A worker in a hard hat reviews warehouse asset and work movemetns on a Zebra tablet
By Therese Van Ryne | December 5, 2023

Is There Really a Difference Between Private 4G and Private 5G Wireless Network Performance? Or Private Wireless and Wi-Fi Network Performance?

Ericsson and Zebra mobility experts answer important questions in this new roundtable discussion, including where private wireless technology delivers the most value and the ROI you can expect. 

Without reliable wireless connectivity, it’s impossible to do business. People need to be able to talk to one another and to machines. Machines also need to be able to talk to machines.  

Now, you might think that between the extensive Wi-Fi network you have set up inside your building and the public cellular networks available outside, you’re fully covered. But most likely you’re not. Just ask your team. I bet many will report they struggle to maintain a strong, steady network connection for their industrial devices as they move in and out of your buildings. Those who work at ports or yards may be lucky to find a signal. And even those inside your buildings may find that the mobile computers or machines they’re using for work are kicked offline or throttled due to heavy network traffic more often than you expect. That’s why so much research, design, testing, and “talk” has occurred around private wireless networking in recent years.  

Though Wi-Fi technology has lots of benefits, it also has limits. Same with public cellular technology. There are gaps that need to be filled and, truth be told, private wireless technology is really, really good at filling those gaps. It can also save you a ton of money, both inside and outside the four walls. There’s plenty of research to prove it, including new data released recently by Ericsson and ABI Research. 

So, we thought it would be good for Keren Ronen, Director of Industrial Ecosystem Partnerships and the partner manager for Zebra at Ericsson, to sit down with Jeff Stark, the Director of Zebra’s Strategic Operational Partner team, and… 

  • Share some of the numbers around cost, performance, and the return on investment (ROI) for private wireless networks. 

  • Explain when and where you really need private wireless network coverage (even if you already have Wi-Fi or public cellular coverage there). 

  • Fact-check some rumors swirling around the market about private wireless vs. Wi-Fi, private 4G vs. 5G and more. 

  • Reveal what Ericsson and Zebra are working on together related to private wireless connectivity for people and machines, such as autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), machine vision, sensors and more. 

Hear what they had to say: 

Prefer to Download and Listen Later?

Topics
Podcast, Interview, Best Practices, Next in Wireless, Field Operations, Public Sector, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, Transportation and Logistics, Warehouse and Distribution, Hospitality, Energy and Utilities, Podcast,
Therese Van Ryne
Therese Van Ryne

Therese Van Ryne is Senior Director of External Communications for Zebra Technologies. She joined Zebra as part of the acquisition of Motorola Solutions Enterprise business in October 2014. She and her team are laser focused on growing the company’s brand awareness globally aligned with business objectives. Her accomplishments include leading Zebra events with Harvard University and TED as well as the creation of the annual Intelligent Enterprise Index, resulting in positive media coverage, customer engagement and revenue growth.

Prior to Motorola Solutions, Van Ryne worked at SC Johnson where she led corporate communication strategies and drove PR and branding efforts for leading consumer products. One of her top achievements was leading the Windex® placement in the film, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” resulting in a 25% sales increase for the brand.

One of PR News’ 2019 Top Women in PR and Crain's Chicago's 2021 Most Notable Executives in Marketing, Therese also has experience as a journalist, editor and producer, reporting nightly from Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Van Ryne holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Marquette University and an Executive Leadership Master’s Certificate from Cornell University.

Zebra Developer Blog
Zebra Developer Blog

Are you a Zebra Developer? Find more technical discussions on our Developer Portal blog.

Zebra Story Hub
Zebra Story Hub

Looking for more expert insights? Visit the Zebra Story Hub for more interviews, news, and industry trend analysis.

Search the Blog
Search the Blog

Use the below link to search all of our blog posts.