5G holds great promise for industry, but challenges remain

5G promises high bandwidth, low latency and massive connectivity for IoT devices. For industrial companies, the technology is exciting because it can better connect machines, objects and devices. Patrick Arnold, research analyst at ARC Advisory Group, says industrial solution suppliers are responding by investing in new product designs and incorporating 5G into their portfolios.

“5G” is the fifth generation of mobile networks. It is based on new global wireless standards.

“In industry, solutions are the driving force behind the adoption of new technologies,” Arnold explains. For example, in smart manufacturing, a key use case is the deployment of numerous sensors and devices for real-time monitoring of machines, predictive maintenance, and quality control.

Arnold added, “Logistics and smart warehouses benefit from 5G’s capacity for large-scale IoT devices and low-latency communications for tracking and coordinating large numbers of assets, including those that operate autonomously. In the area of ​​moving assets such as vehicles, robots and drones, 5G’s reliable uptime and low latency enable the exchange of real-time data critical for navigation, coordination and decision-making.”

A key strength of 5G is its ability to connect non-traditional assets that are difficult to connect with wired infrastructure or other wireless technologies. For remote assets, such as those widely distributed or in harsh industrial environments, 5G enables efficient data transmission and control. These capabilities position 5G as a “transformative technology for connecting diverse assets beyond the traditional scope of today’s use cases. This opens up new possibilities for innovation and optimization across a range of industries,” Arnold explains. As an example, maintenance personnel can quickly and reliably transfer large data sets, including large amounts of image and video data, to enable remote diagnostics and maintenance with remote maintenance.

Challenges and Delays in Industrial 5G Deployment

However, Arnold noted, “To some extent, the excitement around 5G in the industrial sector is outpacing the readiness of the technology for widespread adoption. Hype around 5G’s potential benefits has generated growing end-user interest, with many industries eager to take advantage of the technology’s capabilities before it is mature enough for industrial-grade applications. This premature enthusiasm poses particular challenges, as “the promise of the technology does not necessarily match the current state of implementation in industrial environments.”

COVID-19 has slowed the maturation of this technology. The pandemic has disrupted collaboration and coordination efforts between standards bodies and industry players. The pandemic also caused suppliers to experience component shortages. These delays have impacted the timeline for widespread adoption of 5G in industrial applications.

Additionally, during the extended trial period, industrial users faced obstacles in adopting 5G due to the costs and complexities associated with the technology. “Adoption challenges, combined with the established presence and knowledge of competing technologies such as Wi-Fi, have caused some industries to reassess the immediate feasibility and benefits of migrating to 5G,” explains Annold.

Reassess the immediate feasibility and benefits of moving to 5G.

Another persistent concern in industry is the potential impact of continued improvements to 5G. Arnold added, “As 5G evolves, there are concerns about the compatibility of existing industrial infrastructure with future advancements that will require large-scale hardware replacement.”

And there’s a big knowledge gap between communications professionals and industry stakeholders when it comes to the unique requirements of mission-critical industrial 5G deployments. Arnold said communications providers are “often accustomed to consumer-centric applications. They’re struggling to meet the stringent demands of the industrial environment.”

These concerns mean that industrial companies need to think carefully about how to incorporate this new technology into their long-term strategies. Many of the larger companies at the forefront of technological innovation are taking a “wait and see” approach.

But help is on the way

While regular 5G networks are designed to deliver high data rates, low latency, and mass device connectivity for a wide range of business use cases, the Reduced Capability (RedCap) 5G specification is streamlined to address the specific needs of less intensive applications. The RedCap specification serves as an alternative that offers a sufficient level of functionality with superior battery life performance. It offers a better balance between cost and energy efficiency.

For use cases such as smart sensing, utility connectivity, wearable devices, and video surveillance systems, 5G’s massive bandwidth and associated high power consumption are overkill. WiFi often lacks the range and reliability required to support these applications.

“It’s important to recognize that the introduction of these capabilities is expected to be gradual, not revolutionary,” Arnold summed up.