The telecoms industry is always changing by the constant evolution of technology. From 2G, 3G and 4G, through to 5G, we are expecting to see an even greater acceleration as we witness an increased need for communication services, tools for remote collaboration and fast and reliable access to data; whether it is from the office, the home or whilst we are on the move.
Technologies such as virtualization, edge computing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation and management are all key components in enabling the use cases that 5G delivers. Low-latency, high data rates and high-performance are the criteria that we have come to expect, especially as we move to a future of ever-increasing data throughput and the massive deployment for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
From a Utilities point of view, 5G will be much more than an evolution in communication. 5G will help to shape the entire energy infrastructure and impact all aspects of our lives. Industry, enterprise, and consumers will all benefit from smart utilities with the ultimate goal of reduced energy costs and lower environmental impact.
A power grid consists of five phases: power generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, and consumption. There is already a robust fibre-based communications network supporting power generation, transmission, and transformation, but due to the sheer number of nodes within distribution and consumption, paired with the cost of fibre installation, coverage of these networks is generally patchy.
A power grid consists of five phases: power generation, transmission, transformation, distribution, and consumption. There is already a robust fibre-based communications network supporting power generation, transmission, and transformation, but due to the sheer number of nodes within distribution and consumption, paired with the cost of fibre installation, coverage of these networks is generally patchy.
Implementing a 5G network for the final stages of the network will be a cost-effective alternative to fibre. The increased capacity provided by 5G will allow energy providers to connect all levels of the network through smart metering, reducing losses and increasing reliability. It is estimated that 95% of outages are at the distribution and consumption stages, partly due to the fact they are not monitored in real time. 5G can change that.
5G will allow the support of up to 1 million devices in any 1km2 so the task of connecting all points of a power grid may not be as daunting as first thought. This increased capacity also opens the door for a more definitive “Smart City” concept.
The definition of “Smart City” as it stands is “an urban area that uses different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data”. With most cities now utilizing devices like monitored traffic cameras and every store using contactless payment, you could argue that on some level, the smart city is already here.
As 5G is deployed on our streets, the definition of a Smart City will certainly change as millions of connected devices launch urban areas into connectivity. A better term could possibly be “Automated City” as 5G will facilitate the use of complex AI (Artificial Intelligence) so those monitored traffic cameras will no longer require human interaction.
Smart, AI controlled traffic management will be used to monitor and analyse traffic flows to optimize streetlights and prevent roads from becoming too congested based on time of day or rush-hour schedules. Smart public transit is another facet of smart cities. Smart transit companies are able to coordinate services and fulfil customer needs in real time, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
As mentioned previously, energy conservation and efficiency are major focuses of smart cities. Using smart sensors, smart streetlights dim when there are no cars or pedestrians on the roadways. Smart grid technology can be used to improve operations, maintenance, and planning, and to supply power on demand and monitor energy outages.
Smart city initiatives also aim to monitor and address environmental concerns such as climate change and air pollution. Waste management and sanitation can also be improved with smart technology, be it using connected refuse containers and IoT enabled fleet management systems for waste collection and removal or indeed using sensors to measure water and guarantee its quality.
With the help of 5G and the numerous connected devices, we can implement technology that cuts costs, improves efficiency, cuts carbon emissions, and improves quality of life for citizens.
Returning closer to home, 5G for the consumer will be without doubt one of the largest markets for 5G. Many will simply be improvements to existing use cases within 4G LTE but with 5G competing with fixed line broadband, we are going to see new use cases emerge throughout the 5G era.
Many people consider 5G to be a mobile device technology; something that will benefit our smartphones, laptops, and wearable devices. But as coverage of the network continuously improves, 5G provides the capability to transform how we access the Internet from our homes.
Fixed wireless access in its simplest form is the use of the 5G radio network to connect homes and businesses to the Internet through CPE (Customer Premises Equipment). Much in the same way a fixed line connects to a home router. In FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) the fixed line is removed in favour of 5G antennas mounted at different points, all connected through the 5G RAN (Radio Access Network).
The switch from wired to wireless for home Internet is already a reality with 4G LTE. Getting online via a cellular network rather than a traditional wired connection is not new, but as these networks are becoming more robust, faster, and cheaper, it is becoming a more viable proposition for more people. The arrival of 5G has the potential to accelerate that process even more quickly and is allowing mobile technology to finally compete with the demands of traditionally fixed line services.
5G FWA enables mobile service providers to offer extremely high-speed broadband connectivity in even rural areas, providing access where fixed lines based on Fibre or DSL are generally expensive to install and maintain.
Fixed wireless networks makes it ideal for running smart home products that require constant, reliable connectivity. 5G’s greater capacity will also mean far more devices can be connected than a local network would typically allow, plus it also means households don’t have to rely on existing wired infrastructure, which is expensive and inconvenient to upgrade.
Improving connectivity on a wider scale can also help to bring smart home functionality to households that would previously have been less likely to adopt it. According to the Office for National Statistics in the U.K., only 54% of people aged 75 and over were Internet users in 2020, which would suggest that they are also less likely to have a home Wi-Fi network to run smart devices on.
5G connectivity can enable the use of a whole range of devices that can improve the lives of those who have limited mobility or simply live alone or away from their families. 5G can facilitate the use of wearable sensors to monitor the health and wellbeing of more vulnerable members of society, while allowing medical professionals to use telehealth devices to communicate and aid patients that are unable, or simply not allowed to travel.
Which brings us on nicely to the Healthcare sector. It may not be the largest market in terms of use cases however it is widely believed that healthcare will see the biggest change thanks to 5G. Unfortunately, due to robust regulations it is difficult to apply these changes in the short term.
Telehealth, sometimes known as Tele-consultation, is a term used to describe remote communication with doctors and healthcare professionals. Appointments, prescription requests and post-surgery follow-ups can all be conducted over video conferencing.
This use case has been pushed to the front of patient care due to the global COVID 19 pandemic, allowing patients to consult with their doctors even when they are not able to leave their homes. It does however come with some challenges. Telehealth requires a certain level of skill using technology, and with the primary target being the elderly and infirm, those skills are often lacking. If this challenge can be overcome, it will have a profound impact on people’s lives and wellbeing.
Telehealth will also improve communication between healthcare professionals. Sharing images and data with each other from anywhere in the world can allow them to make more informed decisions, ultimately benefiting patient care.
As mentioned previously, this use case has already been implemented and 5G will add another layer of convenience to all aspects of Telehealth. The low latency and high bandwidth will allow the video conferencing to take place in much higher definition, maximizing the interaction between patient and doctor. High-resolution images and test results can be shared between healthcare professionals improving accuracy of diagnosis even when experts are distributed around the globe.
This has just been a brief overview of some interesting uses cases utilizing a 5G network and truth is, there are thousands of use cases that 5G will shape. A point to take away is that unlike previous communication technologies, we won’t just see an improvement in data rates, spectrum efficiency, network mobility, latency and device capacity, but use cases will appear that elevate and improve our daily lives. With seamless connections, the focus will shift from mobile connectivity to the connectivity of everything.