Here’s how your business can have a high-speed secure network you control.
Think back to the last time you visited a conference, a stadium match, or a concert, and tried using the local Wi-Fi. It was likely slow, unreliable, and caused inconvenience. Now, imagine that same issue, but this time it applies to a large self-driving mining truck, a quality assurance monitor on a factory line, or a remote-controlled robotic arm used in surgery.
The stakes are higher, but the problem is still the same: when a network becomes saturated, it is slow and unpredictable. At an event, it means no internet. At a worksite, it can cause delays and profit loss.
The solution is a network that can handle large amounts of traffic, connect to many devices at once, and remain responsive and reliable while offering complete visibility and control. Most wireless networks cannot do that, and running cables everywhere is messy, not to mention a site hazard.
Yet, there is an alternative that combines the best of networking without the messiness: Mobile Private Networks (MPNs), powered by 5G broadband, are the answer.
Networking at the next level
MPNs are already changing industries. Recently, Sasol and Vodacom Business installed an MPN at the energy giant’s Secunda site, connecting 3,000 employees, as well as equipment and assets. It tracks and monitors people and equipment, provides security feeds, and enables on-site staff to connect to software systems from anywhere in the location.
An obvious question is: why not use Wi-Fi or a regular cellular network? Both have different shortcomings. A Wi-Fi network would require dozens, even hundreds, of access points to cover the site, and a public cellular network offers much less control than a private network.
But an MPN network is dedicated to your site (this means you’re not sharing bandwidth with the public), it covers extensive areas with only a few base stations. It supports standard 5G and 4G connections, so any device with a SIM card can connect to it. MPN also gives unprecedented security control and visibility. 5G adds specific advantages, being as fast as broadband fibre and supporting thousands of simultaneous device connections per base station.
The benefits of an MPN
MPNs offer considerable benefits to sites that need reliable networks:
- Low-latency 5G moves data and instructions instantly across the network.
- A 5G MPN supports thousands of IoT devices.
- IoT device batteries last much longer because of 5G’s incredible energy efficiency.
- Services like Multi-Access Edge Computing process data right at the network’s edge for real-time insights.
- The site has complete control over network traffic, policies, and security, including blocking unauthorised devices.
- A site-wide MPN makes geofencing simple, curbing trespassing, theft, and wandering.
How to get an MPN
Many businesses get substantial benefits from MPNs that other networks don’t offer. Mines, factories, hospitals, airports, stadiums, ports, and malls are just a few examples. MPNs can be temporary or permanent, limited to one base station or using several.
Not just anyone can deliver a true MPN experience. Companies like Vodacom Business combine their expertise in networking, digital solutions, and business experience to create cost-effective and fit-for-purpose MPNs. If your business can benefit from the power of a dedicated, high-speed, and fully managed 5G network, speak to the experts at Vodacom Business.
Want to learn more? Visit Vodacom Business’ Mobile Private Network page, or learn more from these videos. Then take the next step: speed up your operations without the deployment overheads, saturation risks, or limited visibility, using the competitive advantages of a mobile private network.
