The ‘hidden’ aspect to 5G is that it will collect a continuous stream of business data – not just personal identifiers but 24/7 insight into consumer behaviour and device performance. By 2020, there will be more than 31 billion devices connected to the internet. Humans will be in the minority.
Speed matters, at home as much as in the office, but we are already spoilt for fast mobile connectivity. Where 5G sets a new standard is in quality and consistency. 5G means video conferencing without buffering or lag, the capability to transmit 3D simulations or VR sessions without cannibalising bandwidth, and the promise of always-on, fast mobile without peaks or bottlenecks in performance.
It is the network that will finally bring globalisation home. Today, businesses can hold Zoom or Skype conferences with overseas teams, but inevitably the connection speed and reliability of the conferencing software makes its presence felt throughout the session.
With 5G, teams can not only communicate across time zones and locations, but actually collaborate seamlessly. Crucially, 5G slashes the amount of energy required to power that data, with a 90% reduction in energy usage.
Make no mistake, 5G presents an enormous technical and infrastructure challenge. Because the higher frequency of 5G is more vulnerable to interference from buildings or structures, the system will require a brand new rollout of antennas.
This has already been achieved in six UK cities, but realistically 5G won’t be up and running before 2022. Even then, the benefits won’t be felt in an international business sense until all markets are up to speed. Good news if you’re doing business with South Korea or Japan, but delays possible if you’re working with countries that don’t have the government investment in 5G infrastructure.
