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While 5G is an emerging technology with the potential to revolutionize the way people interact with their devices, there is a widespread lack of understanding of its capabilities and potential benefits for consumers.
5G itself refers to the latest broadband cellular network generation that supports stronger and faster internet connectivity. It builds on the advanced capabilities of 4G which already supports texting, data streaming, web browsing and more by adding millimeter wave technology.
“So what 5G does, you have 4G there, but it’s also millimeter-wave stuff,” says Alexander Wyglinski, associate dean of graduate studies at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
“Millimeter wave is the technology of Uber or high-speed data transmission.”
For many, knowledge of what 5G can do is limited to the symbol that sometimes pops up in the top-right corner of smartphones to provide better connectivity.
In addition to improved mobile connectivity, 5G could enhance many areas of our lives, from immediate improvements in the Internet of Things (IoT) to more significant solutions like healthcare, autonomous driving, and drone technology.
“5G is blurring the lines of all digital experiences, enabling consumers to consume live media and entertainment, track and manage their health and fitness, and protect their home and family anytime, anywhere. allows monitoring,” says Dean Littman, principal. Deloitte Consulting LLP.
ZDNET spoke to experts and gathered four applications of 5G that can improve your workflow and daily processes to increase your productivity and make your life easier.
1. Better video connectivity
The pandemic made remote working a common practice, and hybrid and remote work models are here to stay. As a result, video conferencing has become a mainstay in most people’s daily workflow.
A strong, reliable connection is essential for a smooth, lag-free video call, and this type of connection is often difficult to achieve due to Wi-Fi limitations. This is where 5G can step in.
“With 5G’s improved bandwidth and lower latency, remote workers can participate in high-definition video conferences without interruption or lag, promoting better communication and collaboration,” says Peter Liu, Gartner’s technology and service provider research. Group VP Analyst.
5G enables workers to stop tethering their devices to wired Ethernet connections, which people often adopt because of the increased reliability and faster Internet connections that wired Ethernet cable providers provide.
Increased video connectivity applies not only to video conferencing, but also to video streaming. Because 5G has high-quality video streaming capabilities, it can increase the speed and quality at which you stream your favorite content, including Netflix, YouTube, and more.
2. High speed
As mentioned earlier, 5G is notorious for its ability to provide high-speed Internet connectivity to cellular devices. These speed capabilities don’t have to be limited to your cellular devices. Instead, they can elevate all of your devices, including devices that directly support your workflow.
“The idea is seamless, real-time, connectivity that we expect from all cellular technology, but it extends to all technology, 5G,” Wieglinski says.
While a high-speed connection on your phone is ideal for web browsing, video streaming, and social media scrolling, a fast connection for your workspace is even more important, and 5G’s low latency can be used in almost every part of your workflow. Can improve the digital aspect.
For example, many work tasks require the use of CPU-intensive programs and robust files that require connections, and in these cases, 5G can help their performance.
“5G offers significantly faster data speeds and lower latency than previous generations,” says Liu. “This means remote workers can experience seamless video conferencing, instant file transfers, and seamless access to cloud-based applications, improving overall productivity.”
5G speeds are so impressive that NFL football stadiums have adopted the technology to ensure that coaches, players, in-person spectators, and in-stadium vendors have access to a reliable connection at all times. Even tens of thousands of people and devices competing for simultaneous connections at events.
3. Connectivity to more IoT devices
Internet of Things (IoT) refers only to devices that are connected to the Internet. IoT devices can range from something as small as a wearable ring to something as large as a smart fridge and everything in between.
In a smart home, all of these separate devices are connected to the Internet and each other, sharing data and creating capabilities like activating a smart routine that turns on the lights, closes the blinds, and a Activates the alarm simultaneously from the app.
With 5G, IoT devices can connect to the Internet and each other at higher speeds, enabling faster and more reliable data sharing that can take the capabilities and interoperability of these devices to new levels.
A Deloitte Connectivity and Mobile Trends report found that half of 5G smartphone users agree that “the new connectivity standard enhances many capabilities and experiences,” with a quarter of respondents switching to 5G. Watch more streaming videos than before, while one in five. Using their 5G phones as mobile hotspots and payments.
“Consumers can also use 5G to leverage multiple IoT devices (virtual assistants, smart home devices, wearable technology, etc.) to streamline processes,” says Litman.
Due to 5G’s advanced connectivity bandwidth, it can also enable the connection of more devices to your IoT network. At the smart home level, the connectivity of more devices can expand the scope of your IoT ecosystem, creating more seamless integration throughout your home and automating more tasks.
“5G’s ability to support a large number of devices simultaneously can enable remote workers to integrate smart devices into their workspace, improving automation, remote monitoring and efficiency,” says Liu.
Beyond the smart home, 5G’s advanced connection density can support smart factories and even smart cities. According to a report by market and consumer data company Statista, 5G can fit as many as one million 5G devices in one kilometer, compared to the 0.1 million devices that 4G can support.
In a smart city, various sensors and IoT devices are connected, sharing and analyzing data in real time to enhance various aspects of urban life and infrastructure, “including traffic flow, energy consumption, waste management.” , air quality, and more”. To Leo
“Smart cities take advantage of 5G’s high data speed, low latency, and ability to connect and manage a vast network of IoT devices and sensors,” he adds.
4. Secure connection
Whether you’re dealing with sensitive company data or managing your finances, keeping your information secure is important. However, when doing any of these things in a place other than your home, you open yourself up to many security breaches.
Using public Wi-Fi can put your personal information at risk, as other people on the same network can access your personal information. However, with the increased availability of 5G, workers will have access to a secure and reliable Internet connection even on the go.
When connected to 5G, user-identifying information remains encrypted, adding a layer of protection to a user’s personal data when accessing a high-speed connection.
“Furthermore, as 5G becomes more common, remote workers will have to rely less on unsecured public Wi-Fi services such as hotels, airports and shops and instead be more connected through a reliable 5G. The service provider will be able to use a secure high-speed connection,” says Litman.
Another alternative to using Wi-Fi in public places is to use your mobile hotspot.
However, people often avoid this solution because depending on your phone plan, your hotspot connection can be weaker than Wi-Fi, slow, cause extra charges, and especially work. Can usually be painful while doing.
The solution to this problem is using a 5G-supported mobile hotspot that provides both security and the connectivity you need.
“5G-enabled mobile hotspots provide reliable high-speed Internet access, allowing remote workers to create a dedicated workspace wherever they are, potentially without relying on unreliable Wi-Fi connections,” says Liu. allow.”
These hotspots are more expensive than their 4G counterparts. However, their speed and security make them a worthwhile investment for people constantly on the go.
Many major carriers, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, have 5G plans for compatible cellular devices. 5G hotspot devices are also another reliable option.
What’s next for 5G?
Now that you know all the positive ways that 5G can impact your workflow, you may be wondering what your next steps should be to implement the technology into your workflow.
First, think about how 5G will benefit you specifically and weigh the pros and cons to see if it’s a technology you’ll want to invest in.
“Consider how 5G can benefit your specific needs and lifestyle. Whether it’s faster work-related tasks, better entertainment experiences, or better long-distance communications, find yours accordingly.” prepare,” advises Liu.
Once you’ve decided if this is something you want to pursue, you’ll need to check if it’s possible for your device and your region.
Because 5G is still an emerging technology, not all regions, devices or carriers support the technology, and as a result, you’ll need to check to see if you’re eligible first. If you are, it’s a matter of contacting your carrier to see how you can get 5G connectivity between your devices.
Regardless of what you choose to do with 5G now, rest assured that the technology will continue to evolve, become more commonplace, and permeate virtually every industry, including automotive, commerce, and even healthcare. Will change the industry.
“5G, everything should be connected by the end of this decade,” Wyglinski says.
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