CBRS OnGo and the Private LTE Ecosystem
Physically separated from macro networks, private LTE networks are used for specific IoT applications and services. These networks enhance connectivity for use cases such as healthcare centers, industrial sites and offshore rigs. Either a mobile network operator or a private company can operate a private LTE network. Private LTE networks can operate in licensed spectrum as well as in shared spectrum.
Shared spectrum is a new kind of spectrum that is now available in North America as CBRS band 48 (3.55 GHz) and is becoming available in other parts of the world, such as Europe, Japan and other countries. Mobile network operators (MNOs) are interested because they can use this newly available shared spectrum to increase capacity and add more carrier aggregation (CA) channels. Other private companies are interested in offering a private LTE network running on this new spectrum.
The Citizens Band Radio Service (CBRS) OnGo Network
So far, in the U.S., private LTE networks operate between 3.5 GHz and 3.7 GHz, a spectrum the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has created as the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS), commercially known as the OnGo service. Currently, the U.S. Navy utilizes the CBRS spectrum for coastal and offshore communication, but they only use about 1% of the available spectrum, leaving ample opportunity for private use. The spectrum is divided into 15 channels, with seven licensed and eight unlicensed.
The CBRS Alliance manages the OnGo service and certification using a three-tier concept in order of priority level:
- Incumbents (U.S. Navy, fixed satellite)
- Priority Access Licenses (PAL)
- General Authorized Access (GAA)
Incumbents have prioritized access to the spectrum at all times. PAL and GAA users can request access to a channel via the Spectrum Access System (SAS), which manages priority between network users and an OnGo base station database. It uses environmental sensing capability (ESC) to detect when the U.S. Navy radar is active, notifying lower priority users to turn off or switch to another frequency. The SAS also manages priority between PAL and GAA users when the U.S. Navy is not actively using the system. PAL users pay for a license and get priority over GAA users. GAA is cost-effective, and many industries are interested because of its affordability.
The CBRS Private LTE Ecosystem
While CBRS is relatively new, its ecosystem is already quite large, with many companies making private LTE a reality. Currently, there are five companies licensed to operate the CBRS’s SAS networks: Commscope, Federated Wireless, Google, Sony and Amdocs. These companies have installed their equipment along the coastal U.S. and operate with SAS servers to manage the devices.
Companies such as Expeto and Celona are working on an end-to-end networking stack for private LTE, while infrastructure providers like Ericsson, Nokia and Ruckus are scaling down public LTE equipment for use in Band 48 and smaller deployments. System integrators like American Tower provide an end-to-end system to private LTE network end-users.
End-user device providers, such as Apple, Samsung and Google, are including Band 48 support in their product and multiple SIM profiles, allowing the device to roam between private and public LTE networks. Gateways and routers are utilizing embedded LTE modules from Telit or other providers to complete the ecosystem.
As the CBRS ecosystem continues to grow in the U.S., it could become a model for spectrum sharing practices in other parts of the world. Private LTE is an affordable, efficient augment or alternative to Wi-Fi for many enterprises. As 5G emerges, it will bring much higher speeds and more capabilities to private networks.
Learn more about private LTE networking by watching our webinars titled “What You Need to Know about Private LTE Networking and Enterprise IoT” and “What You Need to Know about Private LTE Networking and Enterprise IoT: Your 100 Questions Answered.”