The biggest benefit of 5G networks is the software-centric architecture. Powered by open source and cloud-native design principles, open 5G will have an order-of-magnitude lower OPEX. To that effect, software underpinning everything we build at FreedomFi is open source and all sales proceeds are reinvested towards making Magma software project better for all. Sponsor the project and help us build open future for 5G.
How is 5G/LTE network different from WiFi?
At a high level, there are three key differences between 5G/LTE and Wi-Fi. The first difference is that wi-fi uses an unscheduled channel sharing mechanism, whereas 5G/LTE both use a scheduled channel sharing mechanism. The added control scheduled access means that 5G / LTE networks can deliver much higher quality of service, delivering the right data to the right client at the right time.The second big difference is power. Wi-Fi uses unlicensed spectrum that is capped at 4 watts of output power for most use cases by regulation. Whereas 5G/LTE networks mainly use licensed, or license shared access spectrum (like CBRS) which have higher power limits. In the case of CBRS, the transmit power limit is 25 times higher than a 20 MHz Wi-Fi channel. Licensed spectrum limits are usually significantly higher still. That power means clear reception farther away from the base station.The third key difference is security. 5G/LTE networks provide superior protection of user and control data compared to Wi-Fi networks. The use of physical security like SIM cards and mutual authentication of network and devices, provide additional protections over and above what is offered by Wi-Fi.
How does FreedomFi Gateway work?
The FreedomFi Gateway puts the core functions of a 4G/5G network close to the edge of the network to allow the greatest flexibility for customer deployments. Inside the FreedomFi Gateway are the core functions needed to provide network connectivity and policy enforcement for end devices. For example, the 4G FreedomFi gateway runs the MME, SGW, and PGW. Other services like the subscriber data in the HSS are housed in the cloud orchestrator. The FreedomFi Gateway supports the standard LTE and 5G southbound interfaces to commercial radios allowing customers to mix and match radios and avoid getting locked in to vendor relationships.
What is the relationship between FreedomFi Gateway and open source project Magma?
FreedomFi is actively contributing to the operation and roadmap of the Magma open source project. The FreedomFi gateway is a curated and maintained version of the Magma Access Gateway (AGW). FreedomFi takes the Magma project software release and puts it through an additional layer of testing and hardening before we release an image to our customers.
Can I build my own LTE/5G network using Magma, but without FreedomFi Gateway?
Yes. Magma is an open source project so anyone can go to the Magma GitHub repository and use the documentation to build an AGW similar to the FreedomFi Gateway. The difference between a Magma AGW and the FreedomFi will be ease of build and setup, additional stability and hardening, and support.
Other than FreedomFi Gateway, what else will I need to build an LTE/5G network?
The key components of an LTE/5G network are the core, a radio, spectrum and SIM cards. Depending on the package selected, FreedomFi can provide some or all of the needed components.Read our blog to learn more about how to build our own, open Private LTE or 5G network.
What is the best small cell to buy that will work with FreedomFi Gateway?
For customers in the USA, the Baicells Nova-436q or the Accelleran E1000 are flagship products supporting the CBRS band 48 spectrum. In addition there are CBRS products from companies like Airspan, Blinq Networks.
Where can I buy LTE/5G small cells?
Various web stores have access to CBRS radios in the US. Websites like Baltic Networks, Winncom Technologies, and DoubleRadius all sell LTE/5G small cells. Alternatively, for bigger order, customer can always engage incumbent vendors like Nokia, Ericsson, or Samsung. For those who sponsor Magma project by signing up to Open 5G Starter package, we will help source the best radio for your needs.
Can FreedomFi Gateway work with disaggregated macro cells?
Yes! The FreedomFi Gateway supports the standard “S1” interface for LTE and “N1/N2/N3” interfaces for 5G NR. So any cell supporting these standard interfaces can be used.
Where can I get LTE/5G spectrum?
For spectrum, in the US, you can work with an FCC approved SAS provider currently including Amdocs, CommScope, Federated Wireless, Google, or Sony. Outside of the US, spectrum can be purchased from a regulator or via a partnership with a local mobile network operator. For those who sponsor Magma project by either purchasing a FreedomFi Gateway or singing up for Open 5G Starter package in the USA, we will include access to CBRS spectrum band as part of the package.
Where can I get SIM cards?
We use SmartJac for our FreedomFi cards. They have been easy to work with and always very responsive. There are certainly other providers including tier-1 providers like Gemalto down to vendors on Alibaba.
What is the minimum total cost to build my own LTE or 5G network with everything included?
| Quantity | Price | |
| FreedomFi Gateway | 1 | $300 |
| Small Cell | 1 | ~$4,500 (Baicells 436q retail) |
| Sim Card | 1 | $50 (SmartJac) |
| SAS Relationship | 1 | $10/month/small cell (estimate) |
| CPE Device | 1 | ~$200 (older unlocked smartphone) |
Do I need to buy a separate gateway for each small cell?
No, if the small cells can be connected back to a single FreedomFi Gateway via ethernet, multiple small cells can be provisioned on a single gateway. In this case the limiting factor becomes the ethernet port capacity. Please ask us for further information if you plan to use more than one small cell per gateway and we can help with capacity planning.
Can any device connect to my network?
No, only devices that have a SIM card for your network and support the frequency band in use can connect. In the US, most smartphones produced in the last 2 years support the CBRS band. You can use the website GSMArena.com to check if a device supports your band. Simply go to the site, plug in the device model, and click on the “expand” button in the Network row to see the supported bands.
Note that CBRS Frequency band (aka Band 48) is listed under the “TDD LTE” subsection.
Will the LTE/5G network I build using FreedomFi Gateway support voice calls?
No. The current version of FreedomFi gateway only implements the components to support data connections. Supporting voice calls requires the part of the network core referred to as “IMS” which Magma doesn’t currently implement. If voice support is critical to your project, please contact us and we can share alternative options as well as more details on Magma roadmap, pertaining to voice services.
Will the LTE/5G network I build using FreedomFi Gateway be able to roam with larger service provider networks?
Generally, no. Roaming into a third-party service provider network will require you to have a business relationship with that particular service provider. So while it is technically feasible to implement and there are a number of production implementations where Magma has been used for roaming to third-party service provider networks, it is not a service you’ll get out of the box by investing in a FreedomFi Gateway.
Will FreedomFi provide upgrades and security patches for FreedomFi Gateway firmware?
FreedomFi will provide upgrades and uptime SLA to all Open-5G-as-a-Service subscribers. FreedomFi Gateway only and Open 5G Starter include the latest version of Magma software, but do not include ongoing subscription to upgrades and security patches.
