As enterprises, utilities, and service providers push further into remote, rural, and hard-to-reach environments, the need for robust and reliable connectivity has never been greater. Whether it’s a farm in Dorset, an oil refinery in Scotland, or a logistics depot on the edge of a national park, connectivity often makes the difference between safe, efficient operations and high-cost downtime.

Historically, satellite links and long-range Wi-Fi have been the go-to options. However, private 5G is emerging as a compelling alternative—offering high bandwidth, low latency, and local control. But which solution is best? In this article, we’ll explore the strengths and limitations of each, and provide a practical guide for MSPs looking to explore pilot deployments of private 5G.

Comparing Connectivity Options

When evaluating Private 5G, Satellite, and Long-Range Wi-Fi, the most important factors to consider include:

• Coverage & Range
• Bandwidth & Latency
• Setup & Deployment Complexity
• Operational Costs
• Maintenance & Scalability
• Use Case Fit
• Device Connectivity

Let’s examine how each stacks up.

1. Coverage and Range

• Satellite
  • Satellite communication (especially Low Earth Orbit (LEO) providers like Starlink) offers near-global coverage, making it ideal for ultra-remote or mobile deployments like maritime or rural transport.
  • However, coverage can be inconsistent in dense urban areas or places with obstructions (mountains, heavy tree cover).
• Long-Range Wi-Fi
  • Point-to-point or point-to-multipoint Wi-Fi links can span up to 10-20 km in open conditions with line-of-sight (LoS).
  • Topography and weather can heavily influence signal reliability.
• Private 5G
  • Offers high-capacity coverage over smaller geographic areas (typically a few km per cell).
  • Coverage can be extended using additional radio units and mesh architecture.
  • Ideal for campus-style environments like ports, factories, and logistics hubs.

Summary: Satellite wins on raw geographical reach, but Private 5G and Wi-Fi excel in defined zones where performance is key.

2. Bandwidth and Latency

• Satellite
  • LEO satellite solutions have significantly improved latency (20–40ms) compared to traditional Geostationary Orbit (GEO) satellites (>600ms).
  • Bandwidth is often shared, and performance can degrade under congestion.
• Long-Range Wi-Fi
  • Offers high throughput and low latency, but performance drops with distance or interference.
  • Best for short to medium distances with clear line LoS.
• Private 5G
  • Low latency (as low as 1ms) and high throughput (up to multi-Gbps).
  • Designed for high device density and QoS control.

Summary: For latency-sensitive applications (autonomous vehicles, real-time video, robotics), Private 5G leads. Wi-Fi is sufficient for less demanding use cases. Satellite is acceptable for non-time-critical services.

3. Setup and Deployment Complexity

• Satellite
  • Setup is relatively simple: align the antenna and activate service. Starlink has made this nearly plug-and-play.
  • No need for local infrastructure.
• Long-Range Wi-Fi
  • Requires careful planning: antenna alignment, spectrum planning, and LoS validation.
  • Often more DIY, but also very affordable.
• Private 5G
  • More complex initial setup involving SIM provisioning, spectrum licensing (though shared spectrum is available), and core network configuration.
  • Starter kits like the ones from GXC streamline pilot deployments with pre-integrated radios, edge cores, and SIMs.

Summary: Satellite is easiest to deploy for isolated needs. Long-range Wi-Fi is low-cost but can be fiddly. Private 5G setup is more involved, but starter kits reduce the complexity for MSPs.

4. Operational Costs

• Satellite
  • Starlink and similar services cost £70–£150/month per terminal, with hardware around £400–£700.
  • Costs scale linearly with the number of terminals.
• Long-Range Wi-Fi
  • Very low CapEx and OpEx; a few hundred pounds per link.
  • Minimal recurring costs aside from power and maintenance.
• Private 5G
  • Higher initial investment but scalable. Costs include radios, SIMs, spectrum (if licensed), and edge cores.
  • Ideal for high-density environments where cost per device can be driven down.

Summary: Wi-Fi is cheapest overall but doesn’t scale well in complex deployments. Satellite scales poorly. Private 5G offers better economies of scale for medium to large deployments.

5. Maintenance and Management

• Satellite
  • Minimal maintenance. The vendor manages the network.
  • No local control over bandwidth or routing.
• Long-Range Wi-Fi
  • Maintenance required for alignment, power, firmware updates, and interference mitigation.
• Private 5G
  • Offers robust management tools and fine-grained control.
  • Requires technical know-how or managed services partner.
  • GXC solutions offer cloud-based orchestration for simplified management.

Summary: Satellite is fire-and-forget. Wi-Fi requires hands-on tuning. Private 5G needs expertise but offers visibility and control.

6. Use Case Fit

7. Device Connectivity

One often-overlooked strength of Private 5G is its ability to provide direct cellular connectivity to 5G-enabled end devices—without needing an intermediary router or gateway.

• Private 5G
  • Devices can connect directly to the Private 5G network using SIM or eSIM authentication, just like on a public mobile network.
• Satellite
  • Services terminate at a ground-based satellite modem or router.
  • Client devices connect locally via Wi-Fi or LAN.

• Long-Range Wi-Fi
  • Devices to connect to an on-site access point or wireless bridge, which in turn connects to the upstream link.

Summary: While Private 5G still supports routers (such as the excellent range of Teltonika 5G routers) for use cases where they make sense—such as backhauling traffic from Ethernet-based systems or fixed-location devices—its ability to offer direct connectivity to mobile and IoT devices sets it apart from Wi-Fi and Satellite in many remote or hard-to-reach environments.

How to Explore Private 5G Pilots

Private 5G isn’t just for telcos or large enterprises anymore. With turnkey kits and shared spectrum options, MSPs are well positioned to lead the charge in deploying it for clients.

Here’s how to start:

Step 1: Identify Suitable Customers

Look for:

• Sites with limited or unreliable connectivity
• High bandwidth or latency-sensitive workloads
• Clients already using Wi-Fi bridges or satellite but unhappy with performance

Step 2: Define the Pilot Scope

• Choose a limited area (e.g., a warehouse or construction site)
• Set clear success criteria (e.g., throughput, latency, user experience)

Step 3: Use Pre-Integrated Starter Kits

The GXC Onyx 5G Indoor and Outdoor Starter Kits are excellent for pilots:

• Include radios, antennas, SIMs, and core network
• Plug-and-play setup with cloud-based orchestration
• Support both indoor and rugged outdoor environments

Step 4: Validate Performance

• Conduct site surveys
• Run throughput, latency, and handover tests
• Collect feedback from end users

Step 5: Review and Plan Rollout

• Evaluate ROI and operational gains
• Plan expansion or integration with enterprise systems
• Explore managed services opportunities (e.g., network SLAs, monitoring)

Conclusion

Choosing between Private 5G, Satellite, and Long-Range Wi-Fi isn’t about picking a winner—it’s about choosing the right tool for the job. Each technology has its place, and often they can coexist within a broader connectivity strategy.

Private 5G is increasingly practical for MSPs, thanks to off-the-shelf solutions and shared spectrum availability. However, for ultra-remote locations, satellite remains essential. Long-range Wi-Fi still serves well for short-term or budget-sensitive scenarios.

With the connectivity landscape evolving rapidly, MSPs who develop experience across these technologies will be best positioned to support their clients, wherever they need to go next.