It is predicted that by 2025, there will be 1.2 billion 5G connections globally, covering 34% of the population. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic attempting to drown out the hype surrounding 5G, it remains one of the most talked-about technology phenomena of 2021.
5G will usher in a whole new world of possibilities—opening new doors for businesses to innovate products and services, creating new revenue streams and customer bases.
This article will discuss how 5G will change certain industries and its business cases.
1. Healthcare
An article in the New England Journal of Medicine reveals that the healthcare industry possesses 30% of the world's data, generating an average of approximately 80MB of data per patient per year. How will 5G wireless and its accompanying technologies revolutionize the healthcare industry? The authors discuss three key issues impacting healthcare: a lack of patient-centered systems; insufficient personalization; and a neglect of data.
Experts believe that 5G's low latency, high data collection capacity, and large capacity will solve all these problems. As hospitals transition to 5G, they will be able to spend less time collecting, transmitting, and managing data in real time. They will also have the opportunity to provide remote patient care access, through which mobile networks can support real-time, high-quality video and enhance their network security via cloud data centers. Furthermore, 5G-compatible wearable technologies will make it easier for patients and their doctors to communicate remotely.
Personally, I can't wait to see how 5G will transform healthcare. This pandemic has put immense pressure on our paramedical and medical communities, and these frontline workers need our full support.
2. Retail
A Statista report states that retail revenue will reach $6.54 trillion by 2022. Global retail chains will transform through proper connectivity – reliable and fast networks and advanced AR/VR use cases. Warehouses will need the necessary networking capabilities to support the new era of smart applications.
The question is: How can 5G help the retail industry?
▲5G will enhance brand interaction with customers by supporting immersive technologies such as augmented reality and mixed reality.
▲Enhancing the in-store experience, such as the Magic Mirror and face-to-face virtual shopping assistance.
▲ To simplify targeted marketing and enable security measures against fraud and transactions, such as facial and object recognition solutions.
▲Smart and sustainable energy management, such as smart lighting, to maximize energy efficiency within the store.
3. Public sector
Compliance with the law is crucial for the development of 5G, and this will be a top concern for the public sector. The public sector is aware of the potential impact of 5G, but local governments must understand the technology to fully utilize it while adhering to national laws. These laws will be invoked because the vast amounts of data collected by the technology can lead to data breach threats.
Once the government can use this technology, we can discuss the following use cases.
▲Enhanced mobile broadband will improve network connection speeds for roles such as law enforcement officers and postal workers.
▲ Large-scale machine-type communications for reimagining public works, such as real-time information on leaks and traffic congestion, and efficient resource allocation.
4. Media
According to a report by Intel, 5G could generate up to $1.3 trillion in revenue in the media and entertainment sector by 2028. 5G technology opens new avenues for consumers seeking richer media experiences. Smartphones are increasingly popular and have become viewing devices and control systems for home and industrial networks.
How 5G will change entertainment and media:
▲ Share location-based live and on-demand entertainment experiences, such as concerts, sporting events, or movie theaters, across time zones and continents.
▲Accelerate mixed reality, augmented reality, and virtual reality to achieve immersive content consumer experiences.
▲ Interactive games have reimagined mixed reality and introduced mobile cloud gaming.
▲Content creators are focusing on improving brand loyalty and conversion rates.
5. Manufacturing
Let's look at some industrial operation use cases to understand how 5G technology will transform manufacturing.
▲Edge computing will enable real-time insights through faster wireless communication and better reliability.
▲A high-quality real-time video source for monitoring.
▲Remote control of distributed production lines from the central command center.
▲ A secure and reliable network improves monitoring and alarm systems.
▲ Remote maintenance and training solutions using high-resolution AR/VR technology.
▲The adoption of 5G can extend beyond industrial operations and seamlessly into the entire supply chain.
6. Supply Chain
Beyond its impressive speeds, the 5G technology stack focuses on device density and latency. This is expected to revolutionize how industry operates. It also extends to disrupting supply chains.
5G enables automated tagging, tracking, and recording of shipments, which will solve problems such as lost goods, misplaced containers, and counterfeiting. Furthermore, 5G will improve warehouse management by enabling remote maintenance, control, and deployment of automated vehicles.
5G is the future of supply chain management. It provides transparency across channels to ensure that control remains in a central control node.
7. Future Home
Today's smart home technology is fragmented, and 5G will solve this problem. 5G will provide a seamless experience across all our home technologies—including our favorite room temperature, our preferred entertainment suites, education suites, health devices, and security features. This technology stack will not only focus on seamless device coordination but will also enhance data privacy and security from an ethical perspective.
8. AR/VR
Ericsson reports that, according to one report, AR will account for nearly half of all revenue from immersive video formats by 2030. The most exciting aspect of AR use cases is its ability to transform existing live experiences into digital ones.
AR/VR/Mixed Reality offers incredibly appealing opportunities for experiences like concerts, movie premieres, and sporting events. Many tech enthusiasts like myself are eager to get their hands on it.
9. Transportation
5G has already proven to be an advantage for the transportation industry. Smart sensors can monitor road conditions and determine the optimal time for repairs. Sensors can detect potholes and alert municipalities to take preventative measures. Cameras will be able to provide real-time insights into traffic flow, enabling the safe and efficient separation of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. 5G will accelerate the adoption of autonomous vehicles. 5G will allow for real-time response to vehicle safety conditions and automated control to avoid collisions.
5G is key to solving the challenges these industries currently face, with a focus on seamless production. 5G will open new doors for business service and product innovation, creating new revenue streams and a massive customer base. Clearly, ultra-reliable, low-latency connectivity is a prevailing trend in the network world, which will bring new and unimaginable opportunities to many industries.
