Key points

  • LTE is still the most common choice. GSA (the Global mobile Suppliers Association) tracked 1,846 private network customers in August 2025[3]. Of these, 51.1% used LTE only, 28.5% used 5G only and 19.0% used both[3].
  • You need radios, core software, SIM cards, devices that work on LTE's CBRS band (Band 48) and a SAS service[1][2].
  • Choose your SAS provider with care. Google stopped taking new SAS customers in June 2026 and plans to shut its SAS down on June 10, 2027[5].
  • One LTE channel in CBRS is at most 20 MHz wide[6]. For more capacity you add radios, combine channels or move to 5G, which allows channels up to 100 MHz[7].
  • An LTE network can grow into 5G. Kyndryl says Chevron Phillips' CBRS network runs LTE today and can support 5G in the future[8]. Ask each vendor in writing whether that takes a software update or new radios.

What is a private LTE network?

Private LTE uses the same LTE standard as the 4G networks of mobile carriers. The difference is control. You decide which devices may connect, where coverage goes and where your data travels.

The network has three main parts. Radios (LTE base stations) give coverage. The core, the software that runs the network, decides which devices may join[1]. Devices join only with SIM cards that you issue[1].

GSA (the Global mobile Suppliers Association) defines a private mobile network as an LTE or 5G network meant only for private use. It must have at least its own core[3]. You will also hear "private cellular network" and "private wireless network". They describe the same idea, but they also cover 5G. The OnGo Alliance, the CBRS industry group, publishes a deployment guide for private LTE under its OnGo name[1].

Compared with Wi-Fi, three things differ in practice:

  • How devices join: each device needs a SIM card or eSIM from your network.
  • Coverage per radio: how much area each radio covers.
  • Handoff: connections pass from radio to radio as people and vehicles move.

At the Port of Tacoma, Nokia reported that six LTE antennas at four locations covered a 115-acre container yard[9]. Nokia said the same area would need 39 Wi-Fi access points[9]. It also reported more than 40 yard trucks connected[9]. That is one vendor's result at one site, not a rule. For a fuller comparison, see private 5G vs Wi-Fi. For the 5G side, see our private 5G guide.

Why do most private networks still use LTE?

It is the most common choice. In August 2025, 51.1% of the private network customers GSA tracked used LTE only[3]. Another 19.0% ran LTE alongside 5G[3].

The standard is mature. LTE's first version, Release 8, was finished in December 2008[10].

Devices are easier to find. Band 48 is LTE's name for the CBRS band. The OnGo Alliance says any LTE device whose chipset supports Band 48 can use a CBRS LTE network[1]. Some devices need a software update to turn the band on[1]. For example, Apple lists Band 48 for iPhone 17[11].

Celona sells both 4G and 5G equipment. In a case study, it wrote that private 4G devices and access points are widely available in the U.S. at lower cost[4]. That customer still chose 5G[4]. GSA cautions that the choice of industrial-grade cellular devices is still limited, especially for 5G[3]. Our CBRS device guide covers phones, routers and modules.

There are low-cost device types for sensors and trackers. LTE added two device classes for the Internet of Things (IoT): LTE-M and NB-IoT[12]. The standard's device categories set what each class can do[13]. The table shows the ones you will see on data sheets.

LTE device categories you will see on module and device data sheets
Device categoryWhat it can doGood for (our view)
Category 1 (Cat 1)About 10 Mbit/s down and 5 Mbit/s up[13]Payment terminals, alarm panels, telemetry and other low-rate devices
LTE-M (Category M1)A class made for machines, added in Release 13[12]. Uses a channel no wider than 1.4 MHz[13]Battery-powered sensors and trackers that need modest data
NB-IoT (Categories NB1 and NB2)A narrowband radio technology made for the Internet of Things, added in Release 13[12]. Its categories are in the same standard tables[13]Very small, infrequent messages such as meter readings
Category 4 and higherFaster classes. For example, Sequans' Cassiopeia CB410L module offers Category 4 speeds and supports LTE Band 48 for CBRS[14]Handhelds, routers, cameras and trackers that need more speed
Band support varies by module. Confirm that the exact module variant lists Band 48, and that your radios and core support the category, before you plan around LTE-M or NB-IoT on CBRS.

When is private LTE not enough?

Check these limits before you choose LTE:

  • Capacity. One LTE channel is at most 20 MHz wide[6]. For more capacity you add radios or combine channels. 5G's CBRS band (n48) allows channels up to 100 MHz[7]. See private LTE vs private 5G.
  • Newer features are 5G only. Several features arrived with 5G Release 16[3]. They include formal definitions for private networks, ultra-reliable links with very short delays, links to factory timing networks (time-sensitive networking) and better positioning[3]. Lower-cost 5G devices (reduced capability, or RedCap) came with Release 17[3].
  • Demanding workloads. In Celona's case study, an automaker chose 5G because LTE would not meet its upload and response-time needs[4].
  • Shared spectrum. On the license-free tier of CBRS, you have no protection from other users of that tier[2]. You must also accept interference from license holders and federal users[2]. The Spectrum Access System (SAS), the service that assigns CBRS channels, can move your radios to other channels or switch them off[2].
  • Skills and cost. GSA lists the cost and expertise to deploy and maintain the network among the main hurdles[3]. Connecting it to existing IT and cybersecurity systems is another[3].

What are the parts of a private LTE network?

A private LTE network has the same parts as a carrier's network, only smaller. The table explains each part in plain terms. The last section gives the standard names for engineers.

The parts of a private LTE network
PartWhat it doesYour options
Devices and SIM cardsPhones, handhelds, routers and modules. Each SIM card or eSIM holds the device's identity and tells it which network is its home network[1].Physical SIM cards you program with a SIM writer, or eSIM profiles loaded with the maker's tools[1]
RadiosLTE base stations that give coverage. In CBRS, each must register with a SAS before it transmits[2].Indoor or outdoor. Lower-power Category A, or higher-power Category B, which is outdoor only[2]
Core softwareDecides which devices may join and follows them as they move. It also carries their data between the radios, your local network and the internet[1].On site, in a cloud, or a mix of both. It can run on separate machines or on one device[1]
SAS (Spectrum Access System)Gives each CBRS radio its channels and maximum power for its location, and can order changes[2].A commercial SAS provider, sometimes reached through a gateway that the vendor installs (a domain proxy)[1]
Network identifiersNumbers that tell devices which network is theirs. U.S. CBRS networks can share one network identifier and take a block of 100,000 SIM identities[15].The shared identifier, or your own network code if you qualify
Management softwareShows alarms and performance, and sets up the radios[1].On site or in the cloud, often next to the core[1]
Inside a private LTE networkDiagram. Devices whose SIMs hold an IMSI and the home network identifier connect over the air to LTE radios called eNodeBs. In CBRS each eNodeB is a CBSD that registers with a Spectrum Access System (SAS), sometimes through a domain proxy. The radios connect to the Evolved Packet Core (EPC): the MME and HSS control device access and mobility, and the SGW and PGW carry user data between the radios, your local network and the internet. The core is drawn on site; it can also run in a cloud or in a hybrid arrangement.Your siteSASsometimes via domain proxychannel grantDevicesSIM or eSIMRadio (eNodeB)a CBSD in CBRSEvolved Packet CoreMMEaccess + mobilityHSSsubscriber serverSGWuser dataPGWuser dataYour LAN+ appsInternetInside a private LTE networkDiagram. Devices whose SIMs hold an IMSI and the home network identifier connect over the air to LTE radios called eNodeBs. In CBRS each eNodeB is a CBSD that registers with a Spectrum Access System (SAS), sometimes through a domain proxy. The radios connect to the Evolved Packet Core (EPC): the MME and HSS control device access and mobility, and the SGW and PGW carry user data between the radios, your local network and the internet. The core is drawn on site; it can also run in a cloud or in a hybrid arrangement.Your siteSASsometimes via domain proxychannel grantDevicesSIM or eSIMRadio (eNodeB)a CBSD in CBRSEvolved Packet CoreMMEaccess + mobilityHSSsubscriber serverSGWuser dataPGWuser dataYour LAN+ appsInternet

The core is drawn on site. It can also run in a cloud or in a hybrid arrangement.

Inside a private LTE network. The OnGo Alliance's guide describes a basic EPC as the MME, HSS, SGW and PGW: the MME and HSS control device access and mobility, and the SGW and PGW carry user data[1]. Each CBRS radio must register with a SAS before transmitting[2].

How a device finds your network. Each radio broadcasts a network identifier. Devices compare it with the identifier stored on their SIM cards[1]. Networks that use the shared CBRS identifier also broadcast a second ID of their own. Devices that can't read that second ID try every network with the shared identifier. The wrong networks refuse them, so they can take longer to connect[1].

What equipment do you need?

You need radios for every area you want to cover, core software, SIM cards, devices and a SAS service. Every radio also needs power and a network link back to the core (backhaul). The equipment directory lists products with their sources. Here are some CBRS LTE examples from it:

If you would rather buy the core, radios and SIM cards already set up, see complete networks. Our private 5G guide explains how buying equipment, a supported network and a turnkey project differ.

Which spectrum can a private LTE network use?

In the U.S., the band open to any eligible organization is CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service)[2]. It runs from 3550 to 3700 MHz, and LTE calls it Band 48[6]. One LTE channel in Band 48 is 5, 10, 15 or 20 MHz wide[6]. You can use CBRS in two ways:

  • General Authorized Access (GAA), the license-free tier. Any eligible organization may run radios certified by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) anywhere in the band, once they register with a SAS[2]. GAA users get no protection from each other. They must also accept interference from PAL holders and federal users[2].
  • Priority Access License (PAL), the paid, protected tier. A PAL is a 10 MHz channel in 3550–3650 MHz for a ten-year term[2]. Inside the area around your registered radios, GAA users can't use it[2]. You can buy or lease a PAL[2].

Radios also come in two power classes. Category A radios have lower power limits. Category B radios may transmit at higher power, but they must be outdoors and professionally installed[2]. The exact limits are in the section for engineers below.

You also need a SAS provider (the FCC calls them SAS administrators). Google stopped taking new SAS customers in June 2026 and plans to shut its SAS down on June 10, 2027[5]. Our CBRS guide covers the rules in depth. The CBRS map shows PAL counts and protection-area context, county by county.

Other licensed options. In May 2020 the FCC approved six megahertz of 900 MHz spectrum for broadband, licensed county by county[16]. RCR Wireless described it as a block of spectrum for private LTE for utilities[16]. Some universities hold Educational Broadband Service (EBS) licenses at 2.5 GHz. Kajeet ran a private LTE pilot for Texas A&M parking payments on the university's license, which uses LTE Band 41[17]. See our deployment record.

How do you set up a private LTE network?

Plan for six steps. They condense the OnGo guide, which covers requirements, site survey and planning, design, installation and maintenance[1].

  1. Write down what you need

    List every device model and the bands it supports. Note the applications and how much data each one sends and receives. Mark where you need coverage, indoors and outdoors, and which devices move. Decide what should happen if the network drops. Our guide to scoping a private cellular network and the project planner help you structure this.

  2. Choose spectrum and a SAS provider

    Decide between GAA and a PAL that you own or lease[2]. Check PALs and protection areas near your site on the CBRS map. Pick a SAS provider other than Google, whose SAS closes on June 10, 2027[5]. Our SAS administrator tracker lists the others.

  3. Survey the site and place the radios

    Choose radio models and where they go. Then sort them into Category A and Category B. Category B radios must be professionally installed[2]. The OnGo guide says a Certified Professional Installer (CPI) must inspect and register every Category B radio[1]. The CPI records each radio's location, power and whether it is indoors or outdoors[1]. The guide also names an exception. You may not need a CPI if you use no PAL and every radio is a Category A unit that finds its own location[1]. Each must also be lower than 6 meters above average terrain[1]. Plan power and backhaul to each position.

  4. Choose and set up the core

    Pick core software that runs on site, in a cloud or in a mix of both. Base the choice on your needs, the backhaul you have and the cost[1]. Set it up with your network identifiers and radios.

  5. Get SIM cards, identities and devices ready

    Apply for a block of SIM identities (an IMSI block) under the shared CBRS network identifier. It has an application fee and an annual maintenance fee[15]. Get your CBRS Network ID and related identifiers from the OnGo Alliance[18]. Program the SIM cards or eSIM profiles. Register each device in the core by its SIM identity (IMSI) or its equipment identity (IMEI)[1]. Confirm that every device model supports Band 48[1].

  6. Turn on and test

    Turn on the radios. They register with the SAS and ask for channels. The OnGo guide (2020) says the SAS often answers almost at once, but it can take up to 48 hours near federal users[1]. Then test coverage along real routes and handoff between radios. A walk-test app such as WalkTest maps signal and speed onto a floor plan as you walk[19]. It is made by Waveform; Private5G.com is operated by the team behind Waveform and RSRF. Test how applications perform at busy times. Check what devices do when a radio or the core goes down.

Once the network is live, someone has to watch alarms and the link to the SAS[1]. Each radio must stop, change channel or lower its power within 60 seconds when its SAS tells it to[2].

Where is private LTE running?

These U.S. examples come from vendor case studies or press releases. The results are reported by the vendors.

Selected U.S. private LTE deployments (vendor-reported)
DeploymentWhat was reported
Husky Terminal and Stevedoring, Port of TacomaNokia deployed a private LTE network, which it calls 4.9G/LTE, using its Digital Automation Cloud. It supports a cloud-based terminal operating system across a 115-acre yard (announced September 7, 2023)[9]
Chevron Phillips Chemical, eight plantsKyndryl and Nokia built private wireless networks on CBRS for mission-critical applications across 3,000 mobile devices. They run 4G LTE and are described as able to support 5G later[8]
Murray City and Wasatch County school districts, UtahThe districts tested Baicells equipment with UETN in 2019. They mounted Nova436Q base stations on rooftops and gave students preconfigured home equipment (customer premises equipment, or CPE) to extend internet access[20]

More records are in our deployment list.

For engineers: the EPC, identifiers and CBRS limits

LTE is a 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) standard. ITU (the International Telecommunication Union) accepted LTE-Advanced as a 4G (IMT-Advanced) technology in October 2010[21].

The OnGo guide describes a basic Evolved Packet Core (EPC) as four elements[1]. The Mobility Management Entity (MME) and Home Subscriber Server (HSS) control device access and mobility. The Serving Gateway (SGW) and Packet Gateway (PGW) carry user data[1]. The radios are eNodeBs. In CBRS each is a CBSD (Citizens Broadband Radio Service Device) that must register with a SAS before transmitting[2].

Each SIM or eSIM holds the device's international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and the home network identifier (HNI) it looks for[1]. The core registers devices by IMSI or by international mobile equipment identity (IMEI)[1]. Networks on the shared HNI 315-010 also broadcast their CBRS Network ID in LTE's closed subscriber group field[1]. Devices that do not support that field try any network using 315-010. The wrong ones refuse them, so these devices can take longer to attach[1].

Private LTE in CBRS: standards details
ItemDetail
Shared network identifierU.S. CBRS networks can share HNI 315-010 and take a four-digit IMSI block of 100,000 identities[15]
CBRS Network IDA 27-bit ID the OnGo Alliance assigns, with other identifiers, so networks sharing 315-010 do not collide[18]
Band 483550–3700 MHz, time-division duplex (TDD); 5, 10, 15 or 20 MHz per carrier; carrier aggregation within Band 48 combines carriers when radios and devices support it[6]
Category A power limit30 dBm effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) per 10 MHz; outdoor antennas no higher than 6 meters above average terrain[2]
Category B power limit47 dBm EIRP per 10 MHz; outdoor only; professional installation required[2]
Category 1 deviceAt most 10,296 downlink and 5,160 uplink bits per 1 ms transmission interval, on a single layer[13]
LTE-M and NB-IoTRelease 13 classes: LTE-M (enhanced machine-type communication) and NB-IoT (narrowband IoT)[12]
900 MHz broadband segment897.5–900.5 MHz paired with 936.5–939.5 MHz, licensed by county[16]
Ask vendors which 3GPP release, device categories and CBRS features their products support.

Common questions

What is the difference between private LTE, a private cellular network and a private wireless network?

Private LTE is a private cellular network built on 4G LTE. The other two terms usually mean any private network built to the 3GPP cellular standards, LTE or 5G; GSA's tracking covers both[3]. When you get a quote, ask which technology and which bands it covers.

Do I need an FCC license to run private LTE?

Not on the license-free CBRS tier (GAA). Eligible organizations may run FCC-certified radios once they register with a SAS, with no auction or individual license[2]. Protected spectrum needs a PAL, which you buy or lease[2]. Other private LTE bands, such as the 900 MHz broadband segment, are licensed[16].

Can phones connect to a private LTE network?

Yes, if the phone supports Band 48 and holds a SIM card or eSIM profile for your network. Apple's iPhone 17 specifications list Band 48 (TDD-LTE)[11]. Band support alone is not enough: the phone also needs your network's credentials[1]. Some devices also need a software update to turn on the band[1].

Can a private LTE network be upgraded to 5G?

It can be, but not automatically. Kyndryl describes Chevron Phillips' CBRS network as running 4G LTE today and able to support 5G in the future[8]. Whether your upgrade is a software change or new radios, core and devices depends on the products. Get it in writing. Our LTE vs 5G guide covers the move.

How much does a private LTE network cost?

It depends on the area you cover, your building materials and the number of devices. Your spectrum choice matters too, and so does how much design and installation help you buy. GAA spectrum has no license fee, though SAS providers may charge for their service[2]. Blocks of SIM identities (IMSI blocks) carry application and maintenance fees[15]. Our cost guide covers LTE and 5G costs line by line.

Read next

Guide 2 of 7

Private LTE vs private 5G: which one do you need?

Should your network use LTE, 5G, or both?

9 min read

Sources

  1. OnGo Private LTE Deployment Guide (September 2020) — OnGo Alliance (formerly CBRS Alliance). Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  2. 47 CFR Part 96: Citizens Broadband Radio Service — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), Sep 29, 2026. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  3. GSA: Private Mobile Networks Continue to Scale — 3GPP (article by the Global mobile Suppliers Association), Mar 24, 2026. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  4. Celona 5G LAN helps global auto maker radically transform manufacturing operations — Celona. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  5. Google Exiting CBRS Spectrum Management — Broadband Breakfast, Jun 12, 2026. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  6. 3GPP TS 36.101 version 19.6.0 (ETSI TS 136 101 V19.6.0, 2026-08): E-UTRA user equipment radio transmission and reception — ETSI / 3GPP. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  7. 3GPP TS 38.101-1 version 19.6.0 (ETSI TS 138 101-1 V19.6.0, 2026-08): NR user equipment radio transmission and reception, Part 1 — ETSI / 3GPP. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  8. Chevron Phillips, Kyndryl and Nokia design and implement private wireless networks across eight plants enabling mission-critical applications across 3,000 mobile devices — Nokia. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  9. Nokia deploys private wireless for Husky Terminal and Stevedoring to optimize marine freight operations at US port — Nokia, Sep 7, 2023. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  10. 3GPP system standards heading into the 5G era — 3GPP, Jul 16, 2014. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  11. iPhone 17: Technical Specifications — Apple. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  12. Standardization of NB-IOT completed — 3GPP, Jun 21, 2016. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  13. 3GPP TS 36.306 version 19.3.0 (ETSI TS 136 306 V19.3.0, 2026-08): E-UTRA user equipment radio access capabilities — ETSI / 3GPP. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  14. Sequans Powers Industry-First Low Power CBRS Tracker Introduced at CES — Sequans Communications, Jan 3, 2022. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  15. IMSI Assignment and Management Guidelines for Shared HNI for CBRS Range (Version 2, July 2020) — ATIS IMSI Oversight Council. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  16. FCC approves ‘small-but-mighty’ 900 MHz tranche for private LTE for US utilities — RCR Wireless News, May 14, 2020. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  17. Texas A&M University and Kajeet private LTE pilot for transportation payments — Kajeet, Jul 23, 2024. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  18. OnGo Managed Identifiers (flyer, 2022) — OnGo Alliance. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  19. WalkTest - Indoor Cell Mapping (Google Play listing) — Waveform (affiliated with Private5G.com). Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
  20. Case study: education and private LTE — Baicells. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.
  21. ITU-R Confers IMT-Advanced (4G) Status to 3GPP LTE — 3GPP, Oct 20, 2010. Accessed Oct 1, 2026.