5G isn’t Plug-and-Play: 7 real deployment choices explained

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Not all 5G deployments improve service.

Some might even degrade it.

Deploying 5G isn’t plug-and-play.
It’s layered, technical - and full of choices.

There are 7 ways to roll out 5G.
Each one comes with trade-offs.

Let’s break them down:

Option :one:: eNB + EPC

This is classic 4G.
It keeps things stable—just don’t expect full 5G benefits.

Option :two:: gNB + 5GC

Pure 5G, front to back.
Great for future growth, if you’re ready for it.

Option :three:: EPC + eNB (Master) + gNB (Secondary)

A clever mix.
You get 4G’s maturity and 5G’s speed in one go.

Option :four:: 5GC + gNB (Master) + eNB (Secondary)

5G is in charge, but 4G sticks around.
Ideal if you need both worlds.

Option :five:: 5GC + eNB

Lean, clean, standalone 5G.
Best for new networks starting fresh.

Option :six:: 4G Core + gNB

A cost-saving path.
But it won’t unleash full 5G power.

Option :seven:: 5GC + eNB (Master) + gNB (Secondary)

Smart middle ground.
You get flexibility, speed, and fallback all in one.

So, which one should you choose?
It depends on your story.

Need to keep costs low?
:white_check_mark: Option 1 or 3 can help you start smart.

Want to stay ahead of the curve?
:white_check_mark: Look into Option 2 or 5.

Prefer balance over extremes?
:white_check_mark: Option 7 offers just that.

Pick what fits - not what’s trending.

And your network will thank you tomorrow.

Thanks for reading.

5G isn’t Plug-and-Play: 7 real deployment choices explained
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PDF: :point_down:

5G Deployment Options (By Furqan Jameel).pdf (4.7 MB)

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Observation: Lack of Practical Insight in the Original Analysis

The blog suggests Option 7 as the preferred deployment, where an eNodeB is deployed alongside a 5G Core (5GC). However, this raises several key requirements and challenges in practice:

Requirements:

  • Radio Compatibility: Ensuring existing radios are compatible with 5GC.
  • RAN Interface Updates: Compatibility with the latest software releases.

Practical Challenges:

  • Cost Incompatibility: Significant expenses related to software upgrades, hardware updates, new radio units, and RAN modernization.
  • Infrastructure Readiness: Globally, less than 5% of operators have fully deployed 5GC. Therefore, there is limited practical learning or optimization experience available at this stage.

Future Outlook:

As 5GC deployment becomes more widespread and user demand shifts toward true 5G Standalone (SA) services—especially for use cases driven by:

  • Ultra-low latency
  • Service prioritization

…the existing LTE RAN / EPC infrastructure will need to be redesigned or upgraded accordingly.

Recommended Approach Today:

Adopting a Hybrid RAN and Hybrid Core strategy remains the most pragmatic solution—optimizing based on real user needs and deployment maturity.

Note: This is not intended as criticism toward the original author, but as a contribution grounded in real-world operational experience.