What is 5G?
5G is the fifth generation of cellular network technologies and standards that defines the next era of mobile and wireless communication. Babak Beheshti, IEEE Senior Member and Dean of the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) breaks it down for us:
“First generation systems brought us mobile voice telephony, second generation systems enabled text messaging; 3G gifted us internet access and 4G systems, which we’re currently utilizing, enabled reliable high-speed data transfer capabilities – the fourth generation of wireless technologies enabled the rise of smartphones.”
Why is 5G Important?
“5G technologies are designed to be high speed and low latency – these two characteristics enable the near real-time transfer of data between two or multiple points,” said Beheshti.
5G has the potential to be a revolutionary force in transforming the technology landscape, impacting how we live, play, work, and more, by enabling technologies that are inherently bandwidth-hungry, such as autonomous vehicles, augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) technologies, and the Internet of Things (IoT.) Furthermore, 5G promises to significantly augment technologies that are already enabled by 4G such as online wireless gaming, video streaming services, smartphones, and more. With 5G, our tech – all of it – has the potential to operate more quickly, seamlessly, and, in general, efficiently.
5G’s Impact on the Workplace
The ways 5G will impact the workplace of tomorrow vary depending on industry and business sector, but will be dramatic. To Beheshti, these are the top five ways 5G is poised to transform the workplace and optimize business:
- Telepresence – Improved reliability will enable AR to become a bona fide means of connecting remotely. With minimal glitches, workers will be able to join meetings from remote locations in order to robustly interact with other participants, with an improved sense of realism as compared to today’s web-based meetings.
- Seamless Network Access – 5G’s ability to integrate heterogeneous network technologies coupled with its high data rate will enable in the consolidation of enterprise networks, empowering all workers in an organization to access resources seamlessly regardless of location.
- Efficient Enterprise Decision Making – Real-time data on operations sourced from various locations will empower enterprise to more effectively make strategic decisions.
- Concurrent Manufacturing – Factories will benefit from sensors and enterprise IoT-supported devices that enable the coordination of complex systems across multiple physical locations, including other plants, effectively elevating storage, inventory bloat and resource usage disparity at the organizational level while simultaneously optimizing productivity.
- HD Video Links – High-speed data rates will enable HD video links between multiple locations, empowering AR to augment remote capabilities and applications.
