Private cellular networks with small cells
This latest release is a market position paper for private cellular networks. Its aim is to:
- introduce SCF’s position on the role of small cells in the context of private networks,
- outline market drivers, use cases and recommendations for LTE-based private networks
- to look at the inevitable evolution of cellular communications to 5G and what that will mean for future private networks.
The document builds on earlier work on in-building coverage, shared spectrum small cell architectures, private network deployment case studies and Plugfest activities SCF has conducted over a number of years.
Our deployment examples demonstrate how small cells and private networks have a natural synergy. LTE-based solutions have already been commercially deployed in a wide-range of settings – from retail and tourism to industrial warehousing and ports, educational campuses, and transportation and logistics.
This paper addresses the following for these two audiences:
- help enterprise, industry and government understand the potential benefits of private networks to support their digital connectivity needs
- help private network service providers (including MNOs, neutral hosts, system integrators) better understand the benefits which are most valued by the different types of customer

Related documents
In addition, Small Cell Forum has conducted a private evolved packet core (EPC) Plugfest whose aim was to explore the quickest and most robust way for thousands of private LTE enterprise networks to connect to a national carrier network operator. More details on this can be found in various Plugfest report summaries [SCF208], [SCF209].
Readers may also find [SCF189] Shared spectrum: CBRS small cell network architecture & operations of interest.
Private Cellular Networks with Small Cells
Keyur Brambhatt of Extenet Systems and SCF Work Item lead, provides an overview of SCF’s new Release on private cellular networks.
Specifically this Release looks at what private cellular networks are, why they are important and how they can be enabled. In particular, it looks at different approaches, types of deployment (actual and potential), spectrum availability (and how spectrum is used), and standards
Read our blog

SCF launches blueprint for profitable roll-out of private LTE networks
The defining objective of Small Cell Forum is to accelerate adoption of dense networks, so that cellular technologies can deliver […]
Read the Press Release

SCF Report Shows Small Cells Hold the Key to Unlocking Private Cellular Network Opportunity
Detailed Market Research and Business Modelling Shows Spectrum, Technology and Cost Benefits Offered by Small Cells in LTE and 5G […]
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