Nextivity is working with LG Electronics (LG) to develop new enterprise devices and applications to “accelerate, simplify, and maximise” integrated private 5G and DAS infrastructure, the two companies have said. They will jointly “develop, market, and install advanced 5G infrastructure offerings” for various enterprise markets, including education, retail, healthcare, and warehousing, they said. They want to offer “integrated 5G IoT solutions” for use with cellular distributed antenna system (DAS) networks, specifically.
Enterprises can add LG’s so-called Private 5G UltraSlim solution to Nextivity’s DAS infrastructure for 5G IoT apps, apparently. Nowhere do they explain what this Private 5G UltraSlim solution actually is. But LG describes its own private 5G solution, recently certified for government usage in its home market in South Korea, as “advanced software to handle network functions typically managed by traditional… RAN and core [equipment]”. It is to be installed right away at Nextivity’s Customer Experience Center in San Diego.
The purpose, they said, is to check interoperability of LG’s enterprise 5G devices and equipment with Nextivity’s CEL-FI (DAS) coverage solution. LG produces its own 5G-based autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), digital signage, point-of-sale (POS), and augmented reality (AR) products. LG says of its ‘private 5G system’: “This software-based approach allows for faster data processing and improved stability, with the added benefit of enabling upgrades without hardware replacement, significantly lowering operational costs.”
It goes on: “LG’s solution delivers a customized 5G private network tailored to meet diverse client needs and installation environments. It can create secure, isolated networks for clients with high-security requirements or integrate external cloud services for companies that require frequent collaboration with external partners… In addition, [it] offers a device control platform for seamless management of connected devices.” The deal is a global one with an immediate focus on the US, via LG’s local business solutions group (LG Business Solutions USA).
LG is “expected to allow” Nextivity’s CEL-FI QUATRA 4000c customers to “quickly add LG private 5G” to their sites, and also gain direct access to its enterprise 5G products. LG’s private 5G software system and device portfolio have gained domestic certification in South Korea for use in government scenarios. LG said its “self-developed 5G private network solution” is the first in the world to be approved by the government in Seoul. Meanwhile, Nextivity says it was first-to-market with a “combined off-air public / private cellular coverage solution in a single system”.
A statement said: “The integrated offering is part of the Nextivity IoT/AI family of solutions… IoT/AI applications leverage cellular DAS infrastructure to add advanced sensing and other IoT capabilities with minimal investment and time-to-deployment. Nextivity DAS supports various IoT technologies including Zigbee and BLE for quick deployment of off-the-shelf and proprietary sensing applications. [its] patented acoustic Gunshot Detection Service is part of the IoT/AI set and an example of an application that can be layered in with LG 5G-IoT offerings.”
Michiel Lotter, chief executive at Nextivity, said: “We released our private networking over CBRS solution two years ago. Since then, customers have been clamoring for more applications. This relationship allows us to offer integrated applications from one of the world’s most advanced 5G ecosystem developers… Nextivity’s mission to… ‘Do More with their DAS’ is taken to a whole new level through our exclusive alliance with LG… We are moving far beyond wireless connectivity to jointly offer our customers real solutions that leverage their DAS investments. The ROI from 5G IoT is over and above the gains realized by improving in-building coverage and connectivity.”
Joon-sung Lee, vice president of LG’s private network division, said: “Our Private 5G solution and device ecosystem have been widely deployed in a number of vertical markets globally. Our focus on providing complete solutions to customers is supported by our comprehensive, proven portfolio of devices and system-level solutions. As LG is transformed into a smart life solutions company, collaborations with a technology leader like Nextivity will enable us to provide enterprise customers the fastest route to seeing the impact of 5G in their businesses.”
