Exciting update from Everyone Bandwidth Inc on our private LTE efforts! As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering low-income families and students with essential resources—like technology access and education—we’re building secure, reliable wireless connectivity to help bridge the digital divide right here in Shreveport and beyond.
We kicked off our journey using Baicells CloudCore for the EPC (Evolved Packet Core), which was a fantastic starting point. It’s a managed, cloud-based solution tailored for Baicells gear, handling subscriber authentication, basic management, and quick setup without needing deep expertise upfront. Perfect for getting a proof-of-concept running fast while focusing on our mission.
But as we scale our vision—delivering high-performance private LTE to underserved communities, campuses, or community programs—we needed more flexibility, lower long-term costs, and the ability to innovate. That’s why we’ve transitioned to running our own Open5GS server as the core network. Here’s why this move has been transformative for us:
- Greater Control & Customization: Open5GS is a fully open-source implementation of both LTE EPC and 5G Core (up to recent 3GPP releases). We now own every aspect—MME, SGW, PGW, HSS (and 5G AMF, SMF, UPF, etc.)—with no vendor-imposed limits. This means deeper monitoring, custom policies for our users, and easier integration with tools like Prometheus for metrics or Grafana dashboards. We can tweak everything to prioritize low-latency access for education apps or secure IoT for community resources.
- eSIM Provisioning with Simlessly: A huge win for our nonprofit model! Simlessly’s RSP platform lets us create and remotely push eSIM profiles over-the-air. No more shipping physical cards or dealing with logistics headaches—ideal when serving families across locations. Users can activate on compatible devices quickly and securely, making onboarding seamless and cost-effective.
- Physical SIM Support When It Makes Sense: For legacy devices, high-security needs, or users without eSIM-capable phones, Open5GS supports traditional USIMs (with Milenage auth). We mix eSIM and physical SIM provisioning in the same core, giving us flexibility without silos.
The switch involved reconfiguring our Baicells eNBs (or compatible gear) to point to our Open5GS instance’s IP for S1 interfaces, aligning PLMN/HNI settings (like our Shared HNI 315-010-0148), and testing handover/mobility. It took some tuning for stability, but the result? No recurring cloud fees, full independence from vendor lock-in, and a path to 5G features like network slicing as we grow.
When should you (or another organization) consider switching to Open5GS or a similar open-source EPC?
- Need Deep Customization: If managed clouds feel too rigid and you want APIs, custom auth flows, or integration with external systems (e.g., for nonprofit user management or community portals)—open-source gives you the keys.
- Budget-Conscious Scaling: Great for nonprofits, rural deployments, research, or private networks where avoiding proprietary licensing saves money while delivering carrier-grade performance.
- Future-Proofing for 5G: Planning CBRS expansions, low-latency apps (like remote learning tools), or VoLTE? Open5GS supports both 4G and 5G SA/NSA, with strong handover and multi-session features.
- eSIM-Centric or Hybrid Deployments: If remote provisioning is core to your model (like ours for quick family/student onboarding), pairing Open5GS with Simlessly or similar is powerful.
- Stick with Baicells CloudCore If…: You’re just starting, have limited dev resources, or want Baicells-optimized simplicity and managed support—it’s still excellent for beginners or smaller setups.
This shift aligns perfectly with our mission: building affordable, innovative tech solutions that put connectivity in everyone’s hands. We’re excited to use this setup to roll out more community-focused networks!
If you’re exploring private LTE for education, nonprofits, or underserved areas—or have tips on Open5GS + Baicells integrations—share below. Let’s collaborate to close the digital gap! 🌐 #PrivateLTE #Open5GS #CBRS #DigitalInclusion #NonprofitTech