So we’ve made big strides over 3G. We’ve got more users than ever and they are able to access large amounts of data at high speeds. We’re phasing out the old 3G network and freeing up capacity for more users. Sounds good right? Why are we talking about 5G then?
The problem is that the phone market is at its saturation point. Just about everybody who wants a phone already has one. We need to add new users to continue to grow. Where is that growth going to come from?
For a provider Smart Devices are an attractive answer to this growth problem. Smart Homes, autonomous vehicles, logistics trackers, medical monitors…on and on we go. All of them need to be connected. A 5G network with its potential for global coverage is perfect.
As a consumer it’s much easier for you if all of this stuff is managed by the same network provider as well. Everybody wins right? Well if you have been following along you know what the big challenge is.
As we talked about in part 2, a 4G LTE network is built wrong for this type of application. They are not ready for hundreds of thousands of devices that are constantly connected and “chatting” with each other. Remember our model is built around getting ’em in and out fast.
What 5G needs to do from a provider perspective…
Add capacity- We need to be able to manage lots of users with varying data requirements. They may not just simply request a large chunk of data and leave like Smartphones do. They may have data to send and they may want to send it all the time.
Support real time connections- Some devices or services will need to be able to send and receive data as close to instantly as possible. Imagine what would happen if a large scale vehicle traffic management system had it’s data delayed as it passed from one vehicle to another.
Improve security- 5G data will need to be very secure. With so many things tied into a single network it makes a very tempting target for hackers.
Flexible Pricing- This will be a huge barrier to early adoption. How much would you pay every month to have a connected refrigerator, thermostat, car, blood sugar monitor? This could add up fast! Real care will have to be given to setting realistic pricing.
These are just a few of the challenges that lay ahead for providers.
As a consumer you have a challenge ahead too.
Remember: your current hardware is not 5G capable so anything you want connected to a 5G network will have to be purchased or leased from a provider. Some of these things, like a phone, will happen organically over time.
For 5G to really take off it has to find it’s “must have” application. What will make you “WANT” a 5G device?”
Me? I’m not certain. Wifi or Bluetooth connects most of the devices in my home. I like to drive my own car so I’m not craving a self-driving car…
What about you? What could 5G do to make you a believer?
NoShade's 