HERE COMES THE LONG-AWAITED 5G, TIME FOR INNOVATION
5G has arrived and promises more than just bigger and faster data. 5G is the technology foundation that will enable businesses to grow and thrive through connecting millions of IoT devices and enabling other disruptive technologies to flourish. While 5G offers new innovations and opportunities, it comes with a number of key challenges.
5G IS THE PLATFORM THAT WILL ENABLE THE NEXT PHASE OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
5G networks will eventually deliver capacity to transmit 1,000 times more data and at speeds much faster than current networks, ranging from an increase of 10 to 100 times. This dramatic improvement will benefit current and future applications and services that are reliant on network performance.
- 5G is not an evolution of 4G, it’s a revolution. 5G is a new style of mobile network that will accommodate the varying needs for digital transformation across all industries. Each industry will have a differing set of requirements and therefore will need different styles of network. For example; manufacturing requires high-speed low-latency connections to support real-time robotics and as the connections are likely to be contained within a building or campus this would be best achieved over private mobile in-building connectivity.
- 5G will accelerate the uptake of new disruptive digital technologies. IoT, AR, VR, and AI all require varying forms of mobile connectivity. Today’s mobile networks do not scale to support IoT and are not equipped to carry vast amounts of data.
NEW DIGITAL DISRUPTION MANDATES THE NEED FOR 5G
Since the advent of the internet and mobile technologies, most industries have experienced some form of digital disruption. However, the stakes are about to get higher as newer digital disruptive technologies of; 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR and VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) become mainstream.
5G will be the foundation that will fundamentally change how businesses and cities operate. It is widely expected that 5G will prove to be a defining stage in the global evolution of IT, similar to other technologies such as personal computers. Hank Kafka, recently retired AT&T Vice President of Access Architecture and Standards, made the point that IT leaders should view 5G as more than a speed increase. In fact, it is mostly related to making sure the networks can handle a massive increase in the number of connected devices ushered in by IoT. Everything from security systems to vehicles and even the clothing we wear, will in the future, be connected and online and it’s 5G that makes this a reality.
These connected “things” will drive an increasing data avalanche that is highly reliant on mobile connectivity. This will come at a cost to the network and mandate the need for networks that support; Low Latency and High Speed, Ultra-Reliable, and offer Greater Capacity and Coverage.
- Low Latency and High Speed: New services associated with, for example, robotics, traffic and transport management and, real-time remote healthcare, all require millisecond response times. This improves user experience.
- Ultra-Reliable: Supporting an increased battery life for IoT results in a low power IoT battery life of 10 years. Additionally, the certainty that the network will always be available with no outages has significant opportunities for driverless vehicles, drones and surveillance-related services.
- Greater Capacity and Coverage: The ability to connect and support the myriad of IoT devices for both consumer and business will require a network that can accommodate a vast increase in connections. With 100% coverage, it can provide an increased throughput of up to 100 times greater than today.
UNDERSTAND HOW 5G WILL IMPACT YOUR ORGANISATION TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE
- 5G is revolutionary as it brings together the worlds of mobile telephony, mobile broadband and digital IT. Communication capabilities and computing power will combine and extend across networks and devices. This will encourage a wave of innovation in applications, services and functions built to run on the new infrastructure.
- 5G will add new architectures and act as a catalyst for innovation across much of the IT industry including; real-time analytics; edge-of-network datacentres and new applications and services such as; semi-autonomous vehicles, augmented reality and IoT. 5G’s reach will move into the enterprise building and campus with new Digital Indoor Systems (DIS) technologies.
5G is Here, What’s Next?
If you would like to discuss the impacts of 5G and digital transformation specific to your industry and organisation, please contact us.
Barry Lerner
Partner, Telecommunications, Technology and Digital Transformation