- If you need high-speed data transfer, building a private 5G network for your business could be beneficial.
- However, 5G is more expensive than 4G or WiFi, so it may not be worth it for every business.
- 5G is designed to be more secure than 4G or WiFi, so it could benefit businesses with security needs.
- This article is part of 5G Playbook, a series that explores one of the most important technological innovations of our time.
5G is widely considered to be the future of communications. Mobile carriers are investing heavily in upgrading their consumer networks, allowing businesses to take advantage of new forms of mobile broadband.
McKinsey estimates that mobile phone operators will spend more than $650 billion from 2022 to 2025 to make 5G networks the norm.
If you’re considering adding 5G to your business, here’s what you need to know.
1. 5G is very different from previous technologies
5G is a game changer due to its speed and practicality. Unlike 4G, 5G operates over a wider spectrum, allowing more data to be transmitted and significantly reducing latency. This opens up opportunities for new applications and services.
Keith Brownsword, founder and director of British telecommunications company AsOne, said: “5G is much faster than 4G, so any business that benefits from high-speed connectivity should consider it. Deaf,” he said. “Ideal if you need to use your device on the go or if your business is widespread.”
Brownsword also said 5G can work with other technologies, such as the so-called Internet of Things. “It is suitable for use in IoT applications because it can reliably handle large amounts of data,” he said.
2. 5G is still in its early stages and can be expensive
William Webb, a fellow at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, said business owners need to consider whether their jobs require 5G.
“WiFi or 4G networks are sufficient for the vast majority of businesses and are generally much cheaper,” said Webb, who is also chief technology officer at management consultancy Access Partnership.
“Currently, very few 5G business networks have been deployed, and many are still in the testing phase. Only a small percentage of businesses will likely need a 5G network.”
3. 5G is generally more secure than previous generation connections
Fabio Giusto, security product manager at private mobile networking company Asonet, said 5G offers better security than previous generations of mobile broadband. Geast said he is probably more secure and configurable than WiFi.
Giust also said that 5G is compatible with eSIM provisioning, which allows mobile operators to remotely activate eSIM cards on connected objects such as IoT devices, making 5G “more powerful than WiFi.” can be controlled.” eSIM. This remote provisioning allows network monitoring personnel to quickly and easily configure devices connected to the network.
4. 5G can be complex, which can cause problems
Despite the infrastructure designed to make 5G more secure than previous generations of connections, it still comes with risks. Risk generally arises from the ability to connect multiple devices and systems to a network.
Samantha Kite, industry director at GSMA, the industry group for mobile network operators, said 5G uses data encryption and other mechanisms to protect data and prevent information leaks. However, because private 5G networks often support many mobile IoT devices and have many actors involved in the network, such as enterprises, mobile operators, and manufacturers, private 5G networks are open to potential attacks. We warned that the area covered is larger, which means the potential for compromise is higher. , IT and operational technology vendors, and suppliers.
5. 5G offers more than just data transfer
While 5G’s biggest proponents have touted its superior capabilities in data processing, its capabilities could also be useful in other areas, such as telephony.
Giusto said 5G incorporates VoNR (voice over the air) capabilities, which means better 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 it, reducing the chance of dropped calls.
