When Should Operators Transition from 4G EPC to 5G Core SA?

You are at an important time for operators’ transition from 4G EPC to 5G core. Moving to a 5G core network introduces new features, addresses more customer needs, and keeps you ahead in a rapidly changing market. By the middle of 2024, only 20% of operators around the world have initiated their standalone 5G transition, but over 120 are currently planning or working on it. These trends assist you in deciding when to make the change:

• Faster 5G rollout makes networks more complex.

• Digital transformation propels you toward cloud-native systems.

• Customers demand better service, necessitating smarter, AI-driven tools.

If you want to stay competitive, you should evaluate your readiness for this operators transition and take action before most others do, ensuring you are not left behind.

Key Takeaways

• Operators need to move to 5G core to give customers better service and new features.

• Upgrading to 5G core helps support things like AI and IoT. It makes the network work better.

• Using a step-by-step migration plan helps control costs and risks when moving from 4G to 5G.

• Putting money into cloud-native architecture makes networks more flexible. It lets services start faster.

• Watching how the network works is important. It keeps service good and customers happy during the change.

• Picking the best technology partners can make the migration easier. It also makes the network stronger.

• Rules and regulations can change how fast you move to 5G. Knowing about them helps you plan well.

• Teaching staff about new technologies is needed for a smooth switch to 5G core operations.

Business Drivers for Operators Transition

Strategic Objectives

You need to know why your business goals push you to change your core network. Moving from 4G to 5G core is not just about faster speeds. It helps you build a strong base for future services. It also helps you stay ahead in the market. Operators transition because they want new features, better efficiency, and support for advanced apps.

Here is a table that shows the most common strategic objectives for operators transition:

You want your core network to handle more data and connect more devices. You also want it to give better experiences. The core manages traffic and keeps users connected. It also gives important services. When you focus on core network evolution, you get ready for AI, automation, and new digital services.

National competitiveness is important too. Many countries see 5G core as a big part of their digital future. If you wait too long, you might fall behind other operators. They may already use advanced core network features. Rules and investment help can make your journey faster, especially if your country supports quick 5G core deployment.

Tip: Match your core network evolution with your business plan. This helps you stay ahead of others and meet new customer needs.

Service Evolution

You should think about how new services affect your move to 5G core. Changing from 4G to 5G core lets you do more than just give faster internet. You can support smart factories, connected cars, and big sensor networks. These services need a strong core network. It must handle many connections at the same time.

Operators transition to 5G core because it gives features like ultra-reliable low latency communication. This is important for things like remote surgery or automated factories. The core network also helps with massive machine-type communication. This is key for the Internet of Things (IoT). With 5G core, you can connect thousands of sensors and devices in real time.

• IoT and 5G core together give you ultra-low latency and high bandwidth. This is very important for real-time apps.

• The need to support many service types and big networks pushes your core network evolution.

• AI and network tools get stronger with 5G core. They help you manage your network better.

If you want to stay competitive, you must improve your core network. The core is the heart of your system. It manages data, keeps your network safe, and supports new tech. Operators transition at the right time to make sure they can give the services their customers want now and later.

5G Core Readiness Factors

Infrastructure and Devices

You need to know why your infrastructure and devices matter. Upgrading your core network is more than adding new features. Your network must handle the demands of 5g core. You should check your current technology to see if it is ready.

• You have to upgrade your mobile backhaul. This step is important because 5g core needs higher speeds and better performance than 4g.

• Switching to a cloud-native architecture makes your network more flexible. This change lets you manage more traffic and support new services.

• Your cell sites need more capacity. For 5g core, aim for at least 10Gbps at each site. This helps with faster speeds and stricter performance standards.

• You need better tools to monitor performance. These tools must be more detailed to meet strict service level agreements for new service slices.

• You should work with one technology partner. This helps keep your 5g core network ready and lowers the need for expensive site visits.

You also need to check your technology stack. You may need to spend time and money to upgrade your network. You must plan for capacity and make sure your network can recover from failures. Adding new functions and planning your architecture are important steps in your core network evolution.

Note: Upgrading your infrastructure and devices is not just a technical step. It is a smart move that gets your core network ready for future growth and new services.

Coverage and Performance

You want to know why coverage and performance are important when moving from 4g to 5g core. The main reason is that 5g core brings much better speed, lower latency, and higher reliability. These improvements help you give better services and meet customer needs.

You can see that 5g core gives a big jump in download speed and much lower latency. This means your customers get faster and more reliable connections. The cloud-native design of 5g core also makes your network more reliable than 4g.

You must plan your coverage carefully. Make sure your core network supports all the areas where you want to offer new services. You also need to watch your network’s performance closely. This helps you meet the strict requirements of new service types and keep your customers happy.

Your core network evolution depends on how well you prepare your infrastructure and plan your coverage. If you do these steps right, your move to 5g core will be smoother and more successful.

Market and Regulatory Landscape

Competitive Pressures

You face many competitive pressures when you plan your journey from 4g to 5g core. These pressures shape why you must think carefully about the timing of your move. The market for 5g standalone networks is growing fast, especially in North America, Europe, and China. Operators in these regions lead the way, and you may feel the need to keep up.

Here are some of the main pressures you will encounter:

• You may worry about the return on investment. The cost to move your core network to a cloud-native design is high, and the benefits may not seem clear at first.

• You must prepare for big changes in how your team works. Moving to 5g core means you need new skills and new ways of working.

• Some operators do not feel much urgency. They see 5g core as an extra feature, not a must-have. This can slow down your journey.

• The market expects more from your services. Operators like T-Mobile use network slicing to offer better quality of service. If you wait too long, you risk falling behind.

You can see the latest market trends in the table below:

You need to ask yourself why you should start your journey now. If you wait, you may lose your place in the market. Early movers often gain a strong advantage.

Regulatory Drivers

Regulatory factors play a big role in your core network journey. You must follow rules about spectrum, security, and service quality. These rules can help or slow down your move from 4g to 5g core.

Key regulatory drivers include:

• Early spectrum allocation helps you deploy 5g core faster. If your country gives out spectrum early, you can start your journey sooner.

• High spectrum licensing costs can slow you down. You may need to wait until costs drop or new incentives appear.

• Countries with clear and coordinated rules help operators move faster. If your country has a fragmented approach, your journey may take longer.

• Clear coverage rules and investment support lead to better results. Proactive policies help you build your core network with less risk.

• Security and privacy rules are stricter with 5g core. You must protect each service type, especially when you use network slicing.

• Net neutrality laws may affect how you manage your core network. You need to make sure you treat all services fairly.

• Rules about data crossing borders can limit your service options. You must plan your core network to follow these laws.

Note: You should watch for changes in regulations. Countries with strong, clear policies often see faster and more successful 5g core deployments.

Your journey to 5g core depends on both market and regulatory factors. If you understand these drivers, you can plan your core network evolution with more confidence.

Benefits of 5G Core Evolution

Advanced Capabilities

Network Slicing

You should know why network slicing is important. Network slicing lets you split your core network into different parts. Each part can help a special service or group of customers. This means you can give special resources to things like emergency services or factories. Other traffic will not get in the way. With 5g core, you can make and control these slices fast. This change helps you give new services with high quality. You could not do this with 4g. Businesses like having steady service and will pay for it. Network slicing helps you earn more money and serve both people and companies better.

Ultra-Low Latency

Ultra-low latency is another big reason to upgrade your core network. The 5g core lets you support things that need super-fast response, like robots, remote surgery, and online games. Moving from 4g to 5g core makes delay as low as 1 millisecond. This big change lets you give your customers new things. Companies want strong, fast connections for important jobs. Now you can offer these services. This brings new business chances and makes customers trust you more.

The 5g core uses a cloud service-based design. This design lets you run network functions on many types of servers. You can set up private networks and apps with low delay. You could not do this before. This change gives you new ways to make money from your core network.

Operators who move to 5g core can start new services fast, grow their networks easily, and give special services with high quality.

Operational Efficiency

You should know how core network evolution makes things work better. The 5g core lets you use automation for many network jobs. Automation means less manual work and lower costs. For example, Clarion Malaysia used a 5g core network in factories. They picked items 80% faster and needed 300% less manual work. Rogers in Canada made special lanes for first responders. This helped emergency teams talk better. The National University Health System in Singapore used 5g core for clear hologram images. This helped doctors do surgery better.

Here is a table that shows the best benefits you get after moving to 5g core:

Your core network evolution helps you change fast, serve more people, and save money. Moving to 5g core is not just a tech upgrade. It is a smart plan to stay ahead in a changing world.

Challenges in Operators Transition

Investment and Costs

You face tough choices when moving from 4g to 5g core. Investment and costs are a big part of your decision. You must plan your spending step by step. The operators transition needs many upgrades and new technology. Most operators transition slowly to keep costs low and avoid risks. Many operators use non-standalone setups to save money. They add 5g core features little by little. Investment plans often last until 2028 or 2029. This gives you time to spread out costs and learn from others.

• You need to upgrade your core network.

• You must buy new devices and software.

• You pay for staff training and hiring experts.

• You spend money on testing and trials.

You must balance these costs with the benefits of core network evolution. If you wait too long, you might fall behind. If you move too fast, you could face high costs and technical issues.

Tip: Make your investment plan fit your business goals and market needs. This helps you control costs and stay ahead.

Migration Complexity

Migration complexity is another big challenge in your core network evolution. You must solve many technical and operational problems as you move to 5g core. You need to keep your services running while you upgrade your network. You also need to make sure your new core works well with your old systems.

Here are the main sources of migration complexity and ways to make it easier:

1. Speed up your rollout with digital tools and smart deployment. Use drones and AI to build 5g NR faster and save money.

2. Match network design and operations for smoother changes. Break down team silos to make processes easier and boost automation.

3. Move to fully cloud-native networks. Use containers for quick rollouts and automatic updates. Check your architecture for cloud-native ideas.

4. Try trial deployments to reach more customers. Work with different vendors to test new services and see how they fit with new industries.

Dual Core Operation

You often need to run both 4g and 5g core networks at the same time. This dual core operation makes things harder. You must manage two sets of systems and make sure they work together. You need to keep old services running while you launch new ones. This step is important for a smooth operators transition. You must plan your journey well to avoid service problems.

Service Continuity

Service continuity is very important during your core network evolution. You must keep your customers connected and happy. You need to test your new core network before you launch it. You must watch performance and fix problems fast. You also need to train your staff to handle new systems. If you do these steps well, you can keep your services running and build trust with your customers.

You must understand these challenges to plan your core network evolution. If you solve them early, you can make your operators transition smoother and more successful.

Practical Steps for Evolution

You need a simple plan to move from epc to 5g core. This part tells you why each step is important and how you can make your core network evolution work well.

Migration Strategies

You have to pick how to switch from 4g to 5g core. This choice changes how your network grows and affects service quality. Many operators use phased migration. This way, you lower risk and spread out costs. You can start with dual core operation. This means you run both evolved packet core and 5g core together. You keep old services while you try new ones. This helps you avoid service problems and learn from mistakes.

You should think about these strategies for your journey:

• Make a migration plan that fits your business. Pick a deployment model and cloud plan that match your goals.

• Use automation for network management. Automation makes things easier and helps with slicing and other features.

• Train your staff or hire new people. You need workers who know networking and IT computing. This helps you handle the move to 5g network platforms.

• Choose vendors with care. Integration is hard, so you need partners who can help your core network evolution.

Tip: Phased migration gives you more control. You can test each step and change your plan as you learn.

Partner Selection

You must pick the right partners for your core network evolution. The right partner helps you get the most from your 5g platform. You need to ask why each partner is a good fit and how they help you.

Think about these things when picking partners:

• Business case alignment: Make sure the partner’s products match your needs and use cases.

• Cost efficiency: Pick partners who help you save money, especially in low-ARPU areas.

• Security: Find partners with strong security, like zero-trust and network isolation. These features keep slicing apps safe.

• Value capture: Choose partners who help you make money from edge computing and ultra-low latency.

• Advanced capabilities: Make sure the partner supports new services and network slicing.

You should also look for these technical features:

1. Cloud-native scalability and flexibility. This helps you add new 5g services and get real-time feedback.

2. Multi-domain, multi-layer visibility. This lets you watch network slices and keep service quality high.

3. Tailored QoE and QoS guarantees. You need these for special service needs, like latency and speed.

4. Comprehensive analytics. Good data helps you see network performance and how users act.

5. Intelligent and automated troubleshooting. This cuts downtime and keeps your core network working well.

Note: The right partner makes your core network evolution easier. You get new technology and expert help.

Readiness Checklist

You must check if you are ready before you start your core network evolution. This checklist shows why each item matters and how it helps you.

1. Operational readiness: Train your team and update how you work. This gets your staff ready for new core network jobs.

2. Risk management: Find risks in each migration step. Make plans to lower these risks.

3. Timeline and phasing: Set a timeline that works. Plan each phase so you can test and improve.

4. Device ecosystem: Check if 5g SA devices are ready and work with your network.

5. Network deployment options: Pick options that fit your network now and in the future.

6. Market dynamics: Know what customers want, what rivals do, and what rules you must follow.

7. Technology maturity: Make sure 5g SA tech is stable and ready for you.

8. Service continuity: Make sure your plan keeps services running without breaks.

9. Cost implications: Look at costs for upgrades and how much you can save.

10. Spectrum strategy: Plan how to use your bands and get new spectrum for 5g core.

11. Staff training: Teach network operators and support staff about 5g SA tech and steps.

📝 Use this checklist to help your simple journey from epc to 5g core. Each item helps you build a strong mobile core network and supports your move to advanced 5g network platforms.

You need to follow these steps to make your core network evolution work well. Each step shows why you must get ready, choose well, and plan your journey to 5g core.

You need to plan your move to 5g core. Make sure your business goals, technology, and the market all fit together. The table below explains why you should not wait:

Follow the checklist and steps to help your core network change. Look at your network now and think about why you should be a leader in 5g core.

FAQ

Why should you not wait too long to move to 5G Core SA?

You risk falling behind your competitors if you wait. Early movers gain new customers and offer better services. You can lead the market by acting before others.

Why does 5G Core SA matter for new business models?

5G Core SA lets you use network slicing and edge computing. You can create new services for industries like healthcare and manufacturing. This helps you earn more revenue.

Why do you need to upgrade your devices for 5G Core?

Old devices cannot use all 5G Core features. You need new devices to get faster speeds and lower latency. Upgrading helps you give better service to your customers.

Why is cloud-native architecture important for 5G Core?

Cloud-native design makes your network flexible and easy to manage. You can add new features quickly. This helps you keep up with changing customer needs.

Why do regulations affect your 5G Core transition?

Regulations set rules for security, spectrum, and service quality. You must follow these rules to avoid fines and delays. Understanding them helps you plan your network better.

Why does dual core operation make migration easier?

Dual core operation lets you run 4G and 5G together. You can keep old services running while you test new ones. This reduces risk during your transition.

Why should you train your staff before moving to 5G Core?

Your staff needs new skills to manage 5G Core. Training helps them handle new tools and solve problems faster. Well-trained teams make your network more reliable.