By Gretchen Tinnerman, US Network & Edge Practice Leader

With the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) applications and increasing demand to have real-time data analytics to make key business decisions, many large companies, especially those with mission critical infrastructure, are exploring how high-performance, low-latency private cellular solutions can enhance coverage, enable enhanced security, real-time data analytics, and improve costs. According to a recent analysis by Frost & Sullivan, the global private cellular network market will likely expand to $6.32 billion by 2026 from $1.83 billion in 2021. The contribution of private 5G networks will be significant, reaching $5.05 billion over the forecast period from $600 million in 2021.

State of Private 5G Market

While this is an exciting time for new connectivity solutions, it also presents a new set of challenges for businesses large and small, as well as the public sector. Common challenges include limited in-house expertise in network integration, vendor selection, protection of company and customer data, and choosing appropriate turnkey solutions. In some cases, it’s an end-to-end process of identifying the business problem for a customer, applying specific use cases, before recommending and deploying the most beneficial technological solutions. Technologies such as edge computing, cloud and data center networking are often implemented alongside private wireless networks to fully capture the Industrial IoT (IIoT), machine learning and AI capabilities that the connectivity enables. 

Kyndryl, Intel, Future Technologies Partner to Deliver Speed, Innovation, Cost Savings

To help businesses choose the right way to design and implement the appropriate private 5G networks, Kyndryl is teaming up with Intel and Future Technologies. By working together, the three companies bring the best of “know-how” that will accelerate the design to deployments cycles for enterprises and their targeted use cases. 

At Kyndryl, our private 5G solutions meet the needs of enterprise customers who are looking for the reliability of LAN, and flexibility, security, and reliability of wireless technologies. Kyndryl’s Private 5G is delivered as a service offering, to integrate the high speed, low latency and device segmentation only 5G connectivity can provide to increase business efficiencies. 

We plan to combine the best of each company’s technologies and knowledge. Kyndryl’s network integration and managed services expertise spans across other technologies including cloud, security and resilience, digital workplace, AI and applications. Intel’s complete set of the network technology stack—from silicon to software to reference architectures help provide the required building blocks needed for today’s solutions. Future Technologies’ cellular domain expertise developed over the last 12+ years provides accelerated design and deployment cycles make this three-way collaboration an industry accelerator. As part of this collaboration, private 5G networks will be designed and deployed by Future Tech, managed by Kyndryl global services and run on Intel architecture. 

Focusing on Private 5G Use Cases

While enterprises across all industries can stand to benefit from 5G private wireless deployments, we will start in key vertical markets, including chemical, oil & gas, utility, manufacturing, federal and SLED (State & Local Education). Moving forward, we will continue to expand our partnership to reach other industries, such as retail, transportation, logistics, finance and healthcare. We are just at the beginning of seeing the innovation and use cases that this advanced technology will enable: automation to increase productivity, connected cameras, enhanced worker safety, IoT sensors, robotics, extended reality, real-time analytics, and lower business costs and carbon footprint. 

Private 5G network is just the first building block as we look to co-create the enterprises of tomorrow with our customers and partners such as Intel and Future Technologies. All the connected platforms and devices will need additional technological layers built on top of them – from applications and data, cloud, to security. 2023 will be the year for private networks.