Rahul Bangera
In industrial hubs across the globe, the conversation has shifted. It's no longer about whether predictive maintenance will transform operations; it's about how quickly industries can adopt it without stumbling over cost, complexity, and security concerns. As manufacturers, airports, and entire cities push toward real-time operations, the convergence of Edge AI and Private 5G is emerging as the decisive combination capable of delivering that elusive promise: zero downtime, instant insights, and proactive problem-solving.
But the reality is more complicated. Despite the hype, most organizations still wrestle with patchy connectivity, delayed data analysis, and infrastructure that react far slower than their needs demand. The ones breaking through are those blending next-generation networking with on-the-spot intelligence, exactly the kind of work Rahul Bangera has spent his career perfecting.
His journey from RF Engineer to Director of 5G Solution Architecture & Product Management at NTT DATA mirrors the very transformation he advocates. Over the years, he's built private wireless divisions from the ground up, scaled multimillion-dollar deals, and delivered networks that make "real-time" more than just a buzzword. His portfolio spans some of the most complex deployments-Private 4G/LTE and 5G networks integrated with AI edge computing in industrial environments where failure isn't an option.
"Private 5G gives you the nervous system," he says. "Edge AI acts as the brain. Together, they turn raw sensor data into immediate, actionable intelligence."
According to him, the magic isn't in either technology alone; it's in their convergence. Private 5G brings secure, ultra-low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity that traditional Wi-Fi struggles to match, especially in sprawling, interference-heavy spaces like manufacturing plants or airports. Edge AI then processes vast streams of IoT sensor data directly at the source, eliminating the delays and cloud dependencies that can cripple time-sensitive decisions.
He points to his work with Schneider Electric as a turning point. "We deployed machine vision that could spot microscopic wear and tear on equipment in real-time. The difference is night and day; yesterday you'd hear an AI model say something failed, today it tells you it's about to fail, giving you time to act before downtime hits."
If the convergence of Private 5G and Edge AI is such a game-changer, why isn't it everywhere? Rahul points out that "it's not the technology that's holding adoption back, it's the complexity and cost of deployment."
That's why he pushed for a Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) model at NTT DATA. This approach removes the need for clients to develop deep in-house expertise, bundling everything from design and installation to device integration and ongoing management. For cities like Brownsville, Texas-once called the "worst connected city" in the U.S.-this meant using 5G wireless backhaul instead of digging costly fiber trenches, saving $50,000-$100,000 on infrastructure work alone.
His resume is dotted with projects where results are measurable and immediate. In Las Vegas, his team's Private LTE and Edge AI network is expected to slash wrong-way driving incidents by over 90%, saving lives and an estimated $1 million annually in accident prevention. In Brownsville, predictive policing through AI-enabled cameras will enable to reduction in crime by 25% in monitored areas, while also cutting thousands of police hours in paperwork through automated uploads and AI-powered reporting.
Perhaps the most ambitious has been Fraport AG's Frankfurt Airport, where a 2,500-hectare Private 5G deployment will enable the airport to support AI-driven operations across one of Europe's busiest travel hubs. "You can't have a network that drops under an aircraft wing," he notes, "and you can't afford latency when you're coordinating predictive maintenance on ground equipment that keeps flights on schedule."
For industries dealing with sensitive operational data, security concerns can be as daunting as technical hurdles. "Seventy percent of CIOs tell us network security is their top concern," he says. His answer: SIM-based authentication to replace vulnerable password systems, on-premises data processing to reduce cloud exposure, and a fully isolated network architecture.
"We design networks that are virtually impossible to hack. It's not just about meeting compliance; it's about safeguarding the operational heart of an organization."
While predictive maintenance already transforms how industries handle downtime, he is focused on the next leap: autonomous operations. In this vision, once an Edge AI model detects a likely failure, it doesn't just alert a human; it triggers an automated chain of actions. That could mean ordering replacement parts, dispatching drones for inspection, or rerouting production without a moment's pause.
"The future is about moving beyond predicting problems but to prevent them entirely," he says. "We're heading toward self-healing systems."
Rahul's advice to industries considering the leap into Private 5G and Edge AI is clear: think big from the start. "Don't start with a single problem, start with a vision for a unified digital core," he says. The true strength of these technologies lies in creating a secure, scalable foundation that addresses current needs while being flexible enough to power applications not yet imagined.
When designed this way, a single network can support multiple critical functions, public safety, connectivity for underserved areas, and streamlined operations, without the need to reinvent infrastructure for each use case. In the near future, such platforms won't just run a set of predefined tasks; they will dynamically shift bandwidth and AI processing power to wherever it's needed most, in real time.
As industries face ageing infrastructure, rising operational risks, and the unrelenting need for faster, smarter decision-making, his message is simple: the future belongs to those who plan holistically. Build for the unknown. Make scalability and security non-negotiable. And prepare for a world where the best-run systems quietly solve problems before anyone even knows they exist.
