Radios connect the working area
Radios provide the wireless connection between the network and compatible devices. Placement follows the building, equipment, device traffic and the routes people and machines travel.
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Private networks · UK business guide
What is private 5G?
Private 5G is a mobile network reserved for an organisation’s authorised devices. For a UK factory, warehouse or campus, it connects those devices through site radios and a mobile core, with control over access and how traffic reaches business applications.
How a private 5G network works
The core controls network access
The mobile core authenticates SIMs and directs traffic. A local core and local application path keep the chosen operational traffic on site; cloud destinations and remote management are separate design decisions.
SIMs identify authorised devices
Each device needs the right radio bands, network capabilities and SIM credentials. Industrial gateways can connect equipment that has no cellular modem. A public mobile SIM does not automatically join your private network.
Private 5G in practice
A 5,000 m² factory: connect production, inspection and dispatch
A pallet leaves the line. Its barcode is scanned, a camera records the finished batch and a mobile robot receives its next collection job. Private 5G carries those updates between compatible equipment and the factory’s applications as the work moves across the floor.
Keep material movements visible
Connect robot controllers, forklift terminals and handheld scanners along working routes. Production and warehouse systems receive the next movement without staff returning to a fixed terminal.
Bring inspection data to the application
Send images from connected inspection cameras to local processing. Link results to the batch so the team can investigate rejected items while production records are still current.
Connect machines on your terms
Use compatible cellular gateways to carry machine readings to maintenance and production applications. Authorise each connection and control which systems it can reach.
Illustrative deployment, not a claim of a completed customer project. The network carries application traffic; robot safety functions and machine control remain subject to the equipment supplier’s requirements.
Private 5G and public phone reception solve different problems
Private 5G does not automatically improve reception on staff and visitors’ existing mobile contracts. If calls fail indoors, start with public mobile coverage. If operational devices also need a private network, plan the two services together.
Compare private 5G with DAS → · Check whether you need private 5G →
What private 5G costs for a 5,000 m² factory
Worked factory example · 5,000 m²
£53,783 installed, ex VAT
One production floor, three indoor radios and 100 SIMs. The Manufacturing model assumes up to 100 concurrent devices, with a private core, network switch, timing server and radio licences.
The estimate covers the private network across the factory floor. It does not include a public mobile DAS or the purchase of robots, cameras and other application devices.
5,000 m²Indoor factory · one floor
3 radiosModelled indoor coverage
100 SIMs100 concurrent devices assumed
1 yearSupport included
All figures are installed calculator examples, rounded to the nearest pound: indicative; confirmed by survey; ex VAT. They include equipment, cabling, survey, design, installation, commissioning and one-year support. Private 5G includes core, radios, radio licences and the stated SIMs. Excludes travel and accommodation and optional hardware replacement. Application devices, application integration, internet backhaul and spectrum licence fees are outside these network examples.
Get an instant estimate → · Read the private 5G cost guide →
Deploying and managing a UK private 5G network
Seneca brings the radio survey, device qualification, core, installation and ongoing management into one programme. We establish the spectrum arrangements for the site and document responsibilities for access, monitoring, updates and support.
Define acceptance around the job: a completed robot route, delivered inspection images or reliable scanner transactions. Baseline the existing operation and test the finished network with the same devices and applications.
Explore managed private 5G → · Compare private 5G and Wi-Fi →
Private 5G in manufacturing and healthcare
Private 5G for manufacturing → · Private 5G for healthcare → · DAS for manufacturing →
Private 5G definition and deployment questions
Is private 5G the same as public 5G?
No. Private 5G serves authorised devices for an organisation. Public 5G serves subscribers of a mobile operator. The core, access arrangements and service responsibilities depend on the private deployment model.
How much does private 5G cost for a 5,000 m² factory?
The calculator example is £53,783 ex VAT for a 5,000 m² indoor factory on one floor, with three radios, 100 SIMs and 100 concurrent devices assumed. It includes the private core, installation, commissioning and one-year support. The price is indicative and confirmed by survey, with the exclusions listed above.
Will our existing phones work on private 5G?
Only if they support the chosen private network, bands and credentials. Existing public subscriptions do not automatically connect. Use DAS when the objective is reception on people’s existing mobile contracts.
Does private 5G require an internet connection?
Local applications can use a local network path. Internet access and external services require an appropriate backhaul connection. Remote support and other dependencies must be included in the design.
Request a quote for your private 5G network
Tell us about your site, devices and the work you need to connect. We will scope delivery and ongoing support around those requirements.
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