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Private 5G and LTE, explained in plain language.
Short, sourced guides for facility, operations and IT teams weighing up a private cellular network. Start with the basics, or go straight to the question you have.
9 guidesEvery fact linked to its sourceUpdated Oct 8, 2026
Reading path
Start here
New to private cellular? Read these 7 guides in this order for the full picture. Together they take about 109 minutes.
Guides by question
What do you want to know?
Pick the question closest to yours. Guides open with a short answer, then go into the detail, with a source for every fact.
Understand it
What is a private cellular network, and which kind do you need?
Private 5GStart here · 1
Private 5G networks explained: what they are, how they work, what they cost and who sells them
Answers: What is a private 5G network, and how does it work?
A plain-English guide to private 5G: what it is, the parts you need, CBRS spectrum, ways to deploy, cost drivers and U.S. examples.
Private LTE
Private LTE networks: what they are and how to set one up
Answers: What is private LTE, and how do you set one up?
What a private LTE network is, why most private networks still use LTE, the CBRS spectrum and equipment you need, and how to set one up.
Private LTE vs 5GStart here · 2
Private LTE vs private 5G: which one do you need?
Answers: Should your network use LTE, 5G, or both?
Private LTE or private 5G? The real differences, which devices work, what affects cost, and how to move from LTE to 5G later.
Spectrum and rules
Which airwaves can you use, and what must your devices support?
Spectrum basicsStart here · 3
CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) explained: who can use the 3.5 GHz band, and how
Answers: What is CBRS, and what rules come with it?
CBRS is shared 3.5 GHz spectrum you can use without buying a license. A plain guide to the tiers, the SAS, radar zones, PALs and power rules.
DevicesStart here · 4
CBRS devices: which phones, routers, and modules support Band 48 and n48
Answers: Which phones, routers and modules work on CBRS?
Which iPhones, Pixels, rugged phones, routers and modules support CBRS Band 48 or 5G n48, and how to check the band a phone uses.
Spectrum accessStart here · 7
CBRS SAS administrators (October 2026): who's active, and Google's exit
Answers: Who authorizes CBRS radios, and what changes when Google's service shuts down?
Which CBRS SAS administrators operate in October 2026, when Google's SAS shuts down, and a checklist for moving your radios.
Decide and buy
What will it cost, and is it the right fit for your site?
Costs and budgetingStart here · 5
How much does a private LTE or 5G network cost?
Answers: What should you budget, up front and every year?
What a private LTE or 5G network costs: three example budgets from about $10,000, what you pay for, CBRS and SAS fees, and ongoing costs.
ComparisonsStart here · 6
Private 5G and LTE vs Wi-Fi: when each makes sense
Answers: When is private cellular a better choice than Wi-Fi?
Private LTE and 5G vs Wi-Fi in plain English: which devices work, what you pay for, coverage, moving devices, security and when to use each.
Project planning
How to scope a private cellular network
Answers: What should you know before you talk to suppliers?
Start with devices, traffic, mobility, environment, backhaul, reliability, and operating responsibility.
Put it to work
Ready to plan?
Turn what you read into something you can share with your team or a supplier.
How these guides are made
- Plain language first. Guides lead with what it means for you and explain technical terms as they come up.
- Sourced. Every number, rule and price links to the source we checked, with the date we checked it.
- Open about who we are. Private5G.com is operated by the team behind Waveform and RSRF, which sell and install private networks.