5G is increasingly being seen as a disruptive force for the enhancement of the technology industry. The spectrum upgrade is making it easier for brands and design engineers to craft memorable experiences for customers. 5G has also enabled companies to think outside of core technologies and divert their attention towards the Internet of Things. The Internet of Things, in turn, has now created new avenues of exploration and growth in the domain. The Internet of Things also creates a more resonant future and one that is reliant on 5G as much as it is on consumer adoption.
From wearables to M2M communication, the Internet of Things is empowered by 5G. The 5G connectivity has enabled many organizations to enforce new policies in compliance, technology, and security. Since there is more information being transferred, it’s imperative that there be more security in the 5G and Internet of Things domain. This has given rise to more cybersecurity as a whole, and a greater focus towards emerging technologies.
Here is a brief overview of what 5G means for the Internet of Things industry –
Speed enhancement
In essence, the Internet of Things would transport bytes of data continually. This would give rise to the Big Data emergence that we’re fully exploring in 2019. However, with more data comes a need for faster speeds. This has made the emergence of 5G that much more popular, owing to the bandwidth enhancement it brings with it. Brands can design experiences that work with 5G to enable greater connectivity and communication over the Internet of Things.
The wearables devices space can get increasingly sophisticated. More data can be transmitted for precise information sharing, and more insights can be revealed. All of this leads to a rise in the need for faster cloud processing, which is what 5G is offering. With IoT revenues rising to $470 B by 2020, the industry must prepare for better speeds and greater efficiencies.
Enhancing scale within the ecosystem
The Internet of Things revolves around scale for effective communication and transference. This has enabled the rise of 5G to some extent, as there is a greater need for interconnectivity. IoT devices have outgrown the human population for some time now, with an estimated 50 Billion connected Internet of Things devices being present in 2025. Some estimates have put it more liberally.
Whatever the case may be, there is greater demand from the Internet of Things space to introduce enhanced scale within the ecosystem. This is exactly where 5G comes in. The scale enhancement that 5G brings works perfectly within the ecosystem built by the Internet of Things. Companies can raise their valuations on the tech front and become increasingly scale-driven as there is more information coming into the system.
“Of course, 2019 is now The Year of 5G. We have to ask you: When we went from 3G to 4G, it was like a 5x to 10x jump. And it unlocked applications that we just hadn’t thought of yet. That nobody had conceptualized yet — Uber, Airbnb, things that, real-time applications where you needed that real-time response. The leap forward to 5G is bigger. We’re talking, maybe, 10x to potentially even 100x, in some cases.” – Jason Hiner, TechRepublic with AT&T.
Lower latency, lag, and gaps in the network
5G ensures that all the information streaming from the Internet of Things is continually. There is no latency involved when it comes to 5G, and there is a plethora of information flowing through the Internet of Things ecosystem. The network itself becomes activated to its fullest potential and innovation rises.
This innovation can be focused on consumer electronics, interconnected devices, and a plethora of other technologies. Companies can focus on enhancing their network strength by showcasing products and solutions that rely extensively on the Internet of Things. The 5G spectrum boost can allow for greater connectivity and increased analysis of the project at hand. This has a general effect on innovation, which boosts market demand.
Low latency can lead to higher innovation in the tech space. Some of the biggest companies in the space, like Cisco and IBM, are working on bringing IoT devices to the main stage with the confluence of 5G.
Increased efficiencies across the board
5G has changed the way that analysts perceive the Internet of Things technology. The core solution can be scaled up and increase efficiencies across the board. From logistics to healthcare, when there is more information present at a faster rate, there are increased efficiencies that are brought in. Added to that, more analysts are working on the Internet of Things ecosystem that has now access to greater information.
Since the Internet of Things is constantly being iterated, it is natural for technology entrepreneurs to introduce greater innovation. This has been behind the boom of the Internet of Things devices and technologies in recent years. From a supply and logistics point of view, each package can transmit data to an Internet of Things ecosystem and can be tracked better. From a healthcare point of view, more data can be shared from pacemakers and wearables. This has a net positive impact on industries around the world.
AI to see major growth in the tech space
AI relies on quality data for better processing and analysis. It relies on a plethora of data points that can only be sourced from a quality origin. This means that with the internet of things expanding, and 5G on the rise, the connected devices can feed into core AI algorithms. These algorithms rely on quality data and work within the Internet of things space to create better value.
Companies can acquire data from AI systems and create better strategies in the tech space. They can also increase their investment into AI knowing that the Internet of Things and 5G are emerging as leaders in the Big Data and Analytics space. This opens up new opportunities for AI to expand effortlessly in the tech space.
“Scale networks up to the promised speeds of 5G as well as scale down to support narrowband [connections]. This is a key requirement for enterprises looking to efficiently deploy a wide variety of enterprise mobile and IoT use cases at scale across multiple operators and multiple locations around the world. It is an explosion of more advanced IoT devices and uses cases that will consume greater bandwidth.” – Tim Sherwood, VP of Mobile Strategy, Tata Communications.
How to leverage IoT for 5G?
From a cloud computing perspective, the Internet of Things and 5G are a corresponding pair. Both technologies can enable better connectivity and enhance the processing of multiple components within the tech space. The Internet of Things feeds into 5G and creates a more streamlined approach for 5G adoption.
The essential question still lies – in how to leverage IoT for 5G.
It starts at the strategic level where infrastructure enhancements must be made to the overall architecture. There need to be resources present, both in technology and in talent, to shift towards 5G and IoT. Without this, the process is made that much harder, with less emphasis being given to quality and control.
Additionally, tech companies need to look at their current systems and understand whether they’re ready for the 5G revolution. If the systems are out of date, then they can’t handle the plethora of information being transmitted to them. This includes end-point devices, servers and dashboards that are customized to solve 5G problems.
From a technology evolution standpoint, it’s important to have a singularly defined goal. That goal may be to integrate the Internet of Things and 5G. However, when companies don’t have the right equipment, it can lead to errors in processing and data management.
This has also led to a rise in data security management. Data security is a critical aspect of processing and 5G, in that there are significant advantages to having a more secure architecture. This is why, before launching any Internet of Things and 5G integration, it’s important to have technological compliances built into the system.
Sustaining vs Disruptive Innovation
This is another critical aspect that technology firms must be cognizant of. When it comes to sustaining innovation, there is more integration into existing systems. This means that the Internet of Things and 5G will coalesce into the existing architecture. Additionally, there are greater advantages to installing 5G applications that can enhance current systems.
When it comes to disruptive innovation, there is an entire change in the ecosystem built up. This applies to the Internet of Things as well. When your network isn’t compatible with 5G, then the Internet of Things model will not work. This is when, from a technology strategy perspective, companies need to upgrade their systems.
As a manager, it’s important to review your current Internet of Things and 5G infrastructure and work on enhancing the overall value that both bring.
Potential challenges with IoT and 5G
As with any new technology, there can be potential pitfalls when it comes to integrating IoT and 5G. Firstly, there can be challenges with integration as a whole. The software could be outdated, the talent not there, and the technology could be overwhelming for existing systems. That’s when companies need to hire the right talent or outsourcing companies who can take care of these systems effectively.
There are also challenges with cybersecurity in the age of 5G. As the Internet of Things devices are a part of the ecosystem of technology networking, they can be hacked into. This provides a quick backdoor for hackers to leverage and take advantage of. Cybersecurity is a massive obstacle that Internet of things and 5G must take care of. The entire ecosystem is designed to take advantage of the Internet of Things network using end-point hacking mechanisms.
With faster internet speeds and lower latency, hackers can immediately enter the system using a bot or a hacking tool and get out before being detected. This means that cyber compliance officers must be one step ahead of ongoing challenges. However, looking at the current cyber-security space and the volume of hacks and leaks, it’s possible that 5G can open the floodgates to more leaks.
Research from Gemalto shows that less than half of executives can determine whether an IoT hack has taken place. That statistic is around 48% according to analysts. This is an eye-opening statistic and creates a need for greater security all around. Security needs to be the primary challenge that IoT devices address in the long run.
Whether it’s 5G or additional bandwidth in existing models, the Internet of Things needs to become more security-oriented. Otherwise, there may be problems with compatibility and data leaks occurring more frequently.
What problems can 5G solve?
When it comes to integrating 5G and the Internet of Things, there is a wide range of areas where the technology can solve problems. Going from increased data processing to better integration of talent, there are many use cases for the Internet of Things and 5G. Smart cities can become that much smarter, and healthcare systems can become more efficient. There are resource measures that need to be put in place, but overall the future is bright for the Internet of Things and 5G.
“Video analytics is going to be huge. And that could be used to automate intelligent traffic systems, where you really can’t have latency. It can be used for the first responder use case. That 5G will further enable a connected ambulance. So, imagine an ambulance being able, through a telematics solution, be able to trigger the lights in real-time. To move, control an intersection to move through it quickly to an event. “- Mike Zeto, VP of IoT, Tech AT&T.
We have access to more data, and we can use it to understand the world around us better. Where ambulances can re-route based on 5G and IoT, real estate businesses can provide for greater home security. There are a plethora of use cases that can be developed based on the core Internet of Things and the 5G model.
In the consumer tech space, companies are creating more memorable experiences in the AR and VR space, as more bandwidth and data are available. Companies are creating crisper networking experiences for consumers who want to explore virtual worlds and consume more content. This has a gradual impact on the scale of operations that all tech companies handle. Remaining cognizant of the use cases helps to think outside the box.
Conclusion
The Internet of Things has made it easier to connect different devices and drive more information from one node to another. This has also emerged as one of the most disruptive technologies in modern times. Additionally, IoT is now being empowered by 5G to make it easier to communicate. 5G is going to make it simpler, both regarding information sharing and technical scope. This is because technologies require higher internet connectivity and bandwidth to accomplish the objective. When it comes to IoT, 5G is going to be an enabler in more ways than one.