What Alliance for private networks does

The Alliance for Private Networks is a non-profit international industry organization headquartered in Fremont, California, originally established in 2015 as the MulteFire Alliance before rebranding to its current name. It operates as a 3GPP Market Representation Partner, working to lower the barriers enterprises face when deploying private cellular networks across industry verticals that traditionally lack deep telecom expertise. Its membership is anchored by major telecom infrastructure and silicon vendors, with board seats held by Ericsson, Huawei, Intel, Nokia, and Qualcomm (the latter providing the Chairman).

The organization's core technology assets are publicly available tools that translate 3GPP standards into deployable guidance. Uni5G technology blueprints map 35 features across 10 categories from 3GPP Release 15 to four deployment requirement families (coverage, reliability, connection density, latency). The MulteFire specifications (Release 1.0 and 1.1) define LTE operation in unlicensed and shared spectrum bands including 5 GHz, 1.9 GHz, NB-IoT-U, and eMTC-U. The Network Identifier Program monetizes a unique global PLMN-ID awarded by the ITU, supplemented by add-on identifiers (eNB-IDs, TACs, AMF RS IDs, gNB-IDs, NHN-IDs). An interactive global spectrum map and a certification program round out the offering.

The Alliance's business model is membership-funded and identifier-license-funded rather than transaction- or enterprise-license-driven. Revenue streams include tiered membership fees (Sponsor, Non-profit sponsor, Full, Adopter, plus a $250 Private Network Subscriber tier), one-time and recurring identifier package fees ($400 per package for non-members with two-year renewals), and certification program participation. Target verticals include manufacturing, mining, shipping ports, utilities, agriculture, and airports. Go-to-market relies on content marketing, conferences (MWC, Hannover Messe, Smart Digital Ports), webinars, and a members-only portal (Alliance Resource Online) rather than a traditional field sales force.

Name

Alliance for private networks

Legal name

Alliance for Private Networks (MFA)

Website

https://mfa-tech.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Alliance for Private Networks is a non-profit industry organization and 3GPP Market Representation Partner that publishes Uni5G technology blueprints, MulteFire specifications, and a shared PLMN-ID program to help enterprises deploy private 5G/LTE networks across manufacturing, mining, ports, utilities, agriculture, and aviation verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Industry Alliance and Private Network Specifications

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), All Other Telecommunications (517810), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Private LTE/5G Network Operators & Managed Services (HDAIAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carrier Interconnection & Peering Exchanges (IXPs, private interconnect, cross-connect) (HDAIAEAG), Private Cellular Networks for Utilities (Private LTE/5G Core, RAN, SIM/eSIM) (EUADAIAF), Network Monitoring, Assurance & Managed NOC Services (SLA Ops) (HDAIAGAJ)

Keywords

• Private cellular networks
• 5G private network deployment
• Industry alliance specifications
• Unlicensed spectrum LTE
• Enterprise private wireless

Headquarters

HQ city

Fremont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: The Alliance generates revenue through membership fees from mobile operators, technology providers, OEMs, and enterprise verticals. Different membership tiers offer complementary Private Network ID packages.
2. Network Identifier Sales: Sales of Private Network ID packages (PLMN-ID, eNB-IDs, TACs, etc.) and NHN-ID packages for Neutral Host Networks. Non-members pay $400 per package with recurring renewal fees. Add-on identifiers available at additional costs.
3. Private Network Subscriber Program: One-time fee of $250 for Private Network Subscribers to receive one free private network package. Provides access to marketing updates and logo upload opportunity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Alliance for Private Networks is an industry organization that develops and publishes Uni5G technology blueprints, MulteFire specifications, and a unique global PLMN-ID Network Identifier Program to enable enterprises across industry verticals to efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable, and secure private 5G/LTE cellular networks in locally licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum. It complements these specifications with an interactive global spectrum map, white papers, and a certification program for member companies and non-member enterprises.

Product overview

The Alliance for Private Networks (formerly MulteFire Alliance) is an international industry organization established in 2016 and a 3GPP Market Representation Partner. The organization champions global adoption of private networks by providing publicly available tools that ease deployment. Its core offerings include Uni5G™ technology blueprints (which map 3GPP 5G standards to deployment requirements for coverage, reliability, density, and latency), the Network Identifier Program (providing global PLMN-ID for private network identification), MulteFire specifications (LTE standards for unlicensed/shared spectrum), and an interactive global spectrum availability map. The organization also provides white papers, certification programs, and educational resources. As an industry alliance rather than a software product company, the portfolio consists of specifications, blueprints, identifier services, and informational resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Uni5G: Uni5G technology blueprints leverage 3GPP 5G standards to define profiling and classification requirements for private 5G network deployment.
• MulteFire

Products and services

• Uni5G Technology Blueprints Uni5G technology blueprints leverage 3GPP 5G standards to define profiling and classification requirements, enabling industry verticals to efficiently deploy their own optimized, reliable, and secure 5G private network in locally licensed, shared, and unlicensed spectrum. The blueprints identify key 3GPP features needed for specific deployment requirements.
• Network Identifier Program (PLMN-ID) Provides enterprises with a unique global PLMN-ID (Public Land Mobile Network Identifier) awarded by ITU, enabling secure private network deployment and ensuring authorized device connectivity. Includes Private Network ID and Neutral Host Network ID packages.
• MulteFire Specifications Standards body specifications providing solutions for deploying private wireless networks by defining LTE to operate in unlicensed and shared spectrum. Includes Release 1.0 (based on 3GPP Releases 13/14) and Release 1.1 with IoT optimizations and additional spectrum band support, including 5 GHz, 1.9 GHz, NB-IoT-U, and eMTC-U.
• Interactive Global Spectrum Map Global interactive map providing information on spectrum availability for private cellular networks, showing whether bands are licensed, shared, or unlicensed in each country. Helps enterprises identify suitable spectrum options worldwide.
• MFA Certification Program Certification program ensuring that specification requirements are met and solutions developed by members and other companies function appropriately. Includes conformance test specifications and device certification application processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Uni5G technology blueprints released Q4 2021
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, supporting, board member and member.

• 5G-ACIAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2023New partnership announced January 2023 to encourage adoption of 5G private networks for manufacturing and process industries. 5G-ACIA has over 90 member organizations and formal status as a working party of ZVEI e.V. Both organizations collaborate on industrial 5G deployment guidance.
• 3GPPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alliance is a 3GPP Market Representation Partner (MRP), offering market advice to 3GPP to bring consensus view of market requirements for services, features and functionality. This status allows MFA to influence 3GPP standardization efforts for private network technologies.
• GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry liaison partner providing data on private mobile network deployment trends. GSA tracks industry progress and delivers reports supporting global adoption of 3GPP technologies and spectrum harmonization. MFA collaborates with GSA on marketing efforts in areas of mutual interest.
• OnGo AlliancesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports common interests of members, implementers and operators for LTE solutions in US 3.5 GHz CBRS band. Both MFA and OnGo Alliance support LTE technologies in CBRS (3.55-3.7 GHz band) for in-building and outdoor coverage expansion.
• Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld's leading membership program transforming business and society by accelerating Industrial IoT. IIC delivers trustworthy IIoT where systems and devices are securely connected. MFA collaborates on driving innovation through testbeds.
• Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports development of converged wireless broadband ecosystem through interoperable service connections. MFA collaborates with WBA on marketing initiatives to promote LTE-based technology for unlicensed and shared spectrum.
• Alliance of Industrial Internet (AII)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChina-based alliance led by CAICT to accelerate industrial Internet development, establish public platforms for collaborated improvement, and facilitate joint research and application of industrial Internet.
• XGP ForumsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports MFA's objective to promote MulteFire technology operation using 1.9 GHz band in Japan (sXGP). XGP specification has been adopted in 3GPP standards and shares ecosystem with TD-LTE.
• Ericssonboard memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member company contributing to technology direction and governance. David Sugirtharaj serves as Senior Technology specialist representing Ericsson on the board, focusing on dedicated and wide area deployments for verticals.
• Huaweiboard memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member company with Said Tatesh serving as Senior Director of Strategy & Standards, Huawei EU. Contributes to technology direction and standardization efforts.
• Intelboard memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member company with Dr. Geng Wu serving as Intel Fellow and Chief Technologist for wireless standards. Intel leads 5G wireless standards development and ecosystem collaboration.
• Nokiaboard memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member company with Stephan Litjens serving as Head of Enterprise Solutions for Nokia Cloud & Network Services. Nokia provides significant contributions to technical specifications and working groups.
• Qualcommboard memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoard member company with Dr. Edward G. Tiedemann Jr. serving as Chairman of the Board and Qualcomm Fellow. Qualcomm provides leadership in wireless standards and technology development.
• Keysight TechnologiesmemberStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember company providing test and measurement solutions that support private network deployment and certification testing.
• RTX (Radisys)memberStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember company contributing to private network ecosystem with technology solutions for network deployment.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GSMA: GSMA is the global mobile industry association representing operators and vendors. It operates at a broader telecom-industry level but intersects with the Alliance on private-network policy, spectrum, and operator engagement.
• Small Cell Forum: Small Cell Forum drives densified cellular infrastructure including private networks. It is broader in scope than the Alliance but covers overlapping enterprise small-cell deployment themes.
• Telecom Infra Project (TIP): TIP is an engineering-focused initiative for telecom infrastructure including private cellular deployments. It shares a similar ecosystem-of-vendors model with the Alliance for Private Networks.

Others

• Wi-Fi Alliance: Wi-Fi Alliance certifies Wi-Fi products and is the dominant wireless-connectivity industry body. It is adjacent to the Alliance's mission and is increasingly a complementary connectivity option for enterprises evaluating private LTE/5G versus Wi-Fi.

Direct peers

• Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC): IIC accelerates Industrial IoT through testbeds and trustworthy IIoT frameworks. It overlaps with the Alliance's industrial vertical focus and is a formal partner.
• OnGo Alliance: OnGo Alliance promotes LTE solutions in the US 3.5 GHz CBRS band for private networks. It shares the same private-LTE mission as the Alliance for Private Networks, particularly for unlicensed/shared spectrum deployments, and is a formal partner.
• Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA): WBA drives converged wireless broadband interoperability across Wi-Fi, 4G, and 5G. It overlaps with the Alliance for Private Networks on enterprise connectivity standards and is a formal partner.
• 5G-ACIA: The 5G Alliance for Connected Industries and Automation is a global forum for industrial 5G with 90+ member organizations. It directly overlaps with the Alliance for Private Networks on manufacturing and process-industry private 5G deployment guidance and is a formal partner.
• GSA (Global mobile Suppliers Association): GSA represents mobile ecosystem suppliers and tracks private mobile network deployments globally. It is a formal partner and shares the Alliance's mission of driving 3GPP-based private-network adoption.

Emerging players

• CBRS Alliance: CBRS Alliance (now part of OnGo) championed shared-spectrum LTE in the 3.5 GHz band. It is highly comparable as a private-LTE/shared-spectrum alliance targeting enterprise verticals in North America.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MFA_Technology
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mfatech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alliance for private networks