The recent announcement by the Ministry of Economy & Business of a joint Telefonica/Vodaphone partnership to run pilot schemes and case studies of 5G techmllion received a lot of coverage from all newspapers including El Diario. Many people have understood 5G technology as simply leading to faster internet speeds, but it has many other benefits too.
The advantages of 5G techmllion
Also known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 5G techmllion has other implications apart from being faster (and could possibly reach speeds of 20Gb/s according to some experts). Another benefit of this technology is that it will have lower network latency. Instead of a time lag of 40-50 milliseconds as we now have with 4G networks, pages could download in 1 millisecond or less. This delay would be undetectable to human users.
The infrastructure of 5G technology will also be better. At the moment, 4G towers send signals in every direction which is both inefficient and wasteful. 5G uses shorter wavelengths so its antennas can be much lower and more directional. This leads to greater reliability and flexibility in the supply of data and much less interference from or to other wireless networks.
5G technology will also permit greater network slicing which is the ability to run a wide range of virtual networks on one physical system. This will allow more and more highly-complex apps to be run from the same signal simultaneously. It has been estimated that 5G could be capable of coping with more than a thousand devices per metre. This factor will be pivotal in achieving the IoT (Internet of Things) for more and more domestic and commercial devices and appliances from driverless cars to smart washing machines.
Apart from network slicing, experts are also excited about the benefits of Multi-access Edge Computing. This network will improve performance by decreasing site congestion and effortlessly handle large amounts of data. Being cloud-based, this would improve data storage and also protect the users’ data.
5G technology will also be energy-efficient. It would have the capability to self-regulate its power usage. For instance, dropping to low when not in use and increasing when it’s needed for more demanding tasks such as live streaming.
The impact of 5G techmllion on business
Whatever sector you work in, there is no doubt that this constantly-evolving technology will have an effect on how you store and analyse data, and your interaction with your suppliers, clientele, colleagues and/or employees.
The retail industry
Retail is one area which will be massively affected by 5G technology. The use of AR (Augmented Reality) and/or VR (Virtual Reality) will allow shoppers a seamless shopping experience. They would be able to ‘try on’ clothes or ‘arrange’ pieces of furniture in their home by the use of a mobile device.
Large urban stores would also benefit from the creation of smart parking spaces which could be pre-booked online. This would encourage people to go to bricks-and-mortar stores rather than just shopping online.
All retailers would be able to recognise customers’ phones as they walk into their shop. They would immediately be able to access their previous shopping history and target them with specific in-house offers and adverts. In this way, they could encourage them to spend more and boost sales.
Manufacturing
The industrial sector will be another area which will reap the benefits of 5G technology. Smart factories of the future will be more automated leading to greater productivity and better performance.
The logistics of delivering goods to clients will also be improved by 5G technology. The possibility of driverless lorries and the ease of communications from vehicle-to-vehicle or from vehicle-to-roadside-infrastructure (such as traffic lights) will track deliveries and even warn of upcoming traffic congestion.
Business overheads
The change from our present system to a software-based system will also have implications for the workplace. Employees will no longer necessarily be expected to come into work every day as they could do their work from the comfort of their home. This would reduce the need for large business premises and lower overheads such as rent and utility bills.
Incorporating smart devices into the building would bring down overheads even more. Smart buildings would be able to regulate the lighting and heating systems according to the number and location of their occupants.
It has been predicted that maintenance could also be carried out through AR/VR with a visit by a repairman only necessary if a problem is spotted.
Conference calls have been around for decades, but many business people argue that they aren’t as effective as face-to-face meetings. Travelling to meet clients and/or suppliers wastes both time and money. Business trips may become a thing of the past as meetings could take place in a virtual environment thanks to 5G technology. It has all the benefits of meeting someone in person but without the inconvenience of travelling there.
Are you ready for 5G?
5G technology will open up a world of possibilities, some of which are impossible to predict. The important thing is that your business is ready to meet the challenge. Although the pilot schemes are due to continue until December 2020, 5G is definitely on its way. To prepare, you should ensure that any new IT system in your business will be compatible with this evolving technology.
It might also be a good idea to transfer your data onto a cloud-based system beforehand so the transition to 5G will be easier for you.
You should also research your sector to see what changes 5G technology will bring to the way you sell, buy, advertise and/or market your goods and services. If you prepare beforehand, you’ll be a step ahead of your business rivals.
Finally, find out what plans your telecoms provider has for adopting 5G. If they don’t seem alert to the possibilities, it might be time to switch provider for one which is better-prepared.
Whatever financial worries you have now or in the difficult transition period, prestamos con ASNEF offer a quick and simple online application procedure from a direct lender.
