A network device for connecting a plurality of industrial devices to a wireless communication network includes: a frontend radio interface configured to connect to the plurality of industrial devices over one or more wireless communication channels for transmitting data to and receiving data from the plurality of industrial devices; a backend network interface configured to connect to a central network core associated with the wireless communication network over a communication channel; and one or more secondary network functions for managing a plurality of connections with the industrial devices. The central network core includes one or more network functions for managing the wireless communication network. The one or more secondary network functions are configured based on the one or more network functions of the central network core.