- If you require high-speed data transfer, building a private 5G network for your business can be beneficial.
- But 5G is more expensive than 4G and WiFi, so it might not be worth it for every business.
- 5G is designed to be more secure than 4G and WiFi, which could be useful for businesses that need security.
- This article is part of “5G Playbook,” a series exploring one of the most significant technological innovations of our time.
5G is widely considered to be the future of communications, with mobile operators investing heavily in upgrading their networks for consumers and businesses to take advantage of new forms of mobile broadband.
McKinsey estimates that mobile operators will spend more than $650 billion between 2022 and 2025 to make 5G networks the standard.
If you’re considering deploying 5G in your business, here’s what you need to know.
1. 5G is very different from previous technologies
5G is a game-changer because of its speed and practicality. Unlike 4G, 5G operates over a wider spectrum, allowing for more data transmission and significantly reduced latency. This creates opportunities for new applications and services.
“5G is so much faster than 4G that any business that can benefit from a high-speed connection could well consider it,” said Keith Brownsward, founder and managing director of British telecommunications company AS ONE. “It’s perfect for businesses that need to use their devices on the move or have a widely spread business.”
Brownsword also said 5G could work with other technologies such as the so-called Internet of Things. “5G can reliably handle large amounts of data, so it would be good to use it in conjunction with IoT applications,” he said.
2. 5G is still in its early stages and can be expensive
William Webb, a research fellow at the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, said business leaders should consider whether they need 5G for their operations.
“For most businesses, WiFi or 4G networks will be sufficient and generally much less expensive,” said Webb, who also serves as chief technology officer for management consulting firm Access Partnership.
“Today, only a few 5G business networks have been deployed, and many are still in the trial phase. We expect that only a small percentage of businesses will need 5G networks.”
3. 5G is generally more secure than previous generations of connections
Fabio Giusto, security product manager at private mobile network company Assonet, said 5G offers better security than previous generations of mobile broadband. 5G is also likely to be more secure and more flexible to configure than Wi-Fi, he said.
Justo also said that 5G is compatible with eSIM provisioning, allowing mobile operators to remotely activate eSIM cards in connected objects such as IoT devices, “giving them more control over mobile devices than WiFi,” which cannot be used to activate eSIMs. This remote provisioning allows personnel who oversee the network to quickly and easily configure devices connected to the network.
4. 5G is complex and could cause problems
While 5G is an infrastructure designed to be more secure than previous generations of connectivity, risks still exist, typically arising from the ability to connect multiple devices and systems to the network.
Samantha Kyte, industry director at the GSMA, the industry group for mobile network operators, said 5G will use mechanisms such as data encryption to protect data and prevent information leaks. But she warned that private 5G networks will likely support many mobile IoT devices, and many organizations will be involved in the network – enterprises, mobile operators, manufacturers, IT and operational technology vendors, suppliers – meaning the potential attack surface will be wider, meaning there will be more opportunities for breaches.
5. 5G will offer more than just data transfer
5G’s biggest advocates tout its data-processing capabilities, but its features will also be useful in other areas, such as telephony.
Giusto said 5G will have built-in Voice over New Radio (VoNR) capabilities that will improve call quality for users. VoNR has lower latency and longer uptime than previous generations of phones, reducing the delay between when someone speaks and when you hear them, reducing the chances of dropped calls.