The Future of Service Provider Networking and the Relevance of CCNP SP Certification in the Age of 5G and IoT
Many businesses are attempting to increase their efficiency as part of the Industry 4.0 Initiative by digitalizing and connecting their business processes on a larger scale. The rapid use of networked sensors, robotics, autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs), or other IoT devices is required by this trend. The most recent cellular technology, 5G, promises to fulfil the needs that occur in business settings that demand exceptionally low latency and excellent reliability. But up until now, communication service companies have mostly been in charge of running cellular networks (CSPs). So how can 5G be implemented in an office environment with the least amount of risk and disruption to current business processes?
A lot of businesses are starting an Industry 4.0 journey with the goal of improving workflow uptime, business efficiencies, and decision-making By using intelligent robots, AGVs, sensors, or other instruments that are networked together and backed by controllers that provide real-time automation, visibility, and control, existing operations are automated in this trip. In an industrial setting, examples of such procedures include:
connecting production assets in a flexible way
implementing layout-free production lines with co-bots and autonomous robots
Machine learning algorithms paired with AGVs UHD cameras on high-speed uplinks for proactive quality assurance and maintenance.
training with augmented reality
5G is emerging as a promising way to address these challenges, offering deterministic real-time access to the network, broad geographic coverage, low latency, and high bandwidth communication to IoT devices. Well, why not try this out to learn more.
Three methods for service providers to maximize private 5G
From a CSP or MSP’s point of view, the aforementioned difficulties businesses have on their path to digitalization create chances to broaden or improve their managed service offering. These suppliers often have the chance to:
Offer a 5G service that is generic and covers a wide market segment.
Offer a turnkey, vertical-specific 5G service (e.g., for healthcare or manufacturing)
Offer a flexible 5G service that is integrated into a current enterprise context.
A CSP that delivers 5G service over its full service domain is an illustration of position one. By assigning network functions to any subscribing company, such operators could develop the service based on their open network. In a 5G architecture, this strategy is known as network slicing, and it has the benefit of utilizing the current technologies (5G packet core, radios) deployed for consumer services in a more service-differentiated manner. With control components tailored to the operational needs of each service slice, the service provider installs several virtual networks end-to-end on a shared network infrastructure.
A system where a systems integrator or MSP develops a comprehensive service offer for a certain industrial vertical would be an illustration of No. 2. A dedicated 5G packet core and radios are implemented on the premises of businesses along with vertically-specific endpoints (such as robots and AGVs). Usually, the deployment and maintenance of the complete solution fall under the purview of the systems integrator. The 5G network can provide the necessary SLAs because it is devoted to the enterprise solution use case. Such a turnkey solution’s inability to integrate with an existing company network may be negative.
The third option presents a combination of the first two options. In this strategy, the MSP provides the firm with a general 5G access network without sharing vital resources with other businesses. The target market for the MSP can be expanded by a network that can be flexible for various use cases. The service can also be seamlessly integrated into already-established enterprise networks, for instance by offering access to company policy servers already in place or by repurposing the transport network already in place to link radios. This method of utilizing a 5G managed service is particularly alluring due to the potential for a close connection with enterprise network operations.
