AWS Retires Private 5G Service

Amazon Web Services (AWS) in an update published on May 20, revealed that its 5G service had reached the end of its support date and could no longer be accessed. The Private 5G offering integrated small cell radio units, Outposts servers, a 5G core, and radio access network (RAN) software running on AWS-managed hardware, and was said to be able support one radio unit that could transmit data at up to 150 Mbps across up to 100 SIM cards – or individual devices – per network.

“It looks to be more of a beta launch than a full commercial launch,” Daryl Schoolar, then program VP for worldwide telecommunications at IDC, told SDx in 2022. Other analysts told SDx that they thought AWS might be targeting multinational corporations that didn't want to deal with a telecom operator in each market, or that it was a strategy to find more revenue paths.

An AWS spokesperson told the media: "When AWS decides to retire a service or feature, it is typically because its capabilities are better addressed by newer AWS solutions or offerings from our AWS Partner Network partners that better meet customer needs. In making such decisions, our priority is to provide customers with guidance on available alternatives—whether they are AWS solutions or partner offerings—along with how to migrate their workloads seamlessly, ensuring minimal interruption to their operations."