Enhanced Retail Experience Powered by Private Wireless: Architectures, Applications, and Performance Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63282/3050-9246.IJETCSIT-V7I1P107Keywords:
Private 5G, Retail 4.0, Network Slicing, Augmented Reality (AR), Intelligent Warehousing, 3GPP Release 17, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), PCI-DSS Compliance, SNPN, Ambient IoT, Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMR), Physical IntegrationAbstract
The retail industry is at a critical turning point, shifting from traditional brick-and-mortar operations to "Retail 4.0" a model characterized by the seamless integration of physical and digital environments. This "physical" transformation demands a robust connectivity infrastructure capable of supporting mission-critical applications such as autonomous logistics and immersive Augmented Reality (AR) customer experiences. This research paper provides a comprehensive technical analysis of Private 5G (P5G) networks as the key enabler for this enhanced retail experience. We examine specific architectural deployments defined by 3GPP Release 16 and 17, specifically comparing Stand-Alone Non-Public Networks (SNPN) with Public Network Integrated NPNs (PNI-NPN) in terms of retail scalability and data sovereignty. Through an in-depth comparison with Wi-Fi 6, this report demonstrates that Private 5G offers better determinism, supporting ultra-low latency (<10ms) and high device density (10⁶ devices/km²) necessary for advanced inventory tracking and robotic automation. Additionally, we analyze how network slicing can help achieve Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) compliance, ensuring secure, instantaneous transactions across the retail space. The paper concludes that Private 5G is more than just a connectivity upgrade it’s a strategic asset that unlocks trillions in economic value by enabling real-time, data-driven optimization of the entire retail supply chain.
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