Since the rollout of fifth generation (5G) technology in 2018, business and consumer digital transformation has accelerated through the enablement of the Internet of Things (IoT), unlocking potential for even greater innovation. 5G brings an order of magnitude increase in cellular wireless speeds, lower latency, and overall capacity. To put it in perspective a 4GLTE tower can handle approximately 1000 simultaneous Voice & Data connections, whereas the full realization of 5G capacity can at peak up to 1-million simultaneous connections. The latency can be as low as sub 10 milliseconds. This is why once 5G is fully realized literally millions of IoT devices will communicate more efficiently and reliably than ever before. This technology has become transformative for industries by enabling real-time data exchange and advanced automation, which is an increasing imperative for the business’s bottom line. As a result businesses are learning to harness the full power of 5G-IoT, driving productivity, improving user experiences, and accelerating important Industry 4.0 initiatives.
This is important to our US economy to be competitive in the global economy, as 5G-IOT use cases will effectively impact many industry verticals where business workflows become integrated with real-time sensor data that will reduce inefficient manual and swivel chair data processing. Thus, driving a significant advancement in business operational efficiencies, the advent of 5G-IOT is now facilitating new data inputs into AI business focused software engines that will produce even greater positive business outcomes.
Enhanced Connectivity
5G has speeds more than 100 times faster than 4G, and low latency as low as one millisecond, While this is quite convenient when someone is downloading a movie or playing a game, enhanced connectivity is crucial, and sometimes even lifesaving, for applications requiring precise timing, such as autonomous vehicles, smart grids, and remote surgery healthcare.
How does 5G work to improve IoT interconnectivity?
5G technology dramatically boosts data transfer speeds for IoT by utilizing higher frequency bands, which facilitates the swift transmission of larger data volumes in the gigabytes per second. This acceleration in data transfer empowers IoT devices to rapidly process and respond to incoming data, significantly enhancing the overall efficiency of IoT systems.
5G standard has the additional flexibility to enhance on premise business communication since it can also be privately implemented like. Meaning customer data is secure on-prem and is not part of a broader 5G marco/public/cellular network, this enables business to reduce the cost of covering larger operational footprints 30-40% less per square over than traditional wifi access points the way
Increased Device Density
Increased device density refers to the ability of a network to support a higher number of connected devices within a given area. Regarding 5G and IoT, more devices—such as sensors, smart appliances, and other connected gadgets—can operate simultaneously nearby without experiencing interference or network congestion. To help understand the scale of 5G density 4G/LTE can handle 1000 simultaneous connections per tower and a full 5G enabled cell site can handle up to 1 million simultaneous connections. 5G’s capability is also essential for urban and industrial environments, where numerous devices must communicate efficiently and reliably.
In an article by Verizon Business, the author discusses device density and the industries it will impact. They list farming, manufacturing, and utilities as a few sectors that benefit from 5G. The author shares a specific example of how 5G can help a production industry:
“IoT devices attached to machines on the production floor across multiple locations can be expected to relay information through the 5G network, taking advaƒntage of the power of mobile edge computing. Through such implementation of IoT, machines could run in near-autonomous mode unless edge-based artificial intelligence algorithms flag problems. In such cases, 5G should enable predictive maintenance over the preventive or run-to-fail mechanisms that have traditionally been the cornerstones of the industry.”
According to a study by Transforma Insights, the global IoT market will grow to 24.1 billion devices in 2030. That’s almost three times the number of people in the world today. With the increase in devices, reliable 5G is imperative for managing the staggering device density that continues to grow.
Reliable Communication
5G is pivotal in delivering reliable, uninterrupted connectivity for critical IoT operations, especially for certain sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing. Of course, everyone who uses a device wants reliable communication with low latency. However, there are circumstances and events in which high latency can cause drastic consequences, and these individuals and businesses need the reliability of 5G.
A minimal delay between data transmissions (low latency) is a key feature of 5G that 4G and the others simply could not provide. Its speed is remarkably faster and more reliable, allowing those who depend on it to feel secure in their choice to go the 5G route.
The reliability of 5G contributes to patient care in the healthcare sector, for example.
In an article on the topic, the author describes URLLC and its relationship to the benefits of 5G.
“URLLC stands for Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications. It is a new type of communication that is being developed to meet the needs of Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things by the 3GPP. URLLC will provide extremely high levels of reliability and low latency, making it possible to support critical applications.”
They also state: “URLLC is a key feature of 5G that enables high-reliability and low-latency communication for mission-critical applications such as factory automation, autonomous driving, and virtual/augmented reality. It provides a guaranteed quality of service (QoS) with extremely low latency (1 ms) and high reliability.”
With 5G’s high reliability and low latency, businesses and operations can make fewer mistakes, care for customers, patients, and clients more efficiently, and allow real-time process control.
Edge Computing Integration
Overall, 5G facilitates edge computing, reducing latency further and allowing for faster processing and action at the data source in IoT systems. According to Gartner, by 2025, 75% of enterprise data will be processed at the edge, compared to only 10% today.
In an IoT context, edge computing with 5G means that sensors, smart devices, and machinery can quickly interpret and act upon data. For instance, in smart factories, equipment can autonomously adjust operations based on immediate data analysis, enhancing efficiency and productivity. In smart cities, traffic systems can respond in real time to changing conditions, improving flow and safety.
By minimizing the delay between data collection and action, 5G-powered edge computing optimizes the performance and reliability of IoT applications, paving the way for more advanced and responsive technologies.
New Opportunities and Challenges
Like any technological advancement, 5G opens up a world of possibilities. Its enhanced connectivity, lower latency, faster data transfer, and ability to support a massive number of devices in one area allow for potential opportunities within industry sectors.
IBM lists new ways 5G and IoT are used together to develop new solutions and opportunities. Here are just a few:
- Remote inspection: 5G enables the use of drones and remote cameras to inspect remote or hard-to-access equipment. Data is sent to AI in the cloud for automated problem detection, thus reducing the need for costly and resource-intensive technician visits.
- Agriculture: 5G-enabled drones will autonomously survey crops using edge-based visual analytics to assess growth and pest losses, helping farmers optimize harvest times and target interventions more efficiently.
- Buildings and facility management: 5G will enhance sensor connectivity in buildings, enabling new solutions for energy efficiency, occupancy management, and visitor experience, particularly in large facilities like stadiums, airports, malls, and schools.
With new opportunities come challenges that individuals and businesses must face.
Keeping devices and data secure is a major challenge in a 5G-IoT environment. In an article about security issues that comes along with 5G and IoT, the author shares:
“Security experts warn of threats to the 5G-IoT environment, such as a heightened risk of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and proximity service (ProSe) intrusions. The vast distribution of decentralized, small-cell networks 5G IoT requires will make it a challenge to keep each system updated and capable of meeting rapidly evolving cyber-attacks. Higher bandwidth will create more potential security risks, as will an expected explosion in the number of connected devices that are vulnerable to unauthorized access.”
Another challenge towns and cities face is keeping up with the development of 5G infrastructure. More specifically, frequency, deployment, cost, regulations, and security all come into play here. These areas need to be addressed when promoting a fast-growing 5G infrastructure.
Conclusion
5G technology is a game-changer, propelling IoT into a new era of possibilities and connectivity. With its ultra-fast speeds, low latency, and enhanced capacity, 5G empowers IoT devices to communicate more efficiently and reliably than ever before. It also enables real-time data exchange and advanced automation crucial for industries like healthcare and manufacturing.
By supporting increased device density and edge computing, 5G optimizes the performance and reliability of IoT applications, driving productivity and innovation. However, with these advancements come challenges, including heightened security risks and the need for infrastructure development. As businesses embrace 5G, they must navigate these challenges to fully harness the transformative power of this technology and accelerate their digital transformation.