While carriers continue to target consumers with 5G services, businesses are expected to reap the most benefits from the cellular standard. Still, faster wireless connectivity doesn’t come without cost. Many businesses may need to rebuild their infrastructure to take advantage of 5G’s performance. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of 5G networks.
What is 5G technology?
5G is the fifth generation technology that supports cellular communications, offering faster speeds, lower latency, and a more uniform experience compared to 4G. This is expected to usher in a range of new high-speed services, including those based on machine learning and AI, that will redefine how businesses and consumers use the wireless spectrum to communicate and transact business.
What are the advantages of 5G?
1. Speed
With theoretical speeds of up to 20 Gbps, 5G offers data rates orders of magnitude faster than 4G and 4G LTE. The actual speeds a business customer can get from his 5G provider will depend on factors such as proximity to towers, the technological sophistication of the carrier itself, and whether network components are designed to support multi-gigabit performance. It depends on various factors. That said, 5G will enable businesses to use services that were not available with older standards, such as automation and advanced video conferencing capabilities. 5G not only offers high speeds, but also, just as importantly, low latency.
2. Low latency
Compared to 4G, 5G significantly reduces the time it takes for network devices to respond to commands. For 4G, the latency ranges from approximately 60ms to 98ms. 5G will reduce latency to less than 5 milliseconds, with the ultimate goal of less than 2 milliseconds, according to the standards organization’s Third Generation Partnership Project. With latency this low, the delays that hinder real-time communications are virtually eliminated. The result is a new generation of wireless services that work the same regardless of location. Improving latency is also a core element of standalone 5G, and carriers continue to test it.
3. Capacity
5G supports the simultaneous connection of more devices than 4G. Some estimates are up to 10 times more per square kilometer. Therefore, businesses no longer have to evaluate their cellular and Wi-Fi wireless strategies in an binary manner. With 5G, businesses can connect cellular and Wi-Fi as needed without worrying about performance degradation or limited access to mobile broadband, especially in congested environments such as New York City and other metropolitan areas. You can switch. 5G’s additional capacity will facilitate dramatic growth in IoT by allowing businesses to deploy more connected devices to monitor systems and perform other operations.
4. Realization of advanced technology
5G will facilitate the emergence of a new generation of interactive services based on AI and machine learning. For example, high-speed video conferencing with augmented reality or virtual reality can simulate environments and help employees make better decisions about projects. Automation enables businesses to leverage applications and services that are more responsive and predictive than traditional measures.
5. Rethinking networks
5G could prompt major companies to rethink their networks and add automation and other features as needed. Branch offices can use 5G as their primary connectivity medium, relying on multiple carriers for internet services via physical or virtual SIM cards. Private 5G networks, on the other hand, give businesses the opportunity to run their own limited-access networks that can provide dedicated services and applications. Edge computing should become even more popular thanks to 5G-compatible components that process and respond to requests quickly and reduce the need for data center backhaul.
What are the disadvantages of 5G?
1. Security
Although 5G’s transport security algorithms are more comprehensive than those supported by the 4G standard, enterprises may still encounter other cybersecurity issues. Applications transported by 5G networks may be encrypted, but the standard itself lacks end-to-end encryption, and without encryption early in the connection process, enterprises Potentially open to attack. The vast number of IoT devices and components connected to 5G networks significantly increases the threat exposure for businesses as attackers seek to exploit vulnerabilities. Another potential downside to 5G: 5G devices themselves could be a cause for concern, as the chips and other components designed to power them could be infected with malware by nation-state actors. There is a gender. Enterprises should also carefully consider the use of network slicing (the creation of virtual networks to carry specialized applications and services) in 5G networks. 5G management software can be vulnerable to attacks. A compromise of any part of a carrier or company’s infrastructure can create serious security issues for the entire network.
2. Capital investment/operating costs
To reap the full benefits of 5G, businesses must upgrade their network components and replace them with components that have processors designed to support standard acceleration and performance metrics. Even as 5G-compatible equipment becomes available, businesses still have to grapple with how to get the most out of their 5G investments when significant amounts of network infrastructure is tied to legacy equipment. Price is an important consideration, as carrier and equipment prices remain in flux.
3. Uneven coverage
Telecommunications carriers are accelerating the rollout of 5G, including by acquiring spectrum that enables alternative transmissions other than millimeter wave (mmWave). However, many areas of the US will not have true 5G service for years. Businesses with offices in rural areas can be particularly vulnerable to gaps in 5G coverage and must rely on a mix of legacy connectivity technologies. As a result, companies that do not have access to 5G or have to wait long periods for carriers to offer 5G service in their area may struggle to compete.
4. Line of sight/intrusion issues
Ensuring consistent coverage throughout an office or factory setting can be a problem, as common objects can easily block mmWave high-frequency signals. As a result, companies may redesign some of their equipment to ensure adequate service or expand coverage using his 5G flavor in mid-band or low-band if carriers have it available. There may be a need. Another option, primarily for private 5G networks, is the Citizens Broadband Radio Service spectrum.
5. Hype factor
Claims from carriers and vendors, especially claims about how quickly users can download movies to their mobile devices, can overwhelm companies when evaluating the effectiveness of 5G. Companies should take the time to fully understand how they intend to use 5G to get the most benefit from the technology and how to justify the required ROI. 5G is unlike other technologies, first driven by businesses and then adopted by consumers. With 5G, the opposite is true. Widespread adoption by businesses will continue until more 5G-compatible devices and mobile phones become commonplace, 5G-specific applications and services are developed, and true 5G connectivity becomes reliably and ubiquitously available. Suppressed.
Chuck Moozakis is editor-in-chief of TechTarget’s Networking, Security, and Infrastructure group.
