Verizon Pushes Private mmWave 5G Networks to Enterprises

Verizon today expanded its use of millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum and 5G to release a new on-premise private network offering to enterprises.  Verizon today expanded its use of millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum and 5G to release a new on-premise private network offering to enterprises.  On Site 5G from Verizon Business is a custom-designed, operator-managed offer for large businesses and public sector organizations that want deploy a private 5G network riding on high-band spectrum. It’s an evolution of Verizon’s On Site LTE. The architecture, which Verizon will install according to each organization’s needs, consists of 5G mmWave radios and small cells that connect to a 4G LTE packet core. The framework also allows enterprises to interconnect with LAN, SD-WAN, and other business applications. On Site 5G also provides businesses with an opportunity to configure the network for mobile edge compute capabilities, again on a customized basis, according to a Verizon spokesperson. These private networks are intended for large businesses and public agencies that need to support thousands of connected devices or high-capacity connectivity in industrial environments. Verizon highlighted its previous work with Corning, WeWork, and multiple branches of the U.S. military on private 5G networks, positioning On Site 5G as a formal expansion of that effort. And because Verizon will install 5G radios and small cells on site, indoors and outdoors, On Site 5G represents potential footprints beyond the reach of Verizon’s publicly available 5G network. A company spokesperson explained that On Site 5G relies on a 4G LTE packet core because businesses “need backward compatibility with LTE and forward scalability with 5G. 5G standalone is part of the roadmap, but it’s premature. The current device ecosystem is best served with both LTE and 5G, in this non-standalone configuration.” Verizon hasn’t yet deployed a 5G standalone core for its public 5G network. While On Site 5G targets enterprises that require a fully private and dedicated network, forthcoming 5G network slicing capabilities could be a better fit for other businesses, the Verizon spokesperson explained.  “A dedicated, private, on-site 5G network has its own value props. A lot of it has to do with use cases,” the spokesperson said. “Some customers will want to keep the core at the premises for control, security, and not want their data to leave their premises for certain uses.”  Those scenarios and factors will determine the needs of each respective organization, but On Site 5G is available now. 5G network slicing is still under development.