certification and promotion of private
cellular use, including the CBRS Alliance and the MulteFire Alliance (LTE
over unlicensed). Speed increases were done for LTE, with the various LTE
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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
categories’ definitions introduced over 3GPP releases. It increases the data
. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www. rate of the asymmetric cellular radio up to gigabit speed, while new radio 5G
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a promises to reach multigigabit speed. As technology evolves, new devices
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)
with 5G radio won’t be able to connect to or with previous generations of LTE
XX/XX
services unless their radio also complies with 4G (backward compatibility),
as seen with previous GPRS and 3G/UMTS generations. In private 5G use
cases, it will call for both 4G and 5G support – radio and enhanced packet
core – if backward compatibility is a requirement. The new fifth generation,

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or 5G, is a multiyear project of 3GPP with multiple releases. Figure 9 below

provides an overview of the overall schedule for 3GPP and ITU as well as
commercial adoption.

Figure 9: 3GPP release overview

ITU
The ITU is focused on global harmonization between spectrum regulations
and standards. There is a deep collaboration related to 5G. 3GPP will present
its recommendations for 5G uses which ITU will include in the International
Mobile Telecommunications-2020 (IMT2020) procedures. ITU embodies
principles of public-private partnership, with its current membership of 193
countries and more than 800 private-sector entities and academic institutions.

Relative to 5G, the ITU coordinates the global usage scenarios of the radio
spectrum as shown below.

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XX/XX

Figure 10: Usage scenarios of IMT for 2020 and beyond

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IIoT Use Case and Requirements

Low latency
In Industrial IoT networking, latency and bandwidth requirements are largely
dependent on the use cases as shown in Figure 11.

Figure 11: Industrial IoT use cases latency and throughput

Today, low latency in control loop use cases is handled through wired
technology, i.e., Ethernet Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) standards [Cisco
TSN] or local computing. For example, an autonomous guided vehicle (AGV)
or autonomous mobile robot (AMR) must stop if it detects a human and is not
dependent on communication media to prevent accidents. Therefore local
computation generally handles the physical security tasks.

Existing Wi-Fi deployments, i.e., railways, subway controls, or entertainment

park attractions, have demonstrated latency as low as 5 msec for a 40-
Mbps stream of PLC traffic using IEEE 802.11ac solutions with product
optimizations. It is expected that Wi-Fi 6 with new features such as
Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) can achieve better
results.
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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. On 5G, 3GPP release 16 defines Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency
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Communications (URLLC) with requirements of <5 msec (1 msec stretch
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a goal)/1 Mbps stream. In private 5G industrial deployments, this is expected
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)
to lead industrial innovations in process control and automation. 3GPP
XX/XX
and 5G-ACIA are now evaluating how TSN could help on such wireless
technologies and use cases. Release 16 defines more specific features and
capabilities for URLLC. Also, it is expected that 3GPP release 17 will provide
detailed coverage of the use cases and further refinement of the standards
related to URLLC.

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Essential Architecture and equipment - what it means

architecture and to deploy
equipment Developing new wireless technologies is similar to building a house. You
need to have a master plan or blueprint before you can start building—
Client devices whether it’s a simple cottage or a mansion. Similarly, a business interested
or user elements (UE) in deploying wireless technologies must have a “blueprint” that addresses
standards, regulations, and spectrum to ensure a “solid foundation.” The next
Access point (AP) step (for our house and wireless deployment) is to build the structure—put
or base station (BS) up the walls and add the roof (architecture and equipment). And don’t forget
the final touches—automation and security—before moving in (deployment).
Centralized controller Continuing the analogy, we all know it’s easier to deal with one contractor as
a single point of contact—whether it’s building a house or installing wireless
Edge computing networks. Cisco is the one provider committed to delivering multiaccess
solutions, services, and support.
Automation and management
Both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G are Layer 1 and 2 technologies that must integrate the
overall data communications infrastructures. These are mostly based on
5G backward compatibility
IP as deployed by enterprises and service providers. In addition, backward
and deployment options
compatibility must be ensured to keep running all existing devices and
services. As it is rare to see the full deployment of new technologies
Security
overnight, automation, security tools, and solutions must be able to adapt
to these newer devices (Wi-Fi 6 and 5G), while preserving the older one’s
functions. Let’s review the components required for such deployment.

• Client devices or UE (user elements) – A device with Wi-Fi 6

interface (backward compatibility is part of Wi-Fi 6) or 5G interface(s)
(4G backward compatibility requiring 4G modem capabilities) and
associated software support. While mobile phones are generally
available with both technologies, in IIoT, machines, PLCs, tablets,
and PCs require extra support to add a cellular interface. On IoT
gateways, connecting machines’ new interfaces are required to connect
through either Wi-Fi 6 infrastructure or 5G infrastructure or both.
• Access point (AP) or base station (BS) – Infrastructure devices provide
the connectivity between clients and the overall network. Indoor or
outdoor Wi-Fi 6 APs can connect all generations of Wi-Fi clients at
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gNodeB – enable connectivity for 5G NR for one or more of the different
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property frequency bands (sub-GHz, 1 to 6 GHz or mmW). If 4G/LTE backward
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R) compatibility is required, the base stations must support both radio types.
XX/XX • Centralized controller – Managing ten or more APs or BSs in an
enterprise has driven the need for centralized management. The Cisco
wireless LAN controller portfolio is an example of the topology’s flexibility
and ease of operations, regardless of the Wi-Fi protocol version. On
cellular infrastructure, Evolved Packet Core (EPC) is at the center of
the communications. With the evolution of 5G packet core, functions

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Phases of can be virtualized, enabling user plane functions (UPF) in private 5G

to be distributed closer to the user’s applications, while control plane
deployment functions (CPF) stay a key central element. If private 4G and 5G must
be considered, EPC must be able to support both, as discussed later.
Spectrum, radio planning, design • Edge computing – A key component of IIoT network design, edge
computing was made available across the Cisco industrial IoT portfolio,
Network planning including IoT gateways, switches, and industrial wireless APs. Therefore,
it is an expected feature on Cisco Wi-Fi 6 APs and IoT gateways within
Security planning private LTE/5G deployment. 3GPP 5G architecture defines Multi-Access
Edge Computing (MEC) as one of the key pillars for low latency. Coupled
Installation with the policy control function that will locally route the traffic through
the User Plane Forwarding (UPF) function, it is expected to play an
Operations important role in private 5G deployment, as discussed in a later section.
• Automation and management – Scalable deployment and operations in
Troubleshooting
IIoT require software solutions that ease a deployment to lower the overall
TCO. The overall integration of either Wi-Fi 6 or private 4G/5G elements
in operations must consider how functions, such as SD-WAN, Zero Touch
Deployment (ZTD), device provisioning and authentication (i.e., SIM, SSID,
WPA keys) should evolve. The emergence of high data rate technologies
(Wi-Fi 6, 5G) cannot be treated differently, as industrial operations are
consolidated over IP. Integration of new clients’ devices and AP/BS must
be supported by tools, solutions, and proper processes and training to go
through the steps of operations:

Planning Installation Operations Troubleshooting

• 5G backward compatibility and deployment options – 5G is being deployed

in two models, standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA). Most global
deployments will be NSA, which allows for 5G NR to connect to the 4G
packet core. Over time, the 4G packet core will be upgraded to a 5G next-
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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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shows how 3GPP defined a set of four deployment strategies in release 15.
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

XX/XX

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Figure 12: Possible 5G evolution paths

Security – As discussed in the Cisco security blog, security is a multilayered

and multidimensional concept. Adoption of new access technologies must cope
with the threats specific to those and provide specifications, processes, best
practices, and tools that address the potential risks. Wi-Fi 6 emerging solutions
are tied to the WPA3 protocol, while 3GPP 5G security threats were discussed in
the following paper [The Evolution of Security in 5G – A “Slice” of Mobile Threats,
July 2019], focusing on the Americas regions.

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XX/XX

Figure 13: Architecture and equipment overview

Before discussing the different business models tied to the adoption of the
new wireless technologies, we should make clear that all component layers
represented in Figure 12 will have to be considered for the selection of a model,
enabling enhancements and optimizations of the Industrial IoT operations.
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Impacts of multiaccess
edge computing (MEC)
Cisco is a leader in edge computing, locating general-purpose compute,
storage, switching, control functions, and application support close to a user
or IoT endpoint. One of the key advantages of edge computing is the benefit
to application performance and QoE/efficiency, and therefore the economics
based on the use case. Clearly, edge computing improves network latency
due to transit to a data center or cloud. Reduced latency provides significant
improvements in performance and reliability as well as data control
(depending on the use case and deployment model).

There are also regulations that may drive the deployment and use of edge
computing. Edge computing in the 5G realm is referred to as multiaccess
edge computing (MEC). Today the mobile network has core data centers
at regional and local levels as well as public and private clouds in support
of SP services. As 5G is deployed to support many of the high-bandwidth
and low-latency services, there will be an investment in edge computing at
various levels: local, cell towers and on-premises. This will be necessary to
achieve the 1- to 5-msec latency needed for various verticals, including IIoT.
It may call for vast compute and storage capabilities to meet the stringent
application demands. These platforms will support hardware acceleration,
such as GPUs, processor arrays, and dedicated ASICs.

MEC is expected to evolve from fully owned SP or private-edge clouds

to network operators, webscale cloud operators, and third-party services
owners, including enterprises and related companies. A key technology driver
for MEC is network functions virtualization (NFV). NFV allows for flexibility
of network implementation, and cloud levels of flexibility and dynamics
related to network implementation. 5G has a significant architectural
evolution compared to previous versions of LTE: control and user plane
separation (CUPS). This allows for multiple levels of user-plane gateways
that correspond to multiple levels of edge cloud application placement
and distribution. In addition, there are enablement functions that support
application placement across distributed edge clouds. These features
allow application hosting and APIs for instantiation of network intelligence
to individual applications – providing the ability to transfer state to another
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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. application instance in another serving edge cloud or MEC environment.
. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a MEC use cases include autonomous vehicles, industrial automation,
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R) augmented reality/virtual reality, retail, connected homes, video processing,
XX/XX and predictive maintenance.

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Private 5G In summary, MEC is a key architecture building block related to IIoT use
cases, 5G, and the next generation packet core. MEC has a number of
benefits:
Potentially preceded by
private LTE/CBRS, private 5G • Reduced need to backhaul traffic
is more disruptive in terms
• Reduced latency and increased QoE, ability to achieve 5G
of Industrial IoT operations
goals of <5-msec service (1-msec stretch goal)
and expertise. Its business
models are largely dependent • Overall reduced cost of ownership (TCO) through
on countries and their disaggregation of access functions
respective regulations as well • Improved reliability
as operational use cases and • Innovation for new third-party providers to build and host edge clouds
constraints. Traffic flow and
applications have to evolve,
leveraging new capabilities Business models
such as MEC and UPF. This Since we’ve described the different implementations associated with the
calls for additional expertise emergence of private 5G and Wi-Fi 6, let’s now explore the impacts of
among the operations and business models, as TCO is key to Industrial IoT operations.
development teams. (Note: If
the deployment of a private If we consider Wi-Fi 6 adoption, the business models are well-known,
5G mmW infrastructure in and no important change is expected in the way the technology can be
manufacturing automation or consumed in an Industrial IoT environment. The technology is an evolution of
other indoor use cases should previous Wi-Fi generations, adding more capabilities and higher throughput,
be compared with Wi-Fi 6, while infrastructures and services can smoothly evolve as solutions become
the number of antennas may available.
become a capital expenditure
Three different business models are reviewed below in the context of
data point to evaluate.)
multiaccess technologies. The adoption of one business model over another
will largely be dependent on considerations such as:

• TCO—Capital expenditure (CapEx) vs. operating expenditure

(OpEx), cost of equipment/solution in an operational context
• Local expertise—Education, training, and profile required
for operating the wireless infrastructure
• Security—Ensuring data privacy and cybersecurity
that are crucial to Industrial IoT
-- Note that data sovereignty may also be a requirement
or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco and the Cisco logo
egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. -- SLA/KPI/operations excellence—Guaranteeing that industrial product line
. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property gets the right SLA
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

XX/XX

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CapEx model Overall wireless access technology

considerations: managed by the enterprise
The enterprise fully This is a CapEx business model, with associated OpEx, in which the
enterprise fully owns and manages the networking infrastructure, tools, and
owns and manages operations. It is a business model that fits the needs in vertical use cases,
the network such as mining, oil fields, ports, and ships. It requires a spectrum to be
available, and potentially paid for, in the appropriate locations.
Private 4G/5G • Private 4G/5G infrastructure fully managed by the enterprise. CapEx
should include the cost of securing the licensed spectrum, the 5G
Wi-Fi 6 radios and antennas, the controllers associated with CPF, UPF, MEC,
and the potential cost related to endpoint upgrades to support the
5G UPF and MEC private spectrum. OpEx includes the education and operations of
IT/OT and engineers operating the private 5G infrastructure.
Roaming interactions
• Wi-Fi 6 is locally or cloud-managed (i.e., Cisco Meraki), including the
Management and solution to manage multiaccess technologies as a single infrastructure.
automation solutions • 5G UPF, CPF, and MEC are deployed in the enterprise. These
controller functions may be tailored to enterprise usage.
SLAs and KPIs • Roaming interactions between private and public cellular services
should be properly negotiated in light of CapEx/OpEx considerations.
Data privacy and
• SLAs and KPIs must be locally defined and managed, either
cybersecurity policies
internally to the enterprise or with systems integrators and
partners, to guarantee no interruption of the production chain.
• Data privacy and cybersecurity policies, processes, and KPI have to be
reviewed in the context of the operations but should be an evolution of
current rules.

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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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Figure 14: Managed by the enterprise

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OpEx and CapEx Wireless access technology management

mix model split between enterprise and service provider,
considerations with some services managed by SP
This model is a mix of OpEx and CapEx where centralized management
Private 4G/5G for private 4G/5G is performed by a service operator. It is expected to be
the default model in countries where private spectrum is not available for
Wi-Fi 6 enterprises.

5G UPF and MEC • Private 4G/5G infrastructure is fully managed by service providers,
mostly OpEx, while the cost of local 5G radios and antennas
Management and may still be CapEx, depending on the SP business model.
automation solutions • Wi-Fi 6 is locally or cloud-managed (i.e., Cisco Meraki, Kinetic
GMM) by the enterprise, representing CapEx and OpEx.
Roaming interactions
• 5G UPF and MEC are deployed in the enterprise by the service
provider. The enterprise must consider the cost of an application’s
SLAs and KPIs
adaptations to MEC, if latency control is required.
Data privacy and • OpEx and CapEx associated with management and automation
cybersecurity policies solutions allow the IT/OT managers to locally control some elements
of the deployment. This is particularly important if multiaccess
technologies should be managed as a single infrastructure.
• Roaming interactions between private and public cellular
services are part of the managed SP services as OpEx.
• SLAs and KPIs must be defined to guarantee no interruption of the
production chain. For the SP 4G/5G service, this must be negotiated and
monitored to ensure that the appropriate QoS and reliability are delivered.
• Data privacy and cybersecurity policies, processes, and KPIs
have to be reviewed in the context of the operations.

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egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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Figure 15: Private 4G/5G SP managed

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OpEx model Wireless access technology management by

considerations a service provider for the enterprise
This model is based mostly on OpEx, where the overall data communication’s
Private 4G/5G wireless infrastructure is outsourced and managed by a service provider.

Wi-Fi 6 • Wi-Fi 6 and/or private 4G/5G infrastructure is fully managed

by service providers, mostly seen as OpEx; but the
5G UPF and MEC connected devices and machines are still CapEx.
• 5G UPF and MEC are deployed in the enterprise by the service
Roaming interactions provider. The enterprise must consider the cost of an application’s
adaptations to MEC, if latency control is required
Management and
• Roaming interactions between private and public cellular services
automation solutions
must be part of the managed SP services as OpEx.
SLAs and KPIs • OpEx and CapEx associated with management and automation
solutions allow the IT/OT managers to locally control some elements
Data privacy and of the deployment. It may include options to switch ownership of
cybersecurity policies operations to IT/OT over a period of time. It also includes the solution
to manage the multiaccess technologies as a single infrastructure.
• SLAs and KPIs must be defined to guarantee no
interruption of the production chain.
• Data privacy and cybersecurity policies, processes and KPIs
have to be reviewed in the context of the operations.

or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco and the Cisco logo
egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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Figure 16: Wireless infrastructure managed by SP

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Blueprint for IIoT wireless success

Industrial IoT operations expect faster, more secure, and easier-to-deploy
access technologies. The demand is clear, and businesses that are unable
to keep up with the latest wireless technologies will be left behind their
competitors. This is especially true for enterprises with increasingly complex
infrastructures.

As wireless technologies evolve to provide enhanced throughput, better

latency, and scalability, Industrial IoT decision-makers have to learn how best
to leverage and deploy the technologies in their infrastructures.

In this paper, we provided information on the latest wireless technologies—

Wi-Fi 6, and private 4G and 5G—to help businesses navigate the different
phases associated with technology adoption. These phases included
licensed, shared license, and unlicensed spectrum; standards and
regulations; architecture and equipment; and operational requirements. The
paper also described business models that may be adopted when deciding
to integrate these new wireless trends.

or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco and the Cisco logo
egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
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Figure 17: High data rate wireless technologies and use cases
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Summary It’s important to note that there is no one solution or strategy for IIoT. Real-
world IIoT deployments are expected to have multiple solutions within
enterprises that support the various use cases, KPIs, SLAs and reliability as
Cisco is dedicated to
well as economic needs and future evolutions.
delivering best-in-class
access technologies in This paper didn’t try to fully detail the Wi-Fi 6 and private 4G/5G
Industrial IoT — for Wi-Fi 6 technologies but has provided enough information to Industrial IoT decision-
and 5G solutions. makers when evaluating the impacts of new wireless technologies in their
businesses. It considers that a choice of technologies should stay focused on
supporting the business and operations, while also considering the total cost
of ownership.

Cisco is dedicated to delivering best-in-class multiaccess technologies

in Industrial IoT solutions, including Wi-Fi 6 and 5G solutions. By
working closely with customers and partners, Cisco can deliver the most
appropriate platform support using the Cisco Validated Design guide for
various deployment options—ranging from fully private to an SP-managed
environment.

Ready to take your enterprise to the next level in wireless solutions? Contact
your local Cisco representative.

or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco and the Cisco logo
egistered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S.
. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.
marks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property
owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a
ship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R)

XX/XX

© 2019 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco and the Cisco logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Cisco and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. To view a list of Cisco trademarks, go to this URL: www.cisco.com/go/
trademarks. Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not
imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (1110R) Cisco-IoT-5G-WP_V1-20191016