WHITE PAPER
Enterprise Connectivity: The Power of 5G
Private Networks and Edge Computing
Nearby Computing and Druid for rapid innovation in 5G private networks
Use cases: slice orchestration, video analytics, & MCPTT
Private networks are dedicated cellular networks that lie outside of public networks and mainly address the need for greater security and bandwidth for business use. Consequently, only devices that are authorized and part of a private network are permitted to establish a connection to the network. Private networks deliver superior performance across various aspects, for example higher performance in data management capacity, quality of service, reliability, security, latency, and flexibility of coverage.
Private networks are strongly recommended to segregate end-user devices from public networks, minimizing risks associated with sensitive data exposure. This security measure is crucial when handling personal data, intellectual property, or sensitive information. Applications like video analytics and critical communications thrive in this secure environment, capitalizing on enhanced protection and controlled access offered by private networks for optimal performance and data integrity.
Deploying a private network involves several goals related to infrastructure, security, regulatory compliance, and operational aspects.
Challenges to be faced
01
INTEROPERABILITY
Integrating 5G networks with existing 4G and other legacy networks is crucial for a smooth transition. Combining various hardware and software components from various vendors while ensuring seamless interoperability and compatibility must be faced using different protocols.
02
SECURITY
5G networks introduce new security challenges due to the increased attack surface, virtualization, and the use of network functions in the cloud. Ensuring the security and privacy of 5G networks is a critical concern.
03
BANDWIDTH
Some use cases, as video analytics, need to ensure seamless data transmission and real-time analysis for video feeds without compromising other network services’ performance or security Network slicing is crucial for a video.
04
NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
5G introduces a cloud-native and software-defined network architecture, which requires significant changes to
the existing core network infrastructure. Transitioning to a virtualized and containerized network environment can be complex and costly.
05
THE SCALABILITY CHALLENGE
Seamlessly managing up to thousands of instances of the same application that will be running in cloudlets globally,
as easily as managing one single instance in the cloud, with similar OPEX.
The Joint Solution
The easiest, fastest, and most cost-effective deployment for your apps.
The integration of Streamwide’s TOM into the NearbyOne orchestration framework enables businesses to access a technology that accelerates considerably the deployment phase and reduces its cost.
NearbyOne contributes in making the deployment process more efficient by accelerating the delivery times:
• By generating less errors or issues in the initial deployment phase.
• By enabling procedures that generate less support requests during the product lifetime.
In addition, the automation of Streamwide’s TOM deployment through NearbyOne opens access to a set of reference architectures for Edge Computing services and solutions that are rapidly becoming the drivers of the scaled expansion of many industrial SW solutions, such as private networks.
As the requirement for private networks grows, the complexity of these solutions requires specific tools to manage and automate the various infrastructures, network functions and applications. To make a viable solution, a robust and easy-to-use private cloud-native core needs to be paired with a flexible and scalable solution that can orchestrate everything from a single site all the way to a widely distributed network, preferably from a single interface. This document illustrates how to implement a PN for mission-critical use such as Video Analytics and Mission-Critical-Push-to-Talk, with Raemis™, Druid’s 5G core, & NearbyOne automation platform.
The automation platform, NearbyOne
Can deploy Druid’s core in different environments, from any hyperscaler infrastructure to private clouds and even on-premises, ensuring a fully streamlined Day-0 deployment and automated lifecycle management, saving up to 90% of operation time and minimizing operation costs. In addition, NearbyOne can orchestrate Druid’s core slicing allowing multiple network slices to be created on top of a common physical infrastructure. Each slice can be allocated based on the specific needs of the applications, use case, or customer. Furthemore, thanks to the automation, services on the MPN can be exposed, or not, to specific slices automatically. That is, when a new slice is added, the orchestrator will ensure to expose all those services bound to all slices plus those bound to the new slice. Finally, Druid’s core, UPF, and slices can all be managed from the same dashboard used to manage services and infrastructure; providing a single-pane of glass to manage the entire MPN.
Druid’s Raemis™ 5G core network platform
Raemis™ is a set of cellular software assets optimised for businesscritical use cases. The platform harnesses 5G, 4G, 3G, 2G and Wifi radios from any vendor to implement standalone cellular core network solutions. It also integrates
with mobile network operators using standard interfaces giving access to all of the radio resources of these operators. The Raemis™ platform adheres to 3GPP standards and
stands out for its flexibility, slicing capabilities, interoperability, and simplified deployment and testing options, making it a compelling choice for private network deployments.
Value Proposition
The joint solution provides the most complete, flexible, cost-effective and reliable 5G private connectivity, giving access in minutes to edge computing app management. By deploying Druid’s 5G Core with NearbyOne, costs can be slashed by a significant percentage. Automation done by NearbyOne allows tasks to be completed within minutes, cutting the required manpower in half. The collaboration between these two companies offers numerous advantages for end-users. Druid’s highly streamlined Day-0 deployment, coupled with automated lifecycle management facilitated by the joint solutions, results in up to a 90% reduction in operation time.
This efficient partnership not only reduces costs but also ensures swift and automated processes for deploying and managing the 5G Core, benefitting end-users immensely. Eventually, enterprises get the most out of their private 5G network without issues in a timely manner. Accordingly, enterprises willing to deploy private connectivity and services at their production sites will have access to the most powerful and reliable yet compact Private 5G solution, deployed in minutes instead of weeks, and will gain immediate access to managed Edge Computing applications.
Solution architecture
![Solution architecture enterprise connectivity](https://staging.nearbycomputing.com/wp-content/uploads/Solution-architecture-druid.png)
Features Description
NearbyOne is a multi-cloud, multi-site, multi-platform management ability across all the tiers of the network:
- Manage the infrastructure, the network functions, and services from a single-pane of glass.
- Rich marketplace with a pre-existing catalog of integrated applications and Druid’s solutions available out of the box.
- Possibility to “bring-your-own-vendor” and onboard them using the open onboarding framework.
- Service Applications intent driven orchestration: such to automize overall solution deployment independently from the specific service applications KPIs and needs.
- Distributed telemetry, log, and tracing collection from multiple sites.
- Vendor agnostic and integrated support for hyperscalers, VMware vSphere and vCD, Red Hat Advanced Cluster Management for Kubernetes, SUSE Rancher, Sylva, Wind River Studio Cloud Platform and more.
Druid’s Raemis™ 5G core network:
- Intuitive Management Interface which makes installing and maintaining a private cellular network as easy as setting up Wifi. The Raemis™ GUI uses the Raemis™ RestAPI to access the core software and 3GPP components of the network, hiding the complexity of the 3GPP network, enabling an IT manager to perform complex tasks in a few clicks.
- REST API integration enabling a myriad of value added applications to enhance the private cellular network.
- The Raemis 5GC is implemented in line with the 3GPP standards, supporting all features necessary to create private 5G networks, including its business process oriented APIs, management interface and enterprise slicing concept.
- The platform supports & goes a step further in bringing the slicing concept directly to Enterprise and Edge Private Networks. It enables management of these “enterprise slices” with an intuitive web interface that can be operated by any qualified IT technician.
- The Raemis platform can scale down to a single eNodeB device and a handful of users all in a single VM that has a small computing and memory footprint.
- Raemis supports distributed architectures which can be deployed in cloud native environments with central management of multiple edge sites. This enables your network to benefit from the Raemis™ MEC and redundancy capabilities.
VALUE-ADDED solution
Benefits
01. Immediate Access to Manage Edge Computing Applications
As the joint solution can be deployed in minutes instead of weeks.
04. Complete Observability Stack
That facilitates real-time monitoring, analysis, and management of data, applications, and infrastructure components. This combined solution supports efficient decision- making, proactive issue resolution, and optimization of resources within complex systems.
02. High Flexibility
As the solution can be deployed in different environments and architectures, from any hyperscaler infrastructure to private clouds and even on- premises, centralized or distributed.
05. Tailored Usage of the Network by the Applications
Each app can secure connectivity and quality of service through slicing and other policies directly configured on Raemis.
03. Scalability is Allowed
Customers can start with a light solution that can progressively grow up to thousands of connected devices in one or multiple locations.
06. Cost-effective
A fully streamlined Day-0 deployment and automated lifecycle management is ensured by the joint solutions saving up to 90% of operation time and minimizing costs.
Druid’s Raemis™ is a compact yet extremely flexible 5G core solution that, from an automation and orchestration standpoint, allows a fast creation of blueprints tailored to the customer’s specific needs. We are happy to partner with Druid as it enables Nearby to develop all the functions that enterprises perceive as differential.
Nearby Computing serves as an important orchestration management partner for Druid, facilitating seamless integration for diverse applications. Their support for slice orchestration, video analytics, and mission-critical push-to-talk highlights their commitment to advancing innovative solutions for Enterprise communication and connectivity.
![Druid](https://staging.nearbycomputing.com/wp-content/uploads/Druid-2.jpg)
WHITE PAPER
Enterprise Connectivity: The Power of 5G Private Networks and Edge Computing