Future-proof network infrastructure Wi-Fi 6 or 5G: What is the better choice?

Related Vendors

Orange Business Germany GmbH

FAULHABER Drive Systems

Industrial 5G networks are on everyone's lips. But how can companies profitably utilize the mobile standard? What advantages does 5G offer over Wi-Fi 6? These questions are crucial for companies looking to future-proof their network infrastructure.

5G and Wi-Fi 6 are advanced technologies that offer businesses improved connectivity and data transmission. Which of the two options is the better choice depends on the specific requirements and goals. In so-called enclosed high-density areas, where numerous devices need to be connected wirelessly, many companies rely on Wi-Fi 6.

However, when it comes to range, 5G has the advantage, as Wi-Fi 6 only achieves insufficient network coverage in vast areas. If seamless reception and high network quality are required for a large site, this favors 5G. In terms of costs, it is often cheaper to install 5G antennas rather than Wi-Fi routers, especially when a high hardware density is needed to achieve seamless coverage for certain use cases.

High bandwidth and data transmission

5G stands out from 4G by offering higher bandwidth and reaches a data transfer rate of up to 2 Gbit/s with the currently assigned spectrum. Wi-Fi 6 matches this and can even provide higher bandwidth for certain use cases. However, with the new frequency spectrum of 26 GHz, 5G can provide ultra-fast data transfer rates of up to 10 Gbit/s with high stability.

In the case of critical industrial applications, it is indispensable that the required bandwidth is available, stable, and guaranteed. Here, the 5G standard is unsurpassed among wireless technologies. Thanks to the ability to prioritize traffic for certain services or applications with methods such as network slicing, 5G ensures that a defined bandwidth is always reserved for business-critical applications, even if this means displacing less prioritized traffic. Guaranteed bandwidth is crucial for use cases that require reliable and fast connectivity, such as IoT or (semi-)autonomous driving. Due to the very low latency, applications can communicate almost in real-time.

Completely private 5G or virtual 5G from the mobile provider?

If companies have decided on 5G, they must choose between completely private and virtual 5G. The selection depends on the use cases, the industry, the associated investments, and the expected benefits.

The advantages of an isolated, private 5G campus network with a segregated infrastructure and frequency spectrum are:

• Adaptability to specific conditions and requirements regarding network capacity, coverage, and configuration

• Comparatively highest availability

• Suitability for so-called Seveso establishments, where hazardous substances are produced, processed, handled, used, or stored

• Possibility of the ownership model for equipment and operation

Virtual, private 5G is based on the public network of a mobile network operator. Through network slicing, the company gets its own logical network and benefits from the 5G features described above, the investments of the network operator, the allocated spectrum, and the guaranteed bandwidth of the slice. This is considered the most economical solution.

A third option is a hybrid 5G private network. This too is exclusively provided by the operator. The dedicated infrastructure on a campus, which covers public networks and frequency licenses, is combined to take advantage of the best of both worlds.

The following examples from the industry show how varied the possible applications are:

Butachimie—from critical communication to operational processes

Butachimie, a joint venture of BASF and Invista, is a world leader in the production of adiponitrile, a key component in nylon production. In the eastern French factory in Chalampé, a 5G-enabled, fully private network for indoor and outdoor use was established. The first use case enables communication in crisis situations (Push-to-X), ensuring that technicians on site are always reachable and can communicate with absolute certainty. Further use cases such as real-time geolocation, also for safety purposes, computer vision, and augmented reality are currently being explored.

Schneider Electric—Augmented Reality for maintenance work

Schneider Electric has also launched a pilot project with a private, virtualized 5G indoor network at its site in Le Vaudreuil, Normandy. The electronics company aimed to achieve local data processing with the installed network architecture and edge technology. Two use cases were tested: The first involves the use of augmented reality for maintenance work. Technicians film machines using a mobile phone, gaining access to information such as their status or upcoming maintenance tasks. The newly captured information is streamed back to the cloud in real-time. The result: shorter machine downtimes, faster maintenance work, and fewer human errors. In the second use case, a telepresence robot is controlled via 5G. The robot moves almost in real-time and supports virtual tours at the Vaudreuil site in high video quality.

Decision for the future

More and more applications require large, guaranteed bandwidths, fast data transmission, and low latencies. Therefore, it is enormously important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of the mobile technology of Wi-Fi 6, public 5G, and private 5G, while considering future use scenarios. Only in this way can future-proof investments be made.

Future-Proof Authentication with Universal RFID Readers

Universal RFID Readers: One Solution for All Credentials

*Emmanuel Routier is Vice President Smart Industries at Orange Business.