Let’s talk about what is 5G CPE?

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This article is reprinted from the WeChat public account "Xianzao Classroom", the author is Xiaozaojun. Please contact the WeChat public account of Xianzao Classroom to reprint this article.

CPE is a new and rare thing for domestic users.

Its full name is Customer Premise Equipment, and the industry likes to call it "customer terminal equipment." In fact, Premise means "premise, assumption," and a more accurate translation should be "customer pre-equipment."

The so-called "front end" means that it always stands in front of the user's device. Its function is to convert mobile communication signals (4G, 5G, etc.) or wired broadband signals into local area network signals for use by user devices.

in the country, CPE generally occurs in two situations.

One is the dedicated line access broadband service for government and enterprise users, and there is generally such a device on the user side.

The other is the 5G CPE, which has gradually become popular in China in recent years.

5G CPE

5G CPE is a type of 5G terminal device. It receives 5G signals from operator base stations and converts them into Wi-Fi signals or wired signals, allowing more local devices (mobile phones, tablets, computers) to access the Internet.

As you can see, the function of 5G CPE is very similar to the "optical modem" of our home fiber-optic broadband.

Optical modem used for fiber optic broadband

In fact, in essence, the "optical modem" is a type of CPE. The difference between the "optical modem" and the 5G CPE is that the "optical modem" is connected to the operator's optical fiber access network equipment, while the 5G CPE is connected to the 5G base station.

So the question is, since we already have an "optical modem", what is the use of 5G CPE? Will 5G CPE replace the "optical modem"?

Let’s first state the conclusion: of course not.

The current 5G CPE products all use the same or similar 5G chips as 5G mobile phones, have strong 5G connection capabilities, support SA/NSA networking, and are compatible with 4G/5G signals. In terms of speed, 5G CPE is comparable to "optical modems".

It can be said that 5G CPE is an enhanced version of "optical modem".

The advantages of 5G CPE are mobility and flexibility.

Unlike conventional "optical modems" that can only be used in one place, 5G CPE can be "mobile". 5G CPE can be used wherever there is a 5G signal.

For example, when our family goes on vacation to a suburban villa, we can use 5G CPE to set up a Wi-Fi 6 high-speed hotspot so that family members can go online and share videos of their trip.

For example, when a company goes out to hold an event or attend an exhibition, it can use 5G CPE to facilitate employees and customers to access the Internet.

Even if you want to set up a stall, you can bring CPE with you, which is equivalent to carrying a fiber optic broadband with you.

The flexibility of 5G CPE is reflected in service activation.

Traditional "fiber broadband" is relatively easy to activate. You can go to the business hall to apply for a package and activate it. But canceling it is much more troublesome. Nowadays, broadband services basically have an agreement period, and you cannot stop the service at will before the agreement period ends.

In case you need to move, you will have to relocate your fiber optic broadband, which is also very troublesome.

5G CPE is different. As long as you have a 5G mobile phone card (traffic cards on the Internet are very cheap now), you can access the Internet at high speed.

Card slot on the back of CPE

5G CPE is very suitable for young people renting houses and small and micro enterprises in their offices. The equipment can be taken with you and used whenever you go, completely avoiding the trouble of broadband installation and disassembly.

5G CPE is also suitable for remote areas or areas with complex terrain (such as rural areas, wilderness, etc.). It is difficult and costly to lay optical fiber in these areas, which is very uneconomical.

In fact, many areas abroad have started using CPE very early because of their vast land and sparse population. They use outdoor CPE to receive base station signals and then convert them into local signals to access the Internet.

Fixed wireless access (FWA)

If it is millimeter wave CPE, it will be even more exciting

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Outdoor CPE

In addition, 5G CPE is large in size, has stronger antenna gain, higher power, and stronger signal receiving and sending capabilities than mobile phones, so it is often used in various field 5G scenario tests.

In short, 5G CPE combines the low cost of Wi-Fi and the large bandwidth of 5G, combining the advantages of both to form a powerful supplement to traditional fiber-optic broadband.

In addition to Internet access, 5G CPE will also serve as a smart home gateway in the future.

The home router market has always been the focus of competition among many manufacturers. It is not because routers make money, but because they are the entrance and exit of the family's network traffic and the basic platform for home digital applications. 5G CPE plays the same role as routers. It will be the "smart gateway" of future 5G families and the fulcrum of the family's smart life.

Through 5G CPE, users can control a variety of smart devices in their homes, which not only realizes the interconnection of all things, but also significantly improves the life experience of family members.

In addition to the to C scenarios for homes, 5G CPE also has very broad application prospects in the to B market for enterprises.

Take the smart factory as an example. In the future, all the equipment and materials in the factory will be connected to the Internet. 5G CPE can serve as a unified traffic entrance and exit for all equipment in a certain area (workshop), providing low-cost, high-speed network connections for these devices.

As application scenarios increase, 5G CPE will support more communication protocols in addition to 5G (such as Bluetooth, UWB, etc.), and truly become the management and control center of all devices.

In addition to network connection functions, 5G CPE will also be combined with edge computing to become a sunken edge computing node to provide computing power support for related equipment.

In short, 5G CPE is of great significance to both home users and enterprise users.

With the full deployment of 5G network construction, more and more places are beginning to be covered by 5G signals. The demand for 5G CPE will continue to increase, and the application scenarios around 5G CPE will also become more and more.

I believe that 5G CPE will gradually enter the lives of more people!