5G. You probably heard about the many conspiracy theories saying Covid-19 was caused by the 5G networks. 5G is the newest generation of cellular networks. It is not only an upgrade of the existing 4G network in terms of speed; 5G is transforming the world as we know it.
5G enables many different opportunities for business and may completely change the workings of whole industries. Besides improving mobile broadband – 5G is up to 100 times faster than 4G -, 5G enables massive machine type communication and critical real-time communication. Massive machine type communication connects machines through the Internet of Things (IoT). Real-time traffic management and connectivity between home devices are applications that can now be improved because of 5G. Critical real-time communication enables consistent responses in real time through 5G’s high reliability and ultra-low latency. This is important for enhanced responsiveness in autonomous cars and remote surgery in the healthcare sector.
As you can see, 5G will play an important role in many different industries. McKinsey researched how 5G could be deployed in the mobility, healthcare, manufacturing and retail industries and found that these four sectors alone could boost global GDP by $1.2 to $2 trillion by 2030. While this seems very promising, technology is not there yet.
Since 5G is still evolving, there are also some concerns. Most of them are related to security issues. IoT can connect millions of devices, which could lead to more vulnerabilities and breaches in security points. Also, the increased speed and volume of 5G might give difficulties in monitoring security. Some people even have health concerns, even though it was proven that 5G radiation will not affect health.
I however believe 5G can lead to many great opportunities, especially in healthcare and mobility, and increase efficiency and reliability in these sectors. I really like the quote of KPN: “4G connected people, 5G connects all of society”. In what sector do you think 5G can play an important role?
Sources:
https://www.overons.kpn/en/kpn-in-the-netherlands/our-network/5g
