This is the second of three posts on IoT and Private LTE. You can read the first post, The Move to Wireless Networking: Is IoT Snake Oil?here, and the third post, Why and When Should We Embrace IoT Through LTE?here.

Partners make the world go around. Modern enterprise is well aware of this fact. It may be argued that nowhere is this more true than in the world of wireless networking. In particular, the current environment surrounding industrial and other mission-critical applications indicates a new evolution in networking technology. Interactions between manufacturers, users, and supply partners are transforming the relationships bringing all parties together. The real danger is that further isolation of proprietary and non-cooperative wireless network system structures will continue to separate every aspect of enterprise networking, including handshake capability and interoperability resulting in the hindrance of a necessary evolution which promises to make true IOT a reality.

What is that evolution, you ask? Let's consider for a moment our previous article, The Move to Wireless Networking: Is IoT Snake Oil? Our argument about the shortcomings of IoT isn't an exaggeration. Despite the groundbreaking intentions behind IoT as an idea, things just haven't panned out the way they were designed. While referring the reader to that aforementioned blog, we submit this necessary evolution as something simple: that IoT work as it was intended – connecting all things at all times. Thus far, IoT as a practical thing seems more a catchphrase or pleasing idea. It doesn't have to be that way.

Private LTE (OnGo™) enables private IoT. The ability for enterprise networks to intermingle makes all things IoT possible and there are many datasets addressing that fact. A stunning revelation, however, lies in the fact that Private LTE is a perfect partner to existing networks ubiquitous to practically any facility. Private LTE also represents value. It is the perfect partner to Wi-Fi and can run alongside existing networks, preventing the need to "tear everything out and start again."

Designed from the ground up to vastly improve network security, Private LTE provides resilient encryption and localized authentication. Coverage is greatly expanded with ranges far outside the limited reach of existing Wi-Fi infrastructure with fewer enabling devices, both indoors and outdoors. Carrier-grade reliability allows for predictable rates and ultra-stable performance while freeing Wi-Fi to handle dedicated tasks. Private LTE also accepts as many as one thousand percent more connections than existing Wi-Fi networks – all over a single network which empowers IoT technology such as PTT (push-to-talk), AI operation and monitoring, practically limitless broadband access, video streaming, facility control, and physical security. 

Image courtesy of Harbor Research

So, how is this done? The answer isn't as nebulous as one might imagine. The secret is in partnerships. A collaborative community is forging new ecosystems as you read this. The resulting innovations include Private LTE as a means to finally deliver on the promise of IoT. The technologies necessary to successfully deploy Private LTE/Private IoT are of the highest performance. They are purpose-built to address diverse mission-critical and industrial segments of the market. There are a lot of moving parts, but partnerships bring all the necessary pieces together and weave them into fully customizable solutions designed to take a facility or facilities safely into a future wherein IoT actually functions as intended and promised.

As a result, the end-to-end customer experience is brought into the spotlight. Successful partners take an objective look at what needs to be achieved, generating increased performance, reliability, reduced latency, and greatly strengthened security… across every aspect of the customer's network… no matter how many facilities the customer controls… no matter how far apart those facilities are in the world.

In the previous blog, The Move to Wireless Networking: Is IoT Snake Oil?see how IoT is linked to wireless networks.

For more information on Private LTE, see our 5G/OnGo webpage.

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