Amid the accelerating global push for digital transformation, private 5G networks are gaining prominence as a secure, low-latency, high speed connectivity solution tailored for enterprise needs. They are increasingly being adopted worldwide to support automation, real-time analytics and industry-specific innovations across sectors.
Globally, the private 5G ecosystem is more advanced, driven by strategic partnerships and scalable enterprise solutions. In October 2024, a collaboration was announced between a US-based private 5G technology firm and a global Indian IT services company to deliver scalable enterprise-grade private 5G solutions across sectors. The initiative combined cutting-edge 5G infrastructure with digital transformation capabilities to support global industry adoption. Similarly, another US-based company, T-Mobile, launched “5G On Demand”, a portable and rapid-deployment private network solution that caters to data-intensive applications with high bandwidth and ultra-low latency. More recently, in April 2025, Sweden-based telecom operator Telia, along with the Finnish Defence Forces and a technology partner, successfully conducted the world’s first seamless 5G standalone slice handover in a live network, marking a significant milestone in advancing critical 5G capabilities for defence and other mission-critical industries in Finland.
However, in India, the adoption of private 5G has been comparatively muted. Since 2023, Tesla has reportedly been in talks with Reliance Jio to roll out a private 5G set-up at its planned manufacturing unit in India, supporting connected automotive and smart production lines. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel had made some early moves, deploying private 5G to support use cases such as smart factories and autonomous vehicle operations. Yet, these initiatives remain isolated examples, with limited evidence of broader market traction.
Private 5G networks are also driving innovation in specific industries, offering tailored solutions to meet sector-specific challenges and operational demands.
Healthcare
Private 5G provides controlled and hospital-wide coverage that supports real-time communication between medical staff, ensures the uninterrupted functioning of connected medical devices and enables instant access to patient records through edge computing. This makes it ideal for deploying smart healthcare infrastructure, ranging from wearable sensors for continuous vital monitoring to autonomous disinfection robots and remote diagnostics tools.
Across the globe, hospitals are already adopting such networks to improve efficiency and quality of care. Finland’s Oulu University Hospital has implemented a private standalone 5G network to power augmented reality glasses, allowing doctors real-time access to patient data. Sweden’s Skelleftea Hospital and South Korea’s Hanyang University Hospital have similarly deployed private 5G to strengthen operational safety and communications. In the US, private 5G is being leveraged through managed service models to address in-building network coverage gaps in healthcare facilities. In contrast, India is yet to witness large-scale hospital-grade adoption. A notable exception is LifeSigns’ LifeConnect, a connected ambulance solution that leverages hybrid private-public 4G/5G set-ups to transmit patient data during transit.
Ports
Private 5G networks are reshaping port operations by enabling real-time tracking of cargo, vehicles and equipment, while supporting automation, autonomous vehicles and secure, uninterrupted data flows. These capabilities improve operational accuracy, reduce delays and allow predictive maintenance. Globally, port authorities have made significant progress.
In Singapore, Singtel is deploying private 5G at Tuas Port to upgrade automated guided vehicles and streamline cargo movement. Spain’s Port of Valencia is building a large-scale private 5G set-up connecting over 25,000 devices including cranes, drones and sensors. In New Zealand, Tu Atea is establishing the country’s first commercial private 5G network at CentrePort Wellington. South Korea’s Smart Naval Port project, driven by South Korea-based KT Corporation, is rolling out private 5G for advanced naval logistics. Even Schiphol airport, Netherlands, has turned to private 5G to meet the connectivity demands of high speed, mission-critical port operations. In Germany, private 5G networks are driving operational efficiency and enabling data-driven decision-making at key hubs such as Cologne Bonn airport and Frankfurt airport. In India, the pace remains slow. The only progress is BSNL’s pilot with C-DAC, which includes limited-scale private 5G testing for ports and industrial sectors such as mining and logistics.
Mining
Private 5G offers mining companies full control over their network, enabling customised network configurations tailored to mission-critical applications such as autonomous haulage systems, underground vehicle telemetry and real-time geospatial data transmission. Its dedicated spectrum eliminates interference from external users, which is crucial in dense or electromagnetically noisy environments such as underground tunnels. Moreover, with on-premises data processing, sensitive operational data never leaves the mine site, addressing strict data sovereignty and security requirements.
In South Africa, MTN and China Telecom are deploying a private 5G network for a major manganese mining company in the Northern Cape. Furthermore, Newmont Corporation has successfully deployed a remote-controlled bulldozer fleet over a private 5G network at its gold and copper mine in New South Wales, Australia. Parallelly in India, at Coal India Limited’s Amlohri open cast coal mines in Madhya Pradesh, BSNL has rolled out a private 5G network to enable real-time communication, autonomous machinery and monitoring systems tailored to the mine’s terrain. Most recently, an Indian start-up deployed a private 5G network at Coal India.
Media and entertainment
Private 5G supports immersive and integrated media, combining virtual reality, augmented reality and 5G to create interactive environments for consumers, enhancing viewer engagement. Meanwhile, content-on-demand provides users with the flexibility to consume media at their own pace and on their preferred platforms. In addition, remote production streamlines broadcasting operations, allowing content creators to produce high quality media from virtually anywhere, reducing costs and increasing flexibility. This allows media companies to establish temporary, high-capacity wireless networks at event venues without relying on congested public furniture.
For instance, Verizon’s “private networking in a box” solution offers on-demand private 5G connectivity with dedicated bandwidth, facilitating seamless real-time video production and low-latency streaming during events. The 2024 Paris Olympics also showcased this potential. Telecom operator Orange deployed a fully private 5G network with dedicated infrastructure to enable high quality live streaming and support for various digital services during the opening ceremony and other events.
Manufacturing
In manufacturing, private 5G enables ultra-reliable low-latency communication, which is essential for real-time control of industrial automation systems, such as robotic arms on assembly lines that must respond to sensor input within milliseconds to maintain synchronisation and avoid production faults. It also supports deterministic networking, where packet delivery is guaranteed within a defined time frame, which is critical for time-sensitive networking protocols used in industrial Ethernet systems.
In the UK, for instance, Jaguar Land Rover’s Solihull plant is leveraging a private 5G network to enhance production efficiency and real-time connectivity on the factory floor. In South Korea, Hyundai Motor Company has successfully completed an end-to-end RedCap trial over a private 5G network at one of its manufacturing facilities, advancing its smart factory ambitions.
Challenges and the way forward
According to industry estimates, the global private 5G network market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 54.3 per cent from 2024 ($5.7 billion) to 2033 ($160.6 billion). Meanwhile, in India, the private 5G network market is expected to reach a projected revenue of $674.6 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 55.5 per cent from 2024 to 2030.
Despite the global momentum around private 5G networks, India has seen fewer than 20 deployments so far, significantly trailing behind countries such as the US, which has over 170 private networks, and China, with more than 31,600 5G virtual private networks as of 2023. In Europe, 95 private 5G networks exist, even though the region’s population is only a third of
India’s size.
A key bottleneck lies in Indian enterprises’ dependence on telecom operators for spectrum access, which limits cost efficiency, deployment flexibility and scalability. In contrast, about 36 per cent of private networks in Europe operate independently of telecom operators, reflecting more diverse and adaptable deployment models. Moreover, while the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has initiated internal discussions on allowing direct spectrum allocation to enterprises, coming nearly 19 months after the union cabinet’s approval of the proposal based on TRAI’s recommendations, progress remains slow. The proposal suggests allowing enterprises to build private networks through direct spectrum access, supported by simplified licensing and nominal fees to encourage broader adoption.
Furthermore, private 5G networks demand customised performance attributes tailored to specific industry use cases, posing challenges in technical feasibility and scalability. While telcos are expected to bridge this gap, their capacity to offer service level agreement-driven services that meet varied industrial demands is still maturing. A liberalised policy on captive private mobile networks in India could be a game changer, helping boost the domestic design and manufacturing ecosystem, and offering innovative solutions for sectors such as mining, defence, utilities and in-building coverage.
Indian corporations have long advocated for direct spectrum access. TRAI’s proposal, if cleared by the government, could allow these entities to build their own private 5G networks at up to a 40 per cent lower cost than telecom-operator-based models. To promote broader adoption, especially among small and medium enterprises, spectrum access must be affordable – either free or available at nominal fees – with a simplified governance model and flexible usage timelines to support deployment across both urban and rural areas.
Globally, private 5G networks are becoming foundational to Industry 4.0, enabling connected, intelligent and resilient operations. For India to fully realise this transformative potential and support its vision of becoming an industrial powerhouse, an inclusive, enterprise-friendly spectrum allocation framework is crucial. The time is ripe for decisive action by DoT and TRAI to turn policy intent into scalable implementation.
