Since its introduction in 2019, 5G has spread rapidly. By the end of 2024, two billion people worldwide relied on 5G connections. Looking ahead, that number is expected to nearly quadruple to 7.7 billion by 2028.

By definition, 5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile network technology. IEEE helped standardize this technology through the IEEE 802 Series. Building on 4G, 5G is 100 times faster, more reliable, and supports millions of devices at once. For users, this means instant movie downloads, smoother augmented reality, and real‑time IoT connections for smart homes. Moreover, it benefits self‑driving cars and smart cities.

Impact of 5G Technology

Across industries, the introduction of 5G technology has had a tremendous impact.

  • Healthcare: 5G expands telemedicine, improves remote surgery, and powers wearable devices that share real-time patient data. Physicians can now diagnose and treat faster than ever.
  • Transportation: 5G enables self-driving cars to make quicker decisions, avoid accidents, and optimize traffic flow. At the same time, smart city systems benefit from real-time monitoring of traffic, electricity, and water.
  • Entertainment: 5G allows faster live streaming and more interactive experiences. Gamers can access cloud-based, high-quality games anywhere without heavy hardware.

Global Deployment

Globally, the U.S. has taken a leadership role in deploying fifth-generation networks by major wireless carriers. As a result, over 75% of American subscribers can now access 5G. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal in 2021, the federal government also pledged to invest an additional $65 billion. This amount is aimed at improving broadband and 5G service in rural communities.

In Europe, over 90% of British premises currently have access to 5G coverage,

Germany, which possesses one of the most developed 5G networks on that continent, achieved coverage of 92% by mid-2024. It continues to expand access across the country. Asia, China, and South Korea are among the countries that aggressively integrated 5G heavily into their manufacturing operations. Additionally, access to 5G continues to grow throughout the Middle East, Africa, and Latin American region.

What Challenges Are Associated with 5G Technology?

While 5G continues to deliver unprecedented benefits and expand in use, the technology has also experienced its share of challenges. Among them, the costs to build 5G networks are extensive. Regulatory differences between the U.S. and European Union have impaired their ability to fully collaborate on 5G deployment. Furthermore, the growing number of connected devices associated with the rise of 5G networks has introduced security issues and increased the risk of cyberattacks.

Despite these hurdles, however, the industry continues to move forward at a rapid pace. It perfects the current generation of technology and envisions the next one.

The upcoming emergence of “6G” connectivity promises a new paradigm in cellular technology. It runs an estimated 9,000 times faster than 5G connections. This speed enables users to, for example, download more than 20 movies per second. While experts note that 6G mobile networks remain at least five years away, the global telecommunications industry has been hard at work laying the foundations for this platform upgrade. They are entering what’s known as a “pre-standardization” phase to achieve consensus on preliminary 6G standards.

IEEE Helps You Stay One Step Ahead of 5G Developments

Designed to help technical professionals and industry leaders deliver on the 5G vision, these targeted course programs help you stay on top of the fast-paced field of 5G. They cater to the consumer demand for higher communication speeds.

5G Course Programs

5G brought connected device, higher data transmission speeds, lower latency, and increased connectivity to a wide range of IoT devices. These developments led to advancements in various sectors such as healthcare, transportation, manufacturing, and entertainment. A few of the advancements made possible by 5G include remote surgery, real-time industrial monitoring, and immersive virtual reality experiences.

How Is 5G Evolving?

Five years later, enhancements to 5G are being rolled out. Called 5G Advanced, these planned technological and network upgrades expand on the existing capabilities of 5G. One key component of 5G Advanced is the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) solutions. These introduce more intelligent network management capabilities.

These enhancements to 5G are laying the groundwork for 6G, which is slated to be commercially available in 2030.

Differences Between 5G and 6G

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, notable differentiators of 6G from 5G include enhanced scalability. Additionally, there is greater use of the radio spectrum, and dynamic access to different connection types. This means connections will be more reliable. Therefore, fewer drops in connection is critical to support advanced technologies like drones and robots. This dynamic access will enable connected devices to use multiple connections concurrently (such as Wi-Fi and cellular) to stay connected even if one source is interrupted.

The addition of AI and ML to the 6G network is intended to allow smarter devices to learn more like humans do. On a microscale, these applications can be used in autonomous vehicle technology. Potential use cases include improving traffic flow and allowing for autonomous taxi/bus services. On a macroscale, AI and ML will improve efficiencies across a wide range of areas. This includes manufacturing, logistics, and analytical industries, thanks to detecting trends and paths unseen by humans.

For local, state, and federal governments, services can be metered and controlled to match demand more precisely at any given moment. This increases efficiency, improves availability, and possibly slows the effects of global warming. Additionally, these algorithms could aid in predictive modeling for services (for example impacting wait times, trash collection, bus usage) and weather events (such as tornados, floods, fires, and more).

As 5G network capabilities expand globally, they pave the way for 6G. The world will need more engineers trained on telecommunications system deployment and management.

Leverage 5G Networks to Transform the World

IEEE is proud to launch its newest training program, 5G/6G Essential Protocols and Procedures Training and Innovation Testbed, in partnership with Wray Castle. This specialized training program provides a deep dive into essential 5G protocols. It focuses specifically on the 5G Network Function (NF) Framework, registration processes, and Packet Data Unit (PDU) session establishment. The program also features access to the 5G/6G Innovation Testbed. This is a cloud-based, private, secure, end-to-end 5G network testing platform. It provides hands-on experience with critical aspects of the 5G system. This helps reinforce the theoretical knowledge delivered in the course.

Key Features and Benefits:

  • On-Demand, Self-Paced Learning:
    The course offers 11 hours of on-demand, self paces learning, allowing professionals to study at their convenience.
  • Illustrated Digital Course Books:
    These feature leading-edge knowledge from subject matter experts..
  • Instructional Videos:
    Dive deeper into topics taught in the course.
  • Three-Month Access to the IEEE 5G/6G Innovation Testbed:
    This secure, cloud-based platform provides hands-on experience with critical aspects of the 5G system.
  • Guided Exercises:
    Signaling scenarios make learning and applying new concepts straightforward.
  • Wireshark (pcap) Output Files:
    Provide deep system insights.
  • Virtual Training Expert:
    Available as needed to assist learners.

This program is specifically designed for system engineers, integrators, engineers working with operation, optimization, and troubleshooting. It also targets technical professionals responsible for 5G system signaling, public mobile network operators, private network operators, network equipment vendors, test equipment vendors, and handset manufacturers. Additionally, it is for regulators and anyone who needs to explore and understand the 5G system signaling.

Enroll to earn credentials! After successful completion of the program, learners earn an IEEE Certificate bearing eleven Professional Development Hours (PDHs). You can share this proof of completion on your resume and professional networking sites such as LinkedIn.

Make sure your mobile network knowledge keeps pace with the ongoing evolution of wireless networks. Learn more and request a demo today!

5G has been publicized as a substantial change in mobile networking—promising faster download speeds, real-time data-sharing, and network capacity. As such, the technology is expected to transform mobile networking and create new economic opportunities. Despite delays with the rollout in both the U.S. and parts of Europe, 5G has reached much of the globe. South Korea, the U.S., and China are leading the implementation with around 80-90% population coverage. Although Europe overall is trailing behind, Switzerland has reached 90%. A 2021 report from Ericsson projects 5G will account for nearly half of all mobile subscriptions by 2027 while also becoming mainstream in each of the report’s ten studied regions. Though challenges persist for deployment globally, technology providers are optimistic about the future of 5G. 

Forecasts for Industry

While the majority of 5G-supported or enabled applications today are consumer-based (think mobile streaming, augmented reality, virtual reality, and gaming), many experts believe the real money will be in enterprise applications of 5G. In its 5G value report, KPMG estimated the business-to-business case at US$4.3 trillion. Across industries—from factory automation and large-scale video surveillance to remote surgery and connected smart cities— there are a number of potentially groundbreaking use cases. 

5G enables fast, secure, and pervasive connectivity across smart networks and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. When combined with artificial intelligence, 5G can enable unparalleled productivity and efficiency. Apart from the global estimate, five industries are poised to see incremental growth: Industrial Manufacturing, Connected Healthcare, Intelligent Transportation, Environmental Monitoring, and Gaming. KPMG estimates the market across the ecosystem for these five industries will be worth more than US$500B by 2023. 

Managing Expectations 

Before organizations adopt 5G, they should understand the differences between 4G and 5G network architectures to understand how both could affect business operations. Small cell technology enables 5G to provide more cell density and enhance network capacity. While 4G technology also made similar promises, experts anticipate 5G will succeed where its predecessor falls short. However, it is essential to understand that there are still 5G issues, and it may take years to reach its full potential.

Health Concerns Regarding 5G

When you use your phone to communicate with other devices, cellular data is sent through radio frequencies (RFs). “The radiofrequency 5G is higher than the previous iterations of wireless communication, including 4G and 3G”, says Henk De Feyter, Ph.D., an assistant professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut. In a world of propaganda and misinformation about 5G, how are policymakers and the public supposed to make sense of any individual claim? (For example, various internet theories have tied 5G technology to cancer and COVID-19.)

Learn more about this topic by watching 5G Demystified: Health and Safety of 5G, an on-demand LinkedIn Live recording where our speakers discuss the science and standards of human health effects from electromagnetic radio waves in 5G communications. Watch  now>>

More Ways to Explore Current 5G Issues with IEEE

Depending on what you read, 5G is either a threat to society, the impetus for the next industrial revolution, or a marketing ploy to get us to buy new phones and tablets. Seldom has an emerging technology been so widely known yet so misunderstood. IEEE Future Networks and IEEE Educational Activities have developed a free virtual event series, 5G Demystified, where experts make sense of the technology’s potential.

Check out the events in this series: 

Plus, check out these online course programs and earn continuing education credits while growing your knowledge of telecommunications technology!

Bridging the 4G/5G Gap: Telecommunications Roadmap for Implementation: This two-part course program provides a historical overview of 4G/5G, explains the legislative and regulatory background, showcases the scientific evidence surrounding wireless facilities’ impact on property value and human health, and offers a roadmap to deploy wireless facilities. Learn more>> 

5G Networks: Produced in partnership with Nokia, this online course program provides an in-depth view of performance requirements, future scenarios, and the roadmap to 5G implementation. It also explores the intricacies of 5G standardization by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee. Learn More>>


Resources

Ericsson. (November 2021). Ericsson Mobility Report. 

Goss, Michaela. (November 2022). 5G vs. 4G: Learn the key differences between them. TechTarget. 

Holt, Alex. (June 2020). The 5G edge computing value opportunity. KPMG. 

Laurence, Emily. (31 May 2022). Is 5G Making You Sick? Here’s What Experts Say. Forbes. 

Vella, Heidi. (17 February 2022). 5G vs 4G: what is the difference? Raconteur.

Wi-Fi has been around for over 20 years. With each new generation, the world has seen remarkable gains in wireless performance, connectivity, and user experience. Wi-Fi 6E is a game-changing version of Wi-Fi that brings the technology to the 6 GHz frequency band. Past articles have outlined the technical differences between the IEEE standards known widely as Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax), as well as the improvements made for Wi-Fi 6E.  While Wi-Fi 6E is faster than previous versions (9.6 Gbps versus 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5), it isn’t all about speed. The real value of Wi-Fi 6 will be its ability to improve the network when many devices are connected.

When Wi-Fi 5 came out, the average U.S. household had an average of five Wi-Fi devices. Today, homes have nine Wi-Fi devices on average. Experts predict this number to jump to nearly 50 Wi-Fi devices within several years, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Wi-Fi 6 will alleviate the issues of connecting dozens of Wi-Fi devices on a single network. An essential feature of Wi-Fi 6E is that it lets routers communicate with more devices at once, send data to multiple devices in the same broadcast, and allows Wi-Fi devices to schedule check-ins with the router. In addition to being faster with more device capacity, Wi-Fi 6 can improve the battery life of devices while also having a better security protocol.

IoT is Fueling Wireless Growth

By 2025, it is predicted there will be 55.7 billion connected devices worldwide, 75% of which will be connected to an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The wireless connectivity market is poised to reach US$157 billion by 2027, driven by wearable devices, smart home technology, and cloud service models, all working with IoT devices. While it has been challenging to meet the connectivity demands of IoT in the past, Wi-Fi 6 offers a potential solution. By extending Wi-Fi operation into the 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi 6 can support industrial IoT devices around the globe with high bandwidth, low power, and low latency capabilities.

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Are Not the Same, But Work Together

It is important to note that some of the featured improvements of Wi-Fi 6 are similar to the emerging 5G cellular standard improvements. Though both standards employ some of the same features, they are different technologies (wireless LAN versus cellular) built for different uses. According to Network World, Wi-Fi is best suited for indoor applications in dense, high-volume environments. While Wi-Fi can work outdoors, 5G is designed to seamlessly offer cell phone coverage as you use your phone’s GPS while driving or check your email while on public transportation. As most smartphones will have both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G built-in, the two technologies will work together to support different use cases across industries.

Wi-Fi 6 Impact on Industry

Wi-Fi 6E extends the capacity, efficiency, coverage, and performance benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and offers incredible value to companies. With Wi-Fi expected to contribute nearly US$5 trillion to the global economy by 2025, more than 2.3 billion Wi-Fi 6 products and 350 million Wi-Fi 6E products entered the market in 2022. According to independent market research firms TechKnowledge Strategies and FeibusTech, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E will offer more bandwidth, greater performance, and compelling user experiences:

  • Public Wi-Fi: Venues and providers recognize the potential of Wi-Fi 6 and are working on next-generation applications. Demand is high for Wi-Fi 6 in public venues like airports, stadiums, university campuses, and high-density apartment complexes. Several pilot deployments of Wi-Fi 6 are addressing financial transactions at stadium settings, resolving incidents with minimum disruption at airports via Wi-Fi 6 security cameras, and making video calling smooth without buffering in public settings.
  • Home: Wi-Fi 6 routers will improve wireless performance for many situations, including homes with smart home devices (like thermostats and security cameras) or older devices slowing the network, as well as households with streaming difficulties or many neighbors nearby, all of which will have their own routers and collections of devices. FeibusTech forecasts that Wi-Fi 6 will also spark a revolution in the smart home. Virtual assistants, like Amazon Alexa and Google Voice, could have far more processing power and storage available on Wi-Fi 6.
  • Enterprise: Overall, the transition to Wi-Fi 6 in enterprise deployments is expected to be more of an evolutionary story. However, CIOs and other IT decision-makers who opt for full-spec Wi-Fi 6 solutions, such as Qualcomm’s Pro platform, can plan for up to 1,500 devices connecting effortlessly on a single access point. Several companies are getting into the arena early. For example, cloud-based applications like Skype and WebEx running on laptop and smartphone apps might have us saying goodbye to traditional desktop phones. Ruckus and Lenovo are making educational applications for students using VR goggles, where Wi-Fi 6 will be critical.
  • Automotive: Wi-Fi 6 could be used to revolutionize the automotive market. For autonomous cars, vehicle-to-vehicle communication could be used to prevent accidents and speed up stop-and-go traffic. Likewise, vehicle-to-infrastructure can improve traffic flow at stop lights. In-car entertainment will get a boost from both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G. This combination will offer real-time responsiveness for streaming. Additionally, automobile dealers will be able to connect wirelessly to vehicles’ onboard diagnostics as customers enter the service area. This would help cut wait times and increase the capacity of the service department.

Preparing for Wi-Fi 6— Are You Ready?

Wi-Fi 6 will bring immediate benefits in network speed, capacity, and responsiveness to the global market. Such benefits will allow for new applications in virtually every segment.

Learn more in IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) Part One and Part Two. Join us for this live virtual course program on 21 and 22 February from 12-3pm ET. It will provide an overview of the features and optimizations introduced by IEEE 802.11ax to the physical and medium access control layers. Purchase this course program by 17 February for the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the instructors.

Can’t make the live sessions? Purchasers will have access to the on-demand version of the course program. See more details>>

 

Resources

Cisco. (2022). 5 things to know about Wi-Fi 6/6E and Private 5G. Cisco.

Kastrenakes, Jacob. (21 February 2019). Wi-Fi 6: is it really that much faster? The Verge.

Research and Markets. (28 November 2022). Wireless and Fixed Connectivity Market Report 2022. BusinessWire. 

Robinson, Kevin. (21 March 2022). Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E: The key to IoT. Wi-Fi Alliance. 

TechKnowledge Strategies. (2019). Wi-Fi 6 Industry Impact Report. Qualcomm.

Telecom. (10 November 2022). Value of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi Alliance.

Weinberg, Neal. (24 May 2022). What is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and why do we need it? Network World.

Imagine you are stuck in the aftermath of a hurricane. You need to call for help, but networks are down. Drones suddenly appear over the horizon. Equipped with 5G technology, they form an aerial network that allows you to send texts and look up evacuation information.

Developed by AT&T, these flying “cells on wings,” or COWs, are expected to expand access to larger numbers of people stranded in disaster zones. Using fiber optic tethers, flying COWS connect to trucks on the ground that serve as communication and power bases, according to CNET. So far, they have been tested in rural Missouri in regions that lack network access. 

As climate change spurs more severe weather events, including wildfires, hurricanes, and floods, the flying COWs are increasingly necessary.

“Emergency preparedness and disaster recovery for the carriers has become critically important,” Bob O’Donnell , Technalysis Research analyst, told CNET. “These COWs literally become a lifeline.”

South Korea Gets First-Ever Private 5G Network

As we reported previously, 5G networks are slowly phasing out older ones. Unlike its 4G and 3G predecessors, 5G can carry massive amounts of data at lightning-fast speeds. Combined with cloud computing and artificial intelligence, 5G will serve as a backbone for the Internet of Things, autonomous machines and vehicles, and other emerging technologies.

While rollouts are fraught with delays due to the pandemic, 5G is expected to reach millions of people in the U.S. this year given that telecommunications companies bought millions of dollars worth of highly-coveted mid-band spectrum from the Federal Communications Commission. 

As 5G slowly unfurls across the world, some organizations have decided to build their own private 5G networks. For example, a joint effort between Samsung Electronics and NAVER Cloud will create a 5G private network at NAVER’s headquarters in South Korea this June, which will be used to power mobile robots that will provide services to employees. The project will be the country’s first private 5G network. The robots will operate on NAVER’s cloud platform with 5G technology provided by Samsung. Rather than relying on chips embedded in each individual robot, the robots will process information using the cloud, which will act as a “brain” they all share. 

“Samsung’s private 5G network plays the role of a neural network that connects the robots and the cloud, enabling the cloud to control and support tens of thousands of robots in real-time and allowing them to be smarter together,” states Samsung in a news release. “In addition, advanced technologies such as digital twin, 3D/HD mapping and AI are applied to help robots learn to find their way inside the building by creating a virtual space that replicates the real world.”

To start, 40 robots will deliver packages, coffee, and lunch to employees in the building. While the robots are currently limited to three floors, the project is expected to expand to the building’s full 36 floors. 

Private 5G networks like these represent a new frontier in telecommunications. As 5G rollouts continue to expand, 5G will eventually dominate networks worldwide.

Are You Ready to Meet Consumer Demand for Higher Communication Speeds?

The next generation of wireless network technology is here, and it’s vital to understand how to deliver on the 5G vision while meeting consumer demand for higher communication speeds. 

Interested in training your team with 5G Networks, a three-course program from IEEE and Nokia? Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today.

For individual access, visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN)!

Resources

Press release. (2 June 2022). Samsung Electronics Collaborates With NAVER Cloud To Launch Korea’s First Private 5G Network. Samsung Newsroom.

Shankland, Stephen. (2 June 2022). These Drones Could Bring You 5G Networking After a Hurricane. CNET.

Most of us can only dream of playing professional sports. However, augmented reality (AR) could soon turn these dreams into reality — that is, a virtual one.

This fall, the National Football League (NFL) will release its first officially licensed game for virtual reality platforms, ESPN reported. The “NFL PRO ERA” game will give players the ability to experience — in virtual reality — what it is like to play pro football. Using a special AR headset, players will be able to experience the game on a virtual field. 

The game, which will be available on Meta Quest and PlayStation VR, and licensed by the NFL Players Association, will turn NFL fans into virtual NFL quarterbacks. It gives them the ability to try to make plays they have seen real-life NFL quarterbacks make on television. 

“When we think about this experience, you’re finally immersing yourself as the professional athlete for the first time ever. You are seeing it in a way that you’ve never seen it,” Troy Jones, co-founder of StatusPRO, the company that is developing the game, told ESPN. “It is the future, and we look at it as the new era of gaming and the next step in the way people will consume sports.”

How AR Gaming Will Improve Cognitive and Mental Health

The impact of AR gaming will be felt beyond entertainment. According to CNET, one area where it is already having an impact is on exergaming, a type of gaming that incorporates physical movement. Exergaming has been around for a while — with well-known brands like DanceDance Revolution, which made its debut in 1999. Researchers are looking into how to take the technology a step further by combining it with AR. 

For example, the Pacific Brain Health Center’s “FitBrain” program aims to boost the mental function of seniors. It does so by merging cognitive exercises and physical exercise through stationary bikes and treadmills combined with 2D tablets or 3D VR headsets.

“Physical exercise is probably one if not the most well-validated interventions to improve both general health and also brain health. Or brain function or both,” Dr. David A. Merrill, an adult and geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Brain Health Center, told CNET.

Technological Advancements in AR Will Create a More Realistic, Immersive Experience

While AR has been around since the 1990s, the technology has become much more advanced in recent years. Improvements include features that allow players to better interact with the virtual environment. According to CNN Business, researchers at Salzburg University developed an AR mask. Players can breathe into it, allowing them to blow out candles, blow up balloons, and more in a virtual world. Meanwhile, researchers from Carnegie Mellon University equipped an Oculus Quest 2 headset with ultrasonic transducers. These produce ultrasonic energy, which points at a wearer’s mouth to generate unique sensations. Such as the feeling of wind on your lips, PC Gamer reported. 

These AR advancements are only the beginning. With the rollout of 5G networks across the world – a development that will allow for faster internet speeds and the transferring of enormous amounts of data necessary to support advanced AR gaming – it is only a matter of time before AR gaming becomes widespread. 

Practical Applications of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Business and Society

One aspect of video gaming that makes it unique is that it has always been driven by the desire for maximum fun, not the need to solve a specific real-world problem. This has driven both the development and commercialization of new technologies.

Enroll in Practical Applications of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Business and Society: The Case of Gaming on the IEEE Learning Network to discover the impact of video games as a $160 billion USD industry on the evolution of real world intelligent and immersive realities. 

In this online course, we review the history and relevance of gaming while discussing unexpected use cases. We’ll explore what makes gaming unique and show how gaming has impacted the development of multiple technologies that are fundamental to immersive reality.

Resources

Rice, Andrea. (17 May 2022). VR Exercise Games Could Offer Hope for Delaying Dementia. CNET.

Corrigan, Hope. (9 May 2022). Scientists add mouth haptics to VR, complete with spiders. PC Gamer.

Rothstein, Michael. (20 April 2022). NFL-licensed virtual reality game set for fall release. ESPN.

This mask makes breathing in virtual reality more realistic. CNN Business. 

Next generation 5G wireless technology will deliver breakneck speeds. However, worldwide rollouts are moving at a less impressive pace (with the exception of East Asia). While individual consumers will likely wait at least a decade before they can access the full benefits of 5G, industries will be able to embrace it much sooner. When they do, 5G will revolutionize the way businesses operate, from faster communications to enhanced automation. 

According to Natasha Tamaskar, Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales Strategy for Radisys, industries’ shift to 5G will be known as the “4th Industrial Revolution” which will “connect billions of devices.”

“The primary features of 5G making these wireless connections possible include enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC) and massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC),” she writes in Forbes. “In industrial settings, these 5G capabilities will support capacity and latency requirements for use cases such as autonomous guided vehicles, video surveillance, asset tracking, robotic factories and more — while improving worker safety and efficiency.”

Why 5G Rollouts Are Happening Sooner for Industry

While 5G for consumers depends on “macro cell deployments” through cell phone towers using mmWave or sub-6 GHz spectrum, industries can deploy 5G on their own private “micro” networks, according to Tamaskar. She says these micro networks will come with unique advantages, including the ability to:

  • connect innumerable devices on one network while meeting “capacity demands for wireless connectivity,” with the ability to easily add more small 5G cell sites when needed. 
  • strategically deploy small 5G cells in locations where coverage is lagging, giving them greater flexibility “to easily expand coverage to meet evolving requirements.”
  • store data in secure private networks rather than a cloud or public network.
  • seamlessly switch between small cells without connectivity loss thanks to the 3GPP mobile technology in small 5G cells (important in situations where enterprises have to track the movement of goods or vehicles over long distances, such as an autonomous forklift moving over a large factory floor).
  • deploy small 5G cells in “licensed, shared, unlicensed or locally licensed spectrum.” This offers a number of deployment options, such as choosing to partner with a mobile operator “to deploy a private network in a licensed spectrum” or “take advantage of shared spectrum initiatives such as CBRS” [Citizens Broadband Radio Service].

5G Rollout Challenges for Businesses

While 5G will certainly transform industries, it also presents some major challenges, according to Prakash Gupta, Co-founder and COO of 42Gears, a unified endpoint management vendor. One is security. 

“For example, with a much greater amount of data being relayed per unit time, it’s more rewarding for thieves to attempt data exfiltration on 5G networks,” he writes in Forbes. “Workers who have free reign over their devices can also download malware faster than before, which means businesses have no margin of error for irresponsible device use.”

Though it may take years for 5G to expand across the globe, industries that erect their own private 5G networks will help usher its spread. As they do, organizations should heed the potential risks along with the benefits. 

Learn more about 5G Networks

As technology continues to evolve toward 5G, it’s vital for technical professionals and industry leaders to understand how to deliver on the 5G vision while meeting consumer demand for higher communication speeds. Is your organization ready? Consider training your team with 5G Networks, a three-course program from IEEE and Nokia.

Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about the program.

Interested in learning more about 5G for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network today!

Resources

Natasha Tamaskar serves. (7 July 2021). 5G Small Cells: Five Opportunities For Enterprise. Forbes. 

Gupta, Prakash. (5 July 2021). Security Challenges In The 5G World And How To Overcome Them. Forbes.

A recent report from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, warns of three major threat vectors that can potentially imperil 5G networks.

The report, titled Potential Threat Vectors to 5G Infrastructure, details outcomes from the 5G Threat Model Working Panel, which was launched under the National Strategy to Secure 5G to analyze weaknesses in 5G infrastructure. The panel examined current 5G projects for possible risks, identified, and created mock situations for 5G implementation. They then determined the risks, which include the following.

Policies and Standards

Within the policies and standards threat vector category, the report found a pair of sub-threat vectors related to open standards and optional controls when creating the foundation for 5G infrastructure. Standards developed by “adversarial nations” that include “untrusted technologies and equipment that are unique to their systems” could contain untrustworthy technology that might hinder competition and interoperability. The report also found that adopting optional security controls help to protect networks from hackers.  

“Nation states may attempt to exert undue influence on standards that benefit their proprietary technologies and limit customers’ choices to use other equipment or software,” the report states. “There are also risks associated with the development of standards, where standard bodies may develop optional controls, which are not implemented by operators. By not implementing these subjective security measures, operators could introduce gaps in the network and open the door for malicious threat actors.”

Supply Chain Risks

The report points to the 5G supply chain as a second vector threat, especially because the race to sell new devices creates a large market for counterfeiters. The report states that bad actors can use supply chains to “exploit information and communications technologies (ICTs) and their related supply chains for purposes of espionage, sabotage, foreign interference, and criminal activity.” 

Supply chain sub-threat vectors include components passed on from third-party suppliers, vendors, and service providers. Because flaws and malware introduced early in development are tricky to spot, lead developers may mistakenly approve flaws or malware. Malicious actors could later exploit these vulnerabilities. 

5G Systems Architecture

Despite IT and communication companies ramping up 5G security, cyber criminals can still exploit “both legacy and new vulnerabilities”. 

“For example, the overlay of 4G legacy and 5G architectures could provide the opportunity for a malicious actor to carry out a downgrade attack, where a user on a 5G network could be forced to use 4G, thereby allowing the malicious actor to exploit known 4G vulnerabilities,” according to the report. 

Additionally, 5G networks are utilizing a larger range of information architectures than ever before. Features of such architectures include configuration, spectrum sharing, software-defined networking, and multi-access edge computing. This can give hackers a greater ability to target systems and networks. For example, a firmware vulnerability could allow a hacker to penetrate the multi-access edge computing (MEC), swipe private data, and alter and even deny access to data.

5G Networks

As technology continues to evolve toward 5G, it’s vital for technical professionals and industry leaders to understand how to deliver on the 5G vision while meeting consumer demand for higher communication speeds. Is your organization ready? Consider training your team with 5G Networks, a three-course program from IEEE and Nokia.

Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about the program.

Interested in learning more about 5G for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network today!

Bridging the 4G/5G Gap

Prepare your organization for 5G, the next generation of wireless network technology. The IEEE two-course program, Bridging the 4G/5G Gap: Telecommunications Roadmap for Implementation, provides a historical overview of 4G/5G technology, identifies what is needed for 5G integration in a 3G/4G world, and showcases the scientific evidence surrounding wireless facilities’ impact on property value and human health, and more.

Contact an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about getting access to these courses for your organization.

Interested in the course for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network.

Resources

Kanowitz, Stephanie. (18 May 2021). 5G infrastructure faces foundational threats. GCN.

A future with widespread autonomous vehicle (AV) technology could include less traffic, safer roads, and interconnected vehicles that allow drivers to sit back and enjoy the ride. Expected to reach $556.67 billion USD by 2026, the market place for AV technology is growing quickly. However, the industry still has a long way to go. In order for autonomous vehicle technology to properly function, it must work in conjunction with other areas. The five most relevant are listed below.

Five Use Cases

5G

An autonomous vehicle is expected to generate 2 Petabytes (2 million GB) of data every year. It would take the best Wi-Fi available months to be able to transfer that amount of information. The nearly real-time speeds of 5G are 10 times faster than 4G. With its infrastructure and dense network, 5G makes the future of autonomous vehicles possible.

Latency

Decreased latency, another characteristic of 5G, can also benefit autonomous vehicles. 4G currently has a latency of 50 milliseconds, which can be seen as a large delay when it comes to passenger safety.

Smart Cities and the Internet of Things (IoT)

In order for an autonomous vehicle to make smart decisions, it requires information about its environment. Smart cities, which are IoT-ready, allow for that. A city that can report on traffic, signals, etc., can help a self-driving car move smarter and more easily navigate its way around town.

Data Management

Analyzing the amount of data a self-driving car produces takes time. With the potential of nearly 10 million cars hitting the road, edge computing can help streamline this analysis by examining it closer to the source.

V2X

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) allows the information from autonomous vehicle sensors and other sources to travel through high-bandwidth, high-reliability, and low-latency channels. It creates an ecosystem that enables cars to communicate both with each other and with infrastructures including parking lots and traffic lights.

Not only can this improve vehicle safety, but it also gives drivers or passengers information about road conditions ahead, so that they can appropriately respond. When combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI), a self-driving car will be able to make that decision itself.

Roadblocks

A study from NAMIC found that 42% of surveyed consumers said that no matter how long the technology was available, they would refuse to ride in fully automated vehicles. Similarly, 46% of respondents were skeptical about using fully automated vehicles for ride-sharing services. In order to gain public trust, the right infrastructure needs to be in place.

Data management challenges, safety concerns, and high manufacturing costs are roadblocks that can prevent widespread autonomous vehicle adoption. However, as large manufacturers and automotive organizations continue to enhance and improve the technology, the potential for an autonomous future continues to grow.

Train Your Team in Autonomous Vehicle Technology

Prepare your organization for the latest developments in AV technology with training in foundational and practical applications of autonomous, connected, and intelligent vehicle technologies. Developed by leading experts in the field, the IEEE Guide to Autonomous Vehicle Technology is a seven-course training program offered online.

Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about purchasing the program for your organization.

Interested in purchasing the program just for yourself? View it on the Learning Network, a new learning management platform!

 

Resources

(18 October 2019). Who Will Use Self-Driving Cars?. PYMNTS.

Zoria, Sophie. (1 November 2019). 5 Striking Uses For Autonomous Driving Technology. Customer Think.

While it may be too early to know exactly how 5G will benefit edge computing, the technology will have some sort of impact on consumers and businesses. The growth of edge computing and 5G are mutually dependent. In order for 5G to provide accelerated network speeds, it requires on low-latency and high interconnection that can be delivered through edge computing.

The evolution of 5G networks will affect more than smartphone speeds. While the ability to stream and download files on your mobile device faster will be convenient, it is only a fraction of the potential 5G has in advancing technology. By providing the ability to process large quantities of small data points in a short period of time, 5G is likely to significantly impact sectors such as transport, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and the Internet of Things (IoT). In these fields, applications that currently use large sets of data and information are likely to benefit from the ability to send the desired information in almost real-time.

Benefits to Utilizing Edge Computing with 5G

By 2025, up to 20% of data might be processed in real-time. The combination of 5G and edge computing will bring consumers and organizations improved data processing, local caching and sharing of computing power, energy efficiency at both network and device level, resilience and security, and optimal work allocation.

  • Edge computing allows 5G networks to function at the needed reduced network latency for real-time operations. Together, they can enhance augmented and virtual reality for events, video and speech analytics, video security monitoring, and more.
  • 5G combines edge computing into wireless networks with open source initiatives and standards to distribute data across the network, from radio access and transport to new core-enabling capabilities such as network slicing.
  • Edge computing applies artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technologies to enhance data management across networks.

5G and Edge Security

Edge computing will play a critical role in changing the security of the network. The faster connections and increased interconnection that come with 5G also mean improved connections for cyber criminals.

John Maddison, an executive at Fortinet, Inc., mentions that “The security then needs to be deployed in a different way. And whether it’s deployed in the car itself, in the application, the IoT devices—it’ll be security deployed in the edge compute.”

Getting Ready for Edge Computing and 5G

Prepare your organization for the advancement of edge computing integration. Designed to train your entire team to support edge computing, IEEE Introduction to Edge Computing is an online five-course program. The on-demand courses included in this program are:

  • Overview of Edge Computing
  • Practical Applications of Edge Computing
  • Research Challenges in Edge Computing
  • Designing Security Solutions for Edge, Cloud, and IoT
  • Tools and Software for Edge Computing Applications

To learn more about getting access to these courses for your organization, connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today.

Interested in the course for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN) to learn more.

 

Resources

(9 October 2019). 5G Americas: Edge Computing Not a One-Size-Fits-All for 5G. Global Newswire.

(15 October 2019). Edge, 5G And Data Centres: The Beginning Of The End Or The End Of The Beginning?. Data Economy.

Matthews, Kayla. (17 October 2019). How edge computing will benefit from 5G technology. Information Age.

Tripathi, Sunay. (23 October 2019). 5G And Enterprise Edge: Developments Toward A Device-Centric View Of The Cloud. Forbes.

Aten, Jason. (25 October 2019). Everyone Wants a 5G iPhone, but Here Are 5 Industries That Will Actually Be Revolutionized When Ultra-Fast Wireless Finally Arrives. Inc.