FAQs
A private cellular network is a standards-based cellular network that’s fully contained within and managed by your enterprise, providing enhanced control, security, and performance tailored to your specific needs.
The technology is the same and is based on the same standards. The difference is security, control, performance, and ownership. With the GXC network, since you own the network rather than the carrier, you make the decisions.
A private cellular network will enable you to reliably connect virtually unlimited numbers of new devices – handhelds, sensors, robots, and more – and have control and security over the entire ecosystem.
The primary differences are the reliability of the connections, data transfer, and depth of control over the network. Cellular is uniquely different from WiFi in the way that data transmissions are scheduled so that traffic on a private cellular network is always assured.
Your user data is only available to authorized users on the network. Network managers, the operations center, and GXC do not have access to your user data.
Its quite simple – a systems integrator (SI), selected by you or your distributor, will perform a site survey, mount the access points, install the server or server image in your rackspace, and you’ll be up and running in no time.
That’s completely up to you. Your IT department can manage the network, you can work with a managed service provider partner, or your distributor can provide a partner. We provide the tools, the portal, and the training, and you’re on your way!
No! Because you own the network, all the data used within the network is all covered. The enterprise is responsible for all the backhaul costs, the same as your WiFi and LAN networks are setup today.
You don’t! The GXC network utilizes a bit of spectrum designated as CBRS – the citizens broadband radio service, also known as Band 48 – which is free for anyone to use. Our platform automatically requests the local grants required to transmit and you’re ready to go.
There are currently hundreds of consumer devices available that operate in Band 48 (b48) including smartphones and tablets from all major manufacturers, Wi-Fi hotspots, and routers – and that list is constantly growing.
If it’s a Band 48-capable an unlocked device, scan to a QR-code that we provide, and your device will load a profile into the embedded SIM. If an embedded SIM isn’t available, we can provide physical SIM cards to plug into the device.
Wi-Fi struggles with indoor-to-outdoor transitions due to three key factors:
- Design Limitations: Wi-Fi was built for local area networks, while cellular networks are designed to cover wide areas with seamless connectivity.
- Lack of Mobility: Cellular networks handle handovers between towers seamlessly, enabling uninterrupted connections on the move, which Wi-Fi cannot do.
- Power Constraints: Wi-Fi operates on limited power in unlicensed spectrum, resulting in lower range and coverage, making it less effective outdoors.
Cellular networks are optimized for both indoor and outdoor use, providing better coverage and mobility for users.
CBRS (Citizen Broadband Radio Service) is a lightly licensed spectrum recently approved by the FCC, allowing enterprises to deploy their own cellular networks without purchasing costly spectrum licenses. It blends the benefits of regulated cellular spectrum and free Wi-Fi, offering controlled access through a Spectrum Access System (SAS). This enables enterprises to achieve reliable, high-performance connectivity similar to traditional cellular networks, without the high cost of spectrum ownership, making it a game-changer for private networks.
No, CBRS complements traditional spectrum providers. While mobile network operators offer nationwide infrastructure for public services like 911 and first responders, CBRS is tailored for enterprises, enabling them to leverage cellular technology for private networks without competing for licensed spectrum.
Private 5G networks offer enhanced security by providing dedicated infrastructure that is not shared with public users. This exclusivity allows for tighter control over network access, advanced encryption protocols, and customized security policies tailored to specific organizational needs, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
Private 5G networks are ideal for mission-critical applications requiring high reliability, low latency, and enhanced security. Key use cases include industrial automation, smart manufacturing, connected healthcare, intelligent transportation systems, and secure military communications.
Initially, private 5G networks may require a higher investment due to the need for dedicated infrastructure and specialized equipment. However, they can be more cost-effective in the long run by offering better control over resources, reduced operational costs, and the elimination of recurring public network fees.
Private 5G networks can be deployed in various models including fully private, where all infrastructure is owned and managed by the organization; hybrid, which combines private infrastructure with public network elements; and as-a-service, where third-party vendors manage the private network.
Private 5G networks utilize network slicing to create multiple virtual networks on the same physical infrastructure. Each slice can be tailored with specific capabilities such as bandwidth, security, and latency, allowing organizations to allocate resources efficiently and meet diverse application requirements.
In industrial settings, private 5G facilitates real-time machine-to-machine communication, supports IoT integration, and enables remote monitoring and control. These capabilities enhance operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and improve safety by enabling precise and autonomous operations.
Private 5G networks in healthcare improve data security, support telemedicine with high-quality, real-time video connections, and enable the use of IoT devices for patient monitoring. These enhancements lead to better patient care, reduced errors, and streamlined operations.
For smart buildings, private 5G networks offer reliable connectivity for IoT devices, enable efficient energy management through real-time data analytics, and improve building security with seamless integration of surveillance technologies.
Private 5G networks provide dedicated bandwidth and ultra-reliable low-latency communications, ideal for IoT devices requiring real-time data transfer. Enhanced security and greater network control ensure reliable connectivity for numerous IoT applications, from industrial automation to smart city infrastructure.
Private cellular networks offer enhanced security features, including customized firewalls, advanced encryption standards, and dedicated spectrum that limit external access and reduce risks of cyber threats, making them far more secure than public networks.
Key components include a core network, radio access network (RAN), backhaul connections, and user equipment. These elements work together to provide secure, scalable, and high-performance wireless communication within a private setting.
Private cellular networks can complement Wi-Fi by offloading traffic during peak times and providing backup connectivity. Integration is facilitated through dual-capable devices and software-defined networking, allowing seamless service continuity between Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
Yes, private cellular networks can extend Wi-Fi coverage by providing additional capacity and coverage in areas where Wi-Fi signals are weak, ensuring better connectivity for users across large venues like stadiums and convention centers.
Combining these networks enhances overall security by leveraging the strengths of both: robust encryption and access control from cellular, with flexibility and widespread adoption of Wi-Fi.
CBRS offers a shared spectrum model that allows for both licensed and general-access use, providing more flexibility and lower costs compared to traditional exclusively licensed spectrum, making it accessible for a wider range of users and applications.
CBRS facilitates cost-effective and scalable deployments of 5G networks by allowing businesses to utilize shared spectrum without the need for expensive spectrum licenses, reducing barriers to entry for 5G implementation.
CBRS increases network capacity by allowing more efficient spectrum use, supporting a higher number of users and devices simultaneously, which is crucial for the bandwidth-intensive requirements of 5G networks.
A mesh network is a collection of nodes that are connected to each other. The wireless mesh is a mesh network where there are multiple nodes wirelessly connected to each other. A mesh connection allows for easier deployment and resiliency of the wireless network, which benefits from having multiple routes and nodes as backup. If one node is disconnected, the connection simply relays its route through the mesh to the next closest node. GXC’s private cellular mesh-based technology offers complete on-site coverage that is easy to deploy, fully secure, and highly scalable. A mesh network that allows you to connect with confidence.
Eliminating interference enables more efficient frequency use, allowing mesh nodes to communicate simultaneously on the same frequency. This results in a faster, more robust network, making it possible to deploy reliable mesh solutions in cellular environments without sacrificing coverage or capacity.
Self-organizing mesh network is when the network increases or decreases with the addition of nodes or removal of nodes, then the network scales and organizes itself and organizes in multiple factors but the key ones being it organizes the interference that’s there, so that if an additional nodes comes in, it doesn’t interfere with the existing nodes and also when the nodes are removed from the network, the data path finds a different path to get to from the source to destination. The self-organizing piece makes for discovery, addition, and deletion of nodes in the network much easier.
O-RAN (Open Radio Access Network) is a standardized architecture that enables components from different vendors to work together, unlike traditional closed RAN systems. By standardizing interfaces, O-RAN allows for greater flexibility and scalability, making it easier to deploy and manage networks across various environments, driving innovation and reducing costs.
A distributed core at the edge gives enterprises more control over their private cellular networks, allowing them to manage, configure, and secure their network locally. This reduces latency, enhances security, and provides greater customization compared to relying on a centralized core. Integration with SIM cards and AI management further optimizes the network, making it more efficient and adaptive to changing needs.
Public networks are operated by carriers like AT&T and Verizon, while private networks are dedicated cellular networks for enterprises. Public-private roaming allows subscribers to seamlessly switch between private and public networks without losing connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted service whether inside the enterprise or on the go. This flexibility enhances coverage and ensures reliable connectivity across different environments.
Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from a device to a server and back. Low latency means minimal delay, which is crucial for real-time applications like autonomous driving, remote surgery, and video streaming, ensuring quick response times and seamless performance.
The cell edge is the boundary where signal strength weakens as you move away from a cell tower. Devices at the cell edge struggle to maintain connectivity, leading to inefficient communication. By deploying our nodes at these weak spots, we extend coverage and strengthen the signal, improving overall network efficiency and user experience without requiring additional frequencies.
Spectrum is a scarce and expensive resource, so maximizing its efficiency is crucial. Unlike traditional repeaters that simply amplify signals (often adding noise), our intelligent nodes relay data at the same frequency, effectively extending coverage without wasting additional spectrum. This approach optimizes performance and enhances network range without requiring extra frequencies.
A Picocell is a smaller version of a base station, typically deployed indoors to provide cellular connectivity. It resembles a Wi-Fi access point and covers a small area, ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 square feet.
Frequencies in cellular communication are limited, so using the same frequency for both access and backhaul optimizes spectrum efficiency. Most operators and enterprises don’t have the spectrum resources to separate these functions, making it crucial to combine them.
When a phone connects to a GXC mesh network, traffic is routed through the shortest path within the mesh, reducing latency. In other architectures, traffic must first travel to a data center and back, creating unnecessary delays. Local mesh routing minimizes latency and improves performance.
A mesh network isn’t entirely wireless. While mesh nodes connect wirelessly, gateway nodes connect to fiber or cable infrastructure to access the broader internet. This hybrid approach enables seamless indoor and outdoor coverage, combining wireless flexibility with the reliability of fiber backhaul.
Each generation of cellular technology has reduced the cell radius, requiring more base stations. With 5G, more fiber backhaul is needed for these additional base stations. Deploying fiber is capital-intensive and time-consuming, especially for large campuses. A mesh-based architecture can reduce the dependency on fiber, enabling faster deployment and greater flexibility in network planning, while still delivering the required coverage and capacity.
Benefits include higher data security, lower latency for mission-critical applications, greater control over network resources, and improved support for IoT devices, all leading to increased operational efficiency and better resource management.
Private 5G networks streamline business operations by providing reliable and secure communication paths, supporting massive IoT deployments, and enabling new technologies such as augmented reality for training and remote assistance.
Industries that benefit most include manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, education, and public safety, where enhanced connectivity, security, and low latency are crucial.
Private 5G reduces latency significantly compared to older technologies, ensuring that real-time data transfer is fast and reliable, which is critical for applications requiring immediate feedback, such as in surgical robotics or autonomous vehicles.
Long-term savings are achieved through efficient resource management, reduced dependency on leased lines, lower maintenance costs due to network reliability, and the ability to scale solutions without significant additional investments.
Challenges include the high initial setup cost, the need for ongoing maintenance and technical expertise, and ensuring the network is scalable and flexible enough to accommodate the evolving technological landscape in education.
Private 5G supports smart city applications by providing reliable and secure connectivity for critical infrastructure monitoring, traffic management systems, and public safety networks. This infrastructure underpins the seamless operation of smart city technologies, enhancing urban living.
Industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, education, and public safety benefit significantly due to the need for secure, reliable, and high-capacity wireless connectivity that supports a wide array of mission-critical applications.
Unlike Wi-Fi, private cellular networks provide wider coverage, better security, and higher reliability. They support more simultaneous connections, offer superior mobility support, and are more suitable for mission-critical industrial applications.
Challenges include managing seamless handover between networks, ensuring compatible security protocols, and configuring dual-network devices to optimize traffic distribution and minimize interference.
Private cellular networks offer superior scalability when handling a large number of devices over extensive areas due to better management of network resources and efficient handling of high-density environments.
Private cellular networks provide smoother and more reliable roaming capabilities over larger geographic areas than Wi-Fi, which is typically limited to smaller, localized environments.
CBRS is ideal for creating private LTE networks, IoT applications, fixed wireless access, and neutral host networks, offering enterprises enhanced control over their wireless communications.
The CBRS model uses a three-tiered access system involving incumbents, Priority Access License (PAL) holders, and General Authorized Access (GAA) users, dynamically managed through a spectrum access system (SAS) to efficiently allocate spectrum resources.
CBRS lowers network costs by reducing spectrum acquisition expenses and enabling more efficient spectrum use, which is particularly advantageous for businesses seeking to deploy private networks without significant investment.