5G goes far beyond what we think of as a mobile phone today. We are at the beginning of a revolution in the interconnected world, and the first steps toward implementing 5G (the latest generation of telecommunications networks) have already begun. For some, 5G promises nothing more than improved cellular capabilities, enhanced broadband power, and increased mobile capacity and data rates. In fact, 5G is 10 to 50 times faster than previous generations of cellular networks.
However, for others, new networking technologies hold the key to shaping the future of virtually every industry by fundamentally changing how machines interact and function. From manufacturing facilities maintained by hundreds of connected robots to cars that self-diagnose and update their maintenance, 5G will be the foundation for the Internet of Things.
Benefits of 5G Low Latency
5G technology improves more than just connection speeds—its biggest advantage lies in its ultra-fast response time, also known as latency. Compared to previous generations of cellular networks, 5G's Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) truly sets it apart. In fact, this technology enables response times up to 250 times faster than humans. For example, automakers can leverage 5G's high reliability to avoid damaging car parts, and thanks to its low latency, they can seamlessly keep up with assembly line pace. This lays the foundation for innovations previously impossible with other connectivity technologies.
Industries with stringent connectivity requirements will benefit most from 5G's low-latency technology. In the automotive industry, 5G is a missing element for achieving maximum safety in autonomous vehicles. The technology enables rapid data transmission and allows interaction with the road and other vehicles at a level that avoids collisions and simplifies driving. With 5G-connected vehicles, automakers can also gain data insights and analytics for software updates or remote problem fixing, revolutionizing the owner experience.
Using 5G to transform manufacturing
Similarly, in manufacturing, 5G can support critical applications, enabling significant transformations in automation and artificial intelligence. 5G smart factories are already being piloted—Ericsson, in partnership with China Mobile, is transforming its radio product manufacturing base in Nanjing. These companies are using sensors to connect approximately 1,000 high-precision screwdrivers to collect and analyze vast amounts of data. This data replaces manual tool tracking, reducing manual work by 50%.
The radio product factory now has the capability to maintain connections between a vast number of sensors, providing Ericsson with critical data about screwdrivers. Through such a large-scale sensor deployment, other manufacturers will begin implementing human-robot collaboration and collaborative robotics technologies to streamline factory operations.
5G in the cloud
As these robots become more complex and adaptable in real time, they will require massive amounts of data processing—data that a single machine simply cannot maintain. 5G-enabled cloud robotics technology offers a solution, placing system intelligence within the cloud connected to ground-based robots. This network provides key technologies for maintaining continuous internet connectivity, remote computing, storage, data resources, data-driven intelligence, robust cybersecurity, and support for large numbers of robots. For example, in the hospitals of the future, the cloud will act as a central "brain," managing collaborative robots to guide patients or deliver medication as a group of machines.
How 5G is changing real-time location services
5G technology is also poised to transform Real-Time Location Services (RTLS) using a single, simplified infrastructure to improve accuracy. For example, 5G positioning can pinpoint a phone's exact floor and location down to the centimeter level within a high-rise building. This technology not only has the potential to significantly reduce overall infrastructure costs but also opens the door to a host of new geospatial applications.
Current applications of this technology involve asset tracking. In networked digital mining, automated mining vehicles and drilling rigs can be remotely located and monitored. However, 5G positioning is expected to go further, spreading to indoor environments starting in 2023. The network's precise positioning capabilities will enable machines to be tracked or controlled as they move within indoor factory floors, potentially revolutionizing the industrial and warehousing application market.
Challenges of 5G Implementation
The global rollout of 5G technology still faces significant challenges. Building the infrastructure to support 5G requires substantial capital investment. 5G cannot be powered using the same mechanisms as 4G-LTE, necessitating a complete overhaul of existing base stations, the construction of smaller, cooler towers, and the laying of fiber optic networks connecting them.
Furthermore, some critics argue that the vision of selling 5G to businesses and consumers is far-fetched. Indeed, several years into the 5G transition, some unresolved issues remain, with some consumers questioning the true added value of the new network. Nevertheless, the transition to 5G is the only sustainable long-term solution due to its lower maintenance costs compared to 4G-LTE.
The Future of 5G
However, 5G enthusiasts understand that infrastructure costs are a small price to pay compared to the enormous potential of 5G-driven innovation in transforming our world. The network is positioned for the comprehensive deployment of low-latency, massively multi-scale IoT across virtually every industry. With the advent of massive machine-type communications (mMTC), mobile robots, and cloud robotics, businesses will experience large-scale process automation.
This platform will also reshape the consumer experience of electronic products, usher in a new era of mobile video, introduce massive growth in the Internet of Things and smart devices, and provide more powerful AR/VR capabilities. Global 5G implementation requires a radical overhaul of communications infrastructure, but the revolutionary promise of 5G far outweighs its obstacles.
