Private Cellular Networking and Secure Client Devices
Randy Siegel
Latest posts by Randy Siegel (see all)
- Flipping the Script: Exploring New Paradigms in Secure Mobile Computing - August 22, 2024
- Phone Kernel Development at Purism - August 19, 2024
- The Evolution of Smartphone Security - August 7, 2024
Private cellular networking and secure client devices provide a holistic, turnkey solution leveraging the N79 band for government or enterprise networks.
5G
The advent of 5G technology has revolutionized the world of wireless communication. Among the various aspects of 5G, the N79 band and private 5G networks have emerged as significant components. This post explores the importance of the N79 band and private 5G wireless networks, and how they compare to public mobile networks.
The N79 Band
The N79 band is a crucial part of the 5G spectrum, particularly due to its relatively common availability. Unlike lower cellular spectrum that is already in use by 3G and 4G networks, the N79 band can operate large channel widths, which is a performance objective of the 5G standard.
Private 5G Networks
Private 5G networks offer dedicated cellular communication to meet the specific requirements of enterprises and organizations. They are becoming a preferred choice for many organizations due to their benefits, such as increased control, security, and customized network configuration.
Enhanced Security
One of the major advantages of private wireless networks is the enhanced level of security they provide. As these networks are separate from public ones, the chances of data breaches and cyberattacks significantly reduce.
Greater Control
With a private network, businesses and government agencies have complete control over their network infrastructure. This control allows for the tailoring of network configuration based on specific needs, including factors like bandwidth allocation, network slicing for different operations, and prioritization of critical applications.
Improved Network Performance
Private networks offer robust performance and reliability compared to their public counterparts. The quality of service is higher due to dedicated resources, and the chances of network congestion are minimal as the network is only utilized by a specific group or organization.
Customizable Coverage
Private networks allow for customizable network coverage. They can be designed to cover specific areas such as a factory floor, a depot, warehouse, specific building, or campus, ensuring optimal performance in these areas.
Private 5G vs Public Mobile Networks
Private 5G networks offer many advantages over public 5G networks. For example, owners can deliver uninterrupted coverage throughout buildings and across campuses, operate within licensed or unlicensed wireless spectrum bands, and granularly manage network access and functions. Private 5G also bypasses public network congestion, ensuring low latency and high speeds for crucial, time-sensitive applications.
Best of Both Worlds
With Purism’s secure mobile devices, users can have the best of both worlds. When used on-campus, in-building, in-garrison or even in theater, they can leverage the N79 band and closed-loop private networking. When the devices are outside of the range of the private network, they can in effect “roam” on public switched cellular networks. It is possible to have private dedicated custom devices with one physical SIM dedicated to the N79 network and a second SIM dedicated to any public operator of choice. In this fashion, secure, turnkey network solutions complete with client-compute devices can be readily delivered at costs far lower than public cellular networks alone.
Please reference recent US Government and NATO Country work done by our partner Abside Networks highlighted in a recent blog post.
We believe this seminal work provides a blueprint for how government can maintain control over their network infrastructure and ensure security at price points below the current public network model.
Holistic and Turnkey Solutions
In conclusion, the N79 band and private 5G networks play a pivotal role in the realm of 5G technology. The N79 band allows for the operation of large channel widths, private 5G networks offer enhanced security, greater control, improved network performance, and customizable coverage.
When paired with a purpose-built, secure smartphone device from Purism, governments, large enterprises and any security conscious organization can realize increased Return on Investment (ROI), resulting in greater productivity for lower costs.
Made In USA Electronics and Secure Supply Chain
Purism is a nimble, US-based OEM. As such, the company can provide both COTS solutions out of the box for sale, and more tailored, GFE-specific solutions based on specific mission requirements.
The Liberty Phone showcases Purism’s ability to manufacture COTS devices made in the USA. Our secure supply and manufacturing process is based in Carlsbad CA where we have the ability to add tamper detection, built-in smartcard (CAC/PIV) reader and/or derived DOD PKI certs, ensure hardware component separation and isolation, feature physical, hardware kill switches, provide the ability to inject cryptographic keys, add/tune radios for air interface agnosticism, and much more!
In fact, unlike other OEMs, Purism will share everything from schematics on up, which allows for a single source to manufacture custom GFE devices with ease. In tailored, GFE approaches, the government will own their own IP.
Based on government supplied specifications, Purism can produce made in the USA, tailored componentry for GFE devices ranging from simple heads-up or chest worn screens optimized for Common Operational Picture and Situational Awareness applications, to more robust field and white-collar knowledge worker use cases.
Since Purism lacks the overhead costs of large OEMs who have to sell millions of devices to break even, the government and taxpayers are provided with a more flexible and cost-effective solution. A solution that is by design more secure because the supply chain is more secure.
Purism Products and Availability Chart
| Model | Status | Lead Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Librem Key (Made in USA) | In Stock ($59+) | 10 business days | |
 | Librem 5 | In Stock ($699+) 3GB/32GB | 10 business days | |
| Librem 5 COMSEC Bundle | In Stock ($1299+) Qty 2; 3GB/32GB | 10 business days | |
| Liberty Phone (Made in USA Electronics) | Backorder ($1,999+) 4GB/128GB | Estimated delivery date pending | |
| Librem 5 + SIMple (3 GB Data) | In Stock ($99/mo) | 10 business days | |
| Librem 5 + SIMple Plus (5 GB Data) | In Stock ($129/mo) | 10 business days | |
| Librem 5 + AweSIM (Unlimited Data) | In Stock ($169/mo) | 10 business days | |
 | Librem 11 | In Stock ($999+) 8GB/1TB | 10 business days | |
 | Librem 14 | Backorder ($1,370+) | Estimated delivery date pending | |
 | Librem Mini | Backorder ($799+) | Estimated delivery mid-October | |
 | Librem Server | In Stock ($2,999+) | 45 business days |
Recent Posts
Related Content
- Flipping the Script: Exploring New Paradigms in Secure Mobile Computing
- The Evolution of Smartphone Security
- Hardware Based Security For Government
- Private Cellular Networking and Secure Client Devices
- Purpose-Built Smartphones for Government vs. Commercial Off-The-Shelf Devices
