As 5G installations begin, many people wonder what the future of connected living will be like and what applications and use cases will be possible. The truth is that 5G will revolutionise a lot of things. Many potential futures will become possible, especially in congested areas settings.
Fifth-generation mobile communications networks, once fully implemented, are anticipated to provide previously unimaginable speeds and network capabilities. 5G is about more than just providing high bit rates to mobile devices. However, the widespread use of this cutting-edge technology will be most beneficial in other areas of 5G applications.
In this piece, we’ll explore some of these applications and how they can fundamentally change the way we live, work, and interact with one another.
Expect the unexpected: What 5G is not…
Compared to earlier generations of mobile communications networks, 5G is more than just getting information and calls to our phones. It is anticipated that by the middle to late 2020s, the number of 5G devices will be so small as to be negligible.
5G’s primary function will be to enable the interconnection of hundreds of billions of devices via an ever-present network to provide innovative services and applications to every industry.
5G’s groundbreaking network performance criteria will make possible a wide range of previously thought impossible uses.
Applications enablement
Multiple uses will be possible if 5G’s promised network speeds are realised. This encompasses not just the Internet of Things (IoT) but also smart cities, smart agriculture, smart supply chains, smart transportation systems, automated driving, healthcare and entertainment applications, and more.
This, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. Predictive analytics for various uses, such as monetary and natural catastrophe preparation, can be generated by integrating sensors and data collecting with artificial intelligence, business analytics, and statistical engineering platforms.
Defined areas of application
In the past, mobile communications networks used a one-size-fits-all approach, with preset capabilities that applications using the network had to adhere to.
With 5G, this outlook has been changed, as the network now adjusts to the application needs rather than the other way around.
The standards that 5G technology must meet to be labelled as “5G” have been established by the body of information and communications technologies, which has also defined three specific application areas.
#1. Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)
The primary development goal in this domain is to provide faster data transfer rates to portable gadgets. Connectivity, speed, and the number of concurrently connected devices may all improve with eMBB. Internet access on mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers, fixed wireless connectivity, and cutting-edge uses, such as video streaming, virtual reality and augmented reality, and other immersive multimedia applications — all fall under the eMBB umbrella.
#2. Ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC)
This application area uses the 5G network for mission-critical applications requiring high levels of reliability and low latency. The use cases for URLLC include autonomous vehicles and intelligent transportation, drone applications, manufacturing and industrial automation, factory automation, remote operation, emergency services support, and high-definition real-time gaming for entertainment applications.
#3. Massive machine-type communications (mMTC)
The massive linked device capacities of 5G, which can approach 2.5 million connected devices per square mile, are used in this field of application. The high device density and the far distance between the connected device and the base station are necessary for mMTC applications.
This area does not require the high bit rates, high dependability, and low latencies provided by eMBB and URLLC. Some common uses of mMTC are the Internet of Things, smart cities, smart buildings, smart agriculture, industrial monitoring, energy management, asset tracking and predictive maintenance.
A single network for all applications
5G has the potential to be everything for all kinds of applications. Depending on the application’s needs, it can provide fast speeds, low latency, high device densities, long-distance communication, and high reliability. The capabilities of the 5G network can be adapted under the application’s specific requirements.
This type of customisation is known as “network slicing,” and it refers to the process by which 5G networks can be partitioned into separate virtual network segments. Each of these virtual network segments can be tailored to meet the requirements of a particular application. This is accomplished using software defined networking (SDN) and network function virtualisation (NFV).
The combination of these ideas can be thought of as the virtualisation of networks, in much the same way as the development of virtual machines (VMs) in the cloud is an example of how system virtualisation can be applied to servers.
Applications geared for your company
What exactly does 5G have to offer your business in terms of a practical application?
5G will eventually be available everywhere. It is possible to utilise it as a WAN connection for fixed-wireless connections to the internet, to deploy facility management devices around your premises, and to give access to end devices for use with either cloud-based VoIP services or on-premises devices. These uses are all possible since they can be used in all these ways.
The groundbreaking reality is that regardless of where your company’s assets are located – whether they are situated in a single location or throughout the country – the pervasive nature of 5G enables you to achieve connectivity for all of your devices and applications, which allows them to function at their total capacity regardless of the requirements they have.
Final Thoughts
These application areas have been well examined and mapped out. It is anticipated that deployment rates will improve throughout the following few years; consequently, you will soon observe these applications thriving and positively benefitting your company.
