For the longest time, people perceived Connecting IoT at Scale as an advanced technology that would never see the light of day. However, with the development of telecommunication infrastructure, the concept has finally become a reality. Today, IoT is applied to a wide range of devices, including home appliances, buildings, sensors, cars, and other machinery.
It has come to a point where consumers expect everything to have internet access, even the simplest of devices. Unfortunately, although having all these fancy options at your disposal sounds great, it comes at a cost. With thousands of new home appliances requiring internet access, experts worry that modern networks won’t be able to keep up.
The good news is that the right 5G core network solution can circumvent the issue. Certain networks offer unlimited scalability for both businesses and individual users. In this article, we will talk about the impact of telecommunication advancements and how we can benefit from 5G in our daily lives.
The Modern IoT Technology
IoT is a term we use for all devices that have internet access and can communicate freely with each other. Each of these machines features advanced software and sensors that enable them to exchange data, thereby enhancing the user experience.
While this is a novel concept that can provide numerous benefits, we’re already noticing potential issues. In other words, given that almost every modern device can now connect to the internet, experts predict that the number of IoT machines will surpass 30 billion by 2030. This would put an enormous strain on network resources, potentially causing a plethora of issues.
So, aside from network congestion, here are a few other problems we might face in the near future:
- IoT devices that rely on batteries will significantly diminish power efficiency.
- With an increased number of devices, we can expect major latency issues.
- Scaling has also been mentioned as a potential problem that engineers will have to solve soon enough.
While these issues might sound scary, a global, 100% transition to 5G might provide the necessary solution.
What Makes 5G Stand Out?
There’s much more to 5G than meets the eye. When talking about 5G, most experts put emphasis on speed, but the infrastructure provides other advantages that are especially noticeable when using IoT devices:
- Latency
Latency is a term we use for the amount of time data needs to travel from one device to another. Modern 5G has an incredible latency of 1ms, which means that appliances, industrial machines, and cars can react in real-time. This represents a significant leap from 30 to 50 milliseconds, which 4G has provided us. Here’s why latency is important:
- Autonomous Cars: Autonomous vehicles have to react in a split second to avoid potential accidents. Modern automobiles can communicate with each other, react to traffic lights, and detect traffic congestion.
- Industrial Automation: Ultra-low latency is vital for modernizing various industries. With 5G, these robots can communicate with each other, relay instructions, and maintain a steady production speed.
- Remote Surgery: Similar to autonomous cars, real-time responses are vital for saving patients’ lives. With modern, sophisticated medical equipment, surgeons are able to execute complex procedures at a distance.
5G achieves ultra-low latency by relying on edge computing. The concept allows us to process data closer to its source, reducing the time required for data traveling.
- Device Connectivity
The thing that sets 5G apart from its legacy counterparts is the fact that it can support up to a million devices per square kilometer. This benefit is especially important in the following situations:
- Large Events: Having access to 5G close to popular venues allows attendees to use their phones, AR devices, and wearables without losing connection.
- Smart Cities: The technology is used for various sensors, cameras, traffic lights, and public transportation, minimizing errors and accidents while increasing efficiency.
- Industrial Zones: Modern manufacturing plants rely on hundreds, if not thousands, of robots and devices to stay productive. Among other things, the technology allows managers to increase safety, optimize processes, and schedule maintenance.
High connectivity is made possible through massive MIMO and beamforming, allowing networks to direct and manage signals without losing a beat.
- Data Speed
As mentioned, 5G brought about a major change in data speed. These networks are 100 times faster than 4G, reaching 10 Gbps. High throughput is vital for IoT devices, as it allows:
- Smart Manufacturing: Machines have to go through enormous quantities of data to detect potential anomalies and enhance operations. Furthermore, all of this is done in real time.
- Video Surveillance: Modern cameras are usually in 8K resolution, which requires fast data processing.
- AR and VR: Augmented and virtual reality require high bandwidth to deliver a complete experience. Otherwise, users would have to deal with constant buffering while immersing themselves in fictive environments.
5G relies on mmWave to boost data speeds. With higher frequency bands, networks are able to transmit a larger quantity of data, although over short distances. This makes 5G vital for urban environments.
- Network Slicing
Network slicing is another innovative concept that came with 5G. It allows operators and businesses to create separate virtual networks, each with its own unique infrastructure. Users can designate each of these compartments for a particular function, bringing more clarity to daily operations. Here are a few examples of how companies use the tech:
- Entertainment: If a part of your network is used exclusively for entertainment purposes, you can decrease latency while increasing bandwidth to enhance streaming quality.
- Healthcare: Modern hospitals and clinics rely on URLLC (Ultra Reliable Low-Latency Communication) for life-saving devices. For example, healthcare providers use 5G for surgery equipment and pacemakers.
- Smart Grid: In this particular case, users have to focus on secure communication, which is achieved through low-bandwidth.
Slicing provides unprecedented flexibility, enabling operators, individual users, and businesses to utilize a wide range of IoT devices.
5G and IoT
The great thing about 5G networks is that they can facilitate various modern devices and technologies. Through its speed and reliability, 5G has become invaluable for IoT applications.