With commercial deployments of private LTE networks set to skyrocket in the next five years, ip.access, the independent small cell solution provider, has announced the successful deployment of its 150th private cellular network.
Demand for private LTE is particularly increasing in industrial sectors and mission critical domains like manufacturing. These organisations have struggled to implement the smart networks they need to drive innovation and efficiencies in their operations with wireless technologies like DECT and Wi-Fi.
As a result of this increasing demand, total revenues for private LTE networks is forecast to grow from $22.1 billion (€17.63 billion) in 2017 to $118.5 billion (€94.53 billion) in 2023 at a 32.3% CAGR according to Harbor Research. The same analysis also predicts that total device shipment volumes in this space will grow from 170.7 million in 2017 to 765.1 million in 2023 at a 28.4% CAGR.
ip.access is well placed to capitalise on this opportunity. The company has a long history of experience of deploying private cellular networks – encompassing 2G, 3G and 4G capabilities for customers across the hotels and hospitality, hospitals and care homes, manufacturing and oil & gas sectors.
Nick Johnson, CTO and founder of ip.access, commented: “It’s easy to understand the importance of private cellular networks to a wide range of customers: they are easy-to-host, highly secure, cost effective, high performance edge networks.
From simple applications, like patient tracking in healthcare facilities, to more complex ones, like increasing production line automation, there is significant new value to be derived from private networks. As mobile operators seek to grow revenue from their existing spectrum assets, and as new Service Providers emerge to exploit shared spectrum such as CBRS, TV Whitespace and LSA, private LTE networks are the natural way to achieve that.
“We’ve seen interest grow steadily over the past few years, but with LTE we expect to see a further acceleration in private cellular deployments as customers look to integrate ever more sensors, machines, people and vehicles into single, scalable wireless networks.”
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