Category: News

News Highlights:

• MFA expands mission to support 5G private networks by creating Uni5G™ Technology Blueprints, based on existing 3GPP 5G specifications, that will enable enterprises to deploy their own 5G private networks in unlicensed, shared and locally licensed spectrum
• The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has awarded MFA with a unique global PLMN ID which it will make available to enterprises that deploy their own Uni5G or MulteFire (4G) private network
• MFA (previously MulteFire Alliance) has recently rebranded to reflect its expanded scope in facilitating 5G private network deployments

FREMONT, CA – June 22, 2021 – MFA (MulteFire® Alliance), an international organization dedicated to enabling industry verticals to deploy private cellular networks globally, today announced its expanded mission to enable 5G private networks in unlicensed, shared and locally licensed spectrum by providing guidance to enterprises seeking to deploy their own network.

Leveraging existing 3GPP 5G specifications, MFA will deliver Uni5G Technology Blueprints to industry verticals. These blueprints will help enterprises select and implement the key features from the 3GPP standards that are relevant to their specific deployment. MFA will also develop best practices and deployment guides, including industry resources on understanding all available spectrum options for 5G private networks. The first Uni5G Technology Blueprint will be available in Q4 2021.

According to a recent industry report by ABI Research, the total addressable market size for 5G and 4G/LTE private network equipment for Industry 4.0 use cases will reach ~$35B by 2030.

“MFA paved the way for industries to contemplate how they can deploy their own private network in unlicensed spectrum using MulteFire 4G/LTE-based cellular technology with high-performance, built-in security and mobility benefits,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “Now through our expanded role in enabling 5G private networks, MFA will provide industry verticals with practical guidance on deployment that will meet their unique requirements and determine which spectrum option is right for their site.”

MFA provides a unique global PLMN ID for 5G and MulteFire private networks to industry verticals

MFA has been awarded a global Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) ID by the ITU. MFA is planning to make this PLMN ID available to industry verticals. The PLMN ID is a series of numbers that identifies a specific network and ensures that only authorized devices connect to that network.

With access to a unique global PLMN ID number, industry verticals are able to deploy their own 5G private network in locally licensed spectrum or a MulteFire private network in unlicensed spectrum today.

MFA members and others under MFA authorization are able to bundle the PLMN ID with their network equipment, thus simplifying the deployment process for enterprises by eliminating the need for them to separately apply for a PLMN ID.

“Across all industry verticals, we’re witnessing a drive to increase control, reliability and security through deployment of private networks,” said Chmaytelli. “Enterprises can now leverage locally licensed spectrum using Uni5G technology, and later can use global unlicensed or shared spectrum when 5G NR-U solutions become available. Through our Uni5G Technology Blueprints and our unique global PLMN ID, MFA has simplified the path to 5G private networks and is helping to accelerate the ecosystem.”

To join the MFA, learn more about Uni5G or how to access PLMN ID numbers, or receive notifications on the Uni5G Technology Blueprint, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

Resources: 

• White Paper: “5G Private Networks for Maritime Use: Opportunities for Digital Port Automation,” Beecham Research
• White Paper: “The Importance of Spectrum Liberalization for Private 5G Networks,” ABI Research
• Video: Uni5G and MulteFire Private Networks for Manufacturing

About the MFA

MFA (MulteFire Alliance) is an international organization that is championing the global industry adoption of private cellular networks using MFA-defined MulteFire specifications for LTE and Uni5G technology blueprints for 5G. With Uni5G or MulteFire, enterprises can efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable and secure private network in unlicensed, shared or locally licensed spectrum. For more information, visit www.mfa-tech.org.

Program certifies Nokia small cell and customer premise equipment (CPE) as first MulteFire 1.0 compliant devices

 FREMONT, CA – November 19, 2020 – The MulteFire Alliance (MFA) today announced the launch of its MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program. In addition, the first customer premise equipment (CPE) device has been certified compliant.

With MulteFire technology, organizations can now cost-effectively deploy their own private LTE network and realize the benefits of better capacity, coverage, mobility and built-in security needed for industry 4.0 use cases.

The MulteFire 1.0 specification defines LTE operation in unlicensed and shared spectrum bands, including the global 5 GHz band. The certification program tests eNodeBs together with UEs for conformance with the MulteFire 1.0 specification to ensure an interoperable, global device ecosystem for use in unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. By removing the need for licensed spectrum, MulteFire will help to lower entry cost and accelerate high-speed, secure private wireless networking deployment.

MulteFire technology opens up an entirely new range of private wireless use cases that add to existing deployment scenarios in asset-intensive industries. New opportunities include rapid deployment situations such as field hospitals and emergency response, as well as temporary systems for pop-up events, touring, cultural and sports programs. In addition, MulteFire can also be used to complement existing private wireless deployment in licensed spectrum, for example to add capacity by tapping into the large bandwidth available in the unlicensed 5 GHz spectrum band.

“The MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program is a significant milestone for the Alliance and represents the diligent efforts of our Certification Working Group to bring this program to the industry,” said Mazen Chmaytelli, president, MFA. “We are also excited to share that we have already certified the first MulteFire radio and device solutions from Nokia as compliant.”

“By enabling private wireless connectivity in unlicensed and shared spectrum, we enable even more enterprises to deploy their own private LTE and 5G networks,” said Stephan Litjens, General Manager, Nokia Digital Automation and MFA board chair. “As a founding member of MFA, we’re firmly at the forefront of this initiative – firstly with certification of our own MulteFire CPE offering – and also to accelerate a device ecosystem for the benefit of enterprise digital transformation.”

Through overlapping membership with 3GPP, the MFA is also supporting efforts for 5G NR standalone operation in unlicensed spectrum. A recent ABI Research white paper quantifies the total addressable market size for private network equipment (for industrial manufacturing, ports, logistics, mining, and energy) in LTE and 5G at $32.37B by 2030. ABI also states that by 2030 more than half of industry verticals’ private networks using LTE or 5G will be deployed in unlicensed, shared or dedicated licensed spectrum.

DEKRA Named Authorized Test Lab for MulteFire 1.0

DEKRA, an MFA member and leader in product certification, conducted the certification testing for MulteFire 1.0 and DEKRA Malaga has been named an Authorized Test Lab for the MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program. DEKRA was already named the first Authorized Test Lab for the MulteFire 1.9 GHz sXGP Certification Program launched in Japan at the end of 2019.

“DEKRA is very pleased to continue its partnership with the MFA with the addition of MulteFire 1.0 testing to our services offering, and we are happy to contribute to the success of the MulteFire ecosystem,” said Andrés Moreno, Managing Director, DEKRA Testing and Certification Spain.

The MFA Certification Program is available to all MFA members. Upon device certification, companies will receive the ‘MulteFire Certified’ logo and certification mark for product promotion and marketing purposes. The MFA welcomes membership from all companies that have an interest in private wireless networks. To join the MFA and for more details on membership levels, visit www.multefire.org/join.

For more information on the MFA Certification Program, visit www.multefire.org/certification-program/.

Resources:

• ABI Research White Paper: The Importance of Spectrum Liberalization for Private 5G Networks
• Blog: MulteFire 1.0 Regulatory Analysis White Paper Now Available to MFA Members
• Webpage: Certification FAQ
• DEKRA Press Release: DEKRA recognized as the first Authorized Test Laboratory for the MulteFire 1.0 Certification Program

 About the MFA

The MFA is an international association dedicated to building a global ecosystem in support of the common interests of members, developers and users in the application of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next-generation mobile cellular technology, such as 5G New Radio, in configurations that use unlicensed or shared radio spectrum. For more information about MulteFire technology, its benefits, or how to become a member of the MFA, visit www.MulteFire.org.