5G Non-Public Network for Industrial IoT: Operation Models

TL;DR

This paper explores various operation models for 5G non-public networks in industrial IoT, analyzing nine key models and providing a framework for their qualitative evaluation to guide stakeholders.

Contribution

It identifies nine main operation models for 5G NPNs in industrial IoT and introduces a framework for their qualitative analysis and comparison.

Findings

Nine prime operation models identified and analyzed.

A framework for qualitative evaluation of operation models.

Comparison highlights advantages and disadvantages of each model.

Abstract

5G non-public networks (NPNs) play a key role in enabling critical Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications in various vertical industries. Among other features, 5G NPNs enable novel operation models, where the roles and responsibilities for setting up and operating the network can be distributed among several stakeholders, i.e., among the public mobile network operators (MNOs), the industrial party who uses the 5G NPN services and 3rd parties. This results in many theoretically feasible operation models for 5G NPN, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. We investigate the resulting operation models and identify a set of nine prime models taking into account today's practical considerations. Additionally, we define a framework to qualitatively analyze the operation models and use it to evaluate and compare the identified operation models.