Amazon Web Services is entering the market for 5G private networks. At its annual AWS re:Invent summit, the company launched a preview of AWS Private 5G, a new managed service that helps enterprises set up private 5G mobile networks in their facilities "in days instead of months", the company said.
A private network can be configured on the AWS console. Customers specify where they want to build a mobile network and the network capacity needed for their devices. AWS then delivers and maintains the small cell radio units, servers, 5G core and radio access network (RAN) software, as well as the SIM cards need to connect devices to the network.
AWS Private 5G automates the setup and deployment of the network and scales capacity on demand to support additional devices and increased network traffic. There are no upfront fees or per-device costs with AWS Private 5G, and customers pay only for the network capacity and throughput they request, Amazon said.
The service is designed to simplify the network deployment, allowing customers to rely on tools they already know from Amazon's cloud services. The preview is available to start in the US, where Amazon has already been working with Verizon on similar services.
IoT connectivity software
AWS also announced a preview of IoT ExpressLink, its new software for connecting IoT devices. This is offered with hardware modules from partners such as Espressif, Infineon and U-blox. The AWS-validated software is designed to make it easier to connect nearly any product to the cloud, such as medical devices, industrial sensors, and consumer products.
According to Amazon, "developers of all skill levels can quickly and easily transform their products into IoT devices without having to merge large amounts of code or have a deep understanding of the underlying implementation". The connectivity modules come pre-provisioned with security credentials and are preprogrammed to integrate with over 200 AWS IoT services, including AWS IoT Core. Pricing is determined by the module makers.
