Every year the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s annual ConnectX conference spotlights the best and the brightest minds in the U.S. cell tower industry. This year our own Dyanne Williamson was onsite at the May 12th-14th event in Chicago to take advantage of the insightful presentations and speaker sessions.
One such session addressed the fact that many enterprises have realized mobile network operators are not going to build a Distributed Antennae System (DAS) for them. But they are nonetheless determined to provide 5G service for their employees and customers. For many, working with private network specialists to deploy multi-operator network infrastructure is the solution.
Pros and Cons
What are the benefits and drawbacks for carriers interested in connecting to these systems? What are the opportunities and challenges for enterprise customers?
First, let’s take look at two kinds of multi-operator network solutions. There are:
1) Multi-Operator Radio Access Network (MORAN)
2) Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN)
Both approaches allow multiple operators to share equipment, but they differ in how they manage spectrum and network control.
The beauty of these solutions is that carriers can connect to them without making big financial investments. Plus, an enterprise can deploy its own applications on the network. Mobile subscribers transition seamlessly to these private networks when they enter the area, but only if their carrier has made the decision to connect.
Upward Trend
Eric McClanahan, Sr. Director Private 5G Networks at Verizon, noted that the company is seeing lot of interest and activity in private networks. Enterprises are making these investments in infrastructure in order to run their businesses, continue the journey of digital transformation, and achieve success. He noted that Verizon is seeing DAS adoption decline and more movement toward MORAN.
“Enterprises find this solution affordable and intriguing,” said Slavko Djukic, V.P. Product Line Management and Technology at SOLiD. However, he noted enterprises will find MORAN and MOCN harder to deploy. In many cases, DAS remains the best solution.
A Convergence of Solutions
Another panel member, Allwyn Sequeire, CEO at Highway 9 Networks, called this approach “a dramatic shift for enterprises.” With the advent of artificial intelligence and increasing demand on networks, enterprises may find their in-building coverage and Wi-Fi solutions fall short.
Sequeire noted that while DAS is complicated and expensive, it still provides visibility and control. He believes “the demise of DAS is largely over-rated.”
In order for enterprises to be truly ready for the AI world, they need three components in their network — in-building coverage, DAS, and a private network. Convergence on all three is necessary, Sequeire said. Those willing to make the investment will be successful.
Spending Upswing
Beginning at the end of 2022, large U.S. wireless network operators, including Verizon and AT&T, dramatically slowed their 5G network buildouts. The sector’s slow spending extended into last year’s Wireless Infrastructure Association ConnectX conference. At this year’s event, however, renewed growth was a common theme, prompting one speaker to note, “Our industry does go up and down … but I think we’re on a significant uptick.”
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