IoT: Public Network or Private Network?

The emergence of wireless networks for IoT has opened up new opportunities for industry players. Capable of connecting sensors and industrial equipment, these networks allow them to capitalize on many data. It is still necessary to equip the most suitable network. After the arrival of the public and private network in recent years, the French landscape today becomes hybrid. Overview of the advantages of this new alternative: the dedicated network.

More and more professionals are using connected objects to answer their business problems. To communicate, these objects can rely on several types of networks that offer various characteristics: Wi-Fi can send a lot of data but it is energy-hungry; 3G and 4G allow broadband and long-range broadcasts, but also require a steady supply of energy; the Bluetooth consumes very little power but is limited to very short range emissions; the LoRa network, on the other hand, allows it to be very long-range, for small amounts of data, and very energy-efficient. 

The public network, well established but on subscription

Beyond the technological problem, the question of the economic model arises. Public networks offer many advantages (national coverage, continuous maintenance managed by operators, provision of the ecosystem of sensor manufacturers, installers, etc.) and even allow international expansion thanks to roaming. This advantage is of particular interest to logistics stakeholders.

When necessary, operators propose to densify the network coverage by installing additional infrastructures. The economic model of public networks is based on the principle of subscription. But this model can find its limits when it comes to connecting a very large number of objects in a limited geographical space (industrial site, airport ...). 

Switch on the private network, the solution?

For businesses or communities that do not need mobile sensors, the private network option is appealing. In this case, the company deploys its own network on site. No subscription! But the purchase, installation, management of the antennas and the core network as well as the parameterization of the sensors constitute an initial investment and represent a recurring operating expense.

In fact, the private network, to be efficient and sustainable, requires technical expertise in radio engineering to deploy the antennas as well as to keep the network in operational condition. The company must also ensure that it complies with the rules related to the installation of an IoT infrastructure. At first glance, the private network has an advantage over the public network: its economic model. The purchase of antennas is done once and then, installed, they are usable without additional connectivity cost. But be careful not to neglect the recurrent costs (OPEX) of administration and maintenance of the network too often ignored or undervalued.

Why do professionals need a dedicated network?

By opting for a hybrid solution between the public network and private network, called "dedicated network", companies combine the advantages of the two previously described models. They benefit from their own customized infrastructure, unlimited use on-site, the quality of service of a reference operator and the interconnection with the national network of this operator. This solution guarantees both autonomy and quality of service and offers the best total cost of ownership.

Its strength lies in its ability to combine:

• optimized on-site coverage, with implementation and configuration tailored to user constraints
• continuity of service, with the national and international network, on fixed and mobile equipment
• end-to-end security, from encrypting messages to hosting and secure connections to encryption keys
• a unique interface with access to the IoT platform for setting up, viewing and monitoring sensors and antennas
• a high quality of service that includes software updates and network development based on developments in LoRa technology
• an optimized total cost of ownership because it leaves no room for hidden costs

Thanks to its catalog of ready-to-use antennas, unlimited on-site consumption (annual license) and the included services, the dedicated network offers the best of the public network and the private network. It provides businesses and communities with a comprehensive, best-of-breed solution to get the most out of IoT while focusing on their core business.