5G: Believe the hype
Artificial intelligence, self-driving cars, smartphones. You name it, 5G will improve it. It will help to fast-track us into the fourth industrial revolution and bring individuals across the globe closer together – something that has recently become more essential than ever.
As the number of mobile phone users continues to increase, networks have had to find new ways of dealing with the increased demands for data. As a result, the industry has seen network connections improve consistently, from 2G, 3G, to 4G and now 5G.
The evolution of the technology
First we had voice communication, then 2G brought text and 3G enabled basic mobile computing. 4G propelled the era of the smartphone. As smartphones have continued to advance, and with the growing number of users demanding even more from their technology, faster download speeds and interactivity is required for customer satisfaction. Enter 5G.
3G had a download speed of up to around 2 megabits per second (Mbps), whilst 4G is around 3 to 5Mbps. 5G however has the potential to be around 2,500Mbps – a huge leap from previous generations. Not only will this greatly improve our own personal experience but it has huge potential to advance many industries. The new communication standard will be available for the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) which is why 5G is creating more hype than 4G.
What sets 5G apart from previous generations?
5G can support many practices, innovations and research, and our experts have been researching 5G for many years by looking at how it can give us a competitive advantage in our factories. Last year, the Worcester Bosch factory was one of the first in the UK to trial 5G – using the improved network technology to run sensors, utilise IoT, enable the team to react in real-time and in some cases, pre-empt potential problems.
If we look to the future, 5G opens a huge number of possibilities for other innovative fields. Self-driving cars are one example. To work they need to be fully connected to their surrounding area through sensors and also be able to communicate with other vehicles. Thanks to the connectivity power 5G offers to wireless networks, this could accelerate the research and development to make these vehicles commonplace sooner than we think.
In factories where automation is already making processes more efficient, 5G will not only support this but introduce new manufacturing concepts and systems. This in itself will also support factory workers and associates, improving logistics and production procedures whilst creating windows of opportunity for further training and expertise. 5G will also ensure that automated bots in manufacturing plants will be more reliable and safer.
It is no doubt that 5G will be the catalyst for the fourth industrial revolution - Industry 4.0. Although it has only recently been rolled out, with only premium smartphones being enabled and trials in industry still underway, given the speed of 5G itself – it won’t be long until its true positive effect on the world will be known.
Further reading:
5 reasons for 5G https://www.bosch.com/stories/5g-industry-4-0/