Enterprises are increasingly prioritising wireless connectivity that offers far more than basic coverage: their needs include tailored quality‑of‑service, near‑instant latency, robust security, and full control over how traffic is managed and isolated. Private 5G networks meet those demands by giving organisations direct command of their local radio and core infrastructure. Unlike a public mobile network serving millions of users, a private setup is built — or leased — for one organisation, enabling customised traffic priorities, rigorous uptime guarantees, and network slicing that separates operational‑critical flows from other data. In manufacturing floors, logistics hubs or hospitals, private 5G has begun to act as a backbone for automation, real‑time video analytics, robotics or augmented‑reality applications.
Although the broader 5G public‑network upgrade continues to struggle with monetisation and consumer price pressure, the private 5G segment grew surprisingly even in a down cycle: installations surged by more than 40 % in 2024, while traditional RAN revenues were weak. This suggests enterprise investment is decoupling from the consumer mobility story and evolving along a different trajectory. However, despite a sizeable addressable market, operators are not dominating this space. Specialist vendors and systems‑integrators are often the prime beneficiaries in many private‑network projects. One reason is that enterprises often purchase full turnkey solutions (including radios, core, MEC) and may interface directly with integrators or niche suppliers rather than standard telco units.
Cerillion plc (LON:CER) is a leading provider of billing, charging and customer management systems with more than 20 years’ experience delivering its solutions across a broad range of industries including the telecommunications, finance, utilities and transportation sectors.
