Ericsson or Celona? How to choose a private 5G platform

Ericsson and Celona are two of the names enterprises mention most when they start looking at private 5G. They come from very different places, and that shapes what each does well. Neither is the right answer for every site. This is how we compare them for clients.

Two different starting points

Ericsson Private 5G

Ericsson brings mobile operator engineering to the enterprise. Its Private 5G product is a full-stack solution: a dual-mode 4G/5G core running on redundant controllers at each site, radios that range from indoor Radio Dots to high-power outdoor units, and a cloud-based Network Management Portal. Several sites can share one central core. Ericsson cites the Port of Tyne, where the network carries cameras, sensors and remotely controlled equipment.

Celona

Celona built its platform for enterprise IT teams, and calls it 5G LAN: private cellular designed to sit alongside Wi-Fi and the existing network. The platform combines its own access points, SIMs, an edge operating system and a cloud orchestrator, with features such as MicroSlicing to give individual applications their own service levels. Celona now positions this as one wireless fabric across private 5G, Wi-Fi, public cellular and satellite.

Five questions that decide the choice

1. What does the site look like? Large outdoor yards, ports and open-cast sites favour high-power outdoor radios. Carpeted offices, warehouses and labs often suit an access-point style deployment.
2. Which spectrum can you use? In the UK that usually means an Ofcom Shared Access licence at 3.8–4.2 GHz; in Germany, the 3.7–3.8 GHz local band; in the US, CBRS. Confirm that the platform supports the bands available at your site.
3. Which devices will connect? If most of your devices are 4G today, dual-mode 4G/5G support lets you move to 5G at your own pace.
4. Who will run the network? An IT team used to cloud-managed Wi-Fi and an OT or telecom team will judge the operating model very differently. A managed service is a third option.
5. How will it grow? Multi-site estates, a single core, integration with existing security policies and the LAN all affect long-term cost.

How we run a comparison

We start from your use cases and requirements, not from a product sheet. We shortlist platforms, check spectrum and device support, plan the radio coverage, and model the total cost of ownership over five years. Where the decision is close, we design a pilot with clear success criteria before you commit.

If you are weighing Ericsson, Celona or another platform, talk to us. We will help you choose on evidence.

Vendor details checked against the Ericsson and Celona websites in October 2026.