Enabling Private 5G for PPDR: FUDGE-5G on-field pilots, innovations and findings

The adoption of 5G technology for private networks is rapidly growing, driven by industry demands, access to private spectrum, and 3GPP standardization efforts. Non-Public Networks (NPNs), which are isolated from public networks, offer secure and customizable 5G solutions tailored to specific enterprise needs. NPNs can be either Stand-alone Non-Public Networks (SNPNs), completely independent of public networks, or Public Network-Integrated NPNs (PNI-NPNs), which operate with public networks to provide extra coverage or backup links. This paper covers the H2020 FUDGE-5G project, focusing on a cloud-native and secure 5G architecture for NPNs, which was validated for five use cases, including Public Protection and Disaster Relief (PPDR). For this vertical, a Network-on-Wheels (NoW), providing a mobile private 5G Network, was used by the Norwegian Defense in pilots, showcasing the potential of 5G in enabling a reliable and quick public safety and emergency response. The NoW has reached a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 9, as it was successfully used in the NATO Cold Response 22 exercises. The findings of the project, which contribute valuable insights for PPDR, are included in this paper.