Is 5G all it’s cracked up to be?

As the world shifts at a rapid pace, 5G is a buzzword that has received mixed reactions. Big data analyst Sudhir Juggernath weighs in on the next generation of communication technology

Hailed a musth av e communications technology, 5G represents the evolution of mobile networks. ‘All the superpower countries and the rest of the world are competing to become leaders in this new technology,’ says Sudhir Juggernath, who affirms the benefit for South Africa is that it connects the unconnected and technologically empowers rural and remote areas. ‘5G also aligns with our growth strategy in various sectors. Here, we talk about the 4IR and Digital Transformation, and 5G lies at the heart of this.’

GQ: Explain 5G in layman’s terms. Sudhir Juggernath: The best way to describe it is as the next generation of communications, mobile and wireless. 5G, above all, represents an evolution of mobile networks. It’s compatible with and complements previous generations of mobile networks and enables greater bandwidth because it offers higher speeds. It also delivers real-time access to information, and allows you to create an agile and purposebuilt network designed to cater for current and future needs.

GQ: If the ‘G’ stands for Generation, what’s the difference between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5G?

SJ: 1G was the original analogue mobile phone technology launched in 1980, followed by

2G in 1990, the second generation digital cellular technology, then 3G in 2000 to enhance the data capacity of 2G and enable internet access, and then 4G was built around internet protocol (IP) technology with data rates to sustain the mobile internet experience in line with wireless development, based on a 10-year cycle since

2010. 5G is a vision and perception of unlimited bandwidth everywhere.

GQ: How is it different from 4G?

SJ: 5G is an improvement from 4G. It’s intended to cater for the continuous demand for increased bandwidth speed from consumers and the market.

4G/LTE (Long Term Evolution) only extends to 6GHZ (gigahertz), with a maximum carrier bandwidth of 20MHZ (megahertz), whereas 5G NR (new radio) delivers a maximum channel bandwidth of 100MHZ up to frequency bands including 6GHZ and increasing to a maximum channel bandwidth of 400MHZ above 6GHZ.

GQ: What else does the roll out mean?

SJ: Networks are the foundation for the ongoing digital revolution. The global pandemic and ensuing economic crisis highlighted the vital importance of networks and the huge role digital technology plays in societies. And now they’re essential for driving a sustainable economic recovery.

GQ: Please touch on how it’ll benefit different sectors?

SJ: For ehealth, reliable and ultra-fast 5G will accelerate the development of predictive medicine, telemedicine, virtual consultations and homehealthcare services. It’ll play a central role in how healthcare professionals and connected equipment share medical data. It’ll also help advance the technologies that underpin future medicine and surgery, such as the internet of things

(lot), artificial intelligence (AI), edge computing, real-time video and augmented reality (VR and AR respectively).

E-learning is developing as a resource alongside traditional education and training solutions. Several pilots have shown new technologies can strengthen the impact of teaching, HD video, AR and VR in particular. 5G plays a central role in the enhanced connectivity needed to deliver this new blended learning ecosystem within schools, universities and business campuses.

All of these technologies supported by 5G have opened up huge possibilities in the world of vocational training as they can now interact in a simple and reliable way. 5G offers even greater advantages to VR and AR when used on smartphones, tablets and connected headphones because you can deliver these applications in a mobile context with the same speed and low latency offered by a fixed fibre network. And 5G will offer exclusive advantages to students and teachers, in their various home and work settings, as well as on the move.

Imagine if children could go on a pretend class trip to a museum, where almost anything were possible. As an exciting addition to our existing networks, 5G opens up a whole range of possibilities. Children can discover a museum as if they’re physically there and enjoy a fun and immersive experience. Industry 4.0 is the digital reinvention of all links of the industrial value chain, from innovation to customer relationships or logistics.

Thanks to AI, edge computing and IOT, machines are learning. Maintenance can become predictive, and technicians can use AR as a valuable tool to navigate massive factories for inventory, inspections and other tasks. In addition to the networks already in place, 5G is a complementary network that provides the enhanced connectivity needed to power factories in the future. Within smart cities, the 5G network will make it easier for people to travel around, regulate energy consumption and offer a host of new services to residents.

Sensors and equipment installed in urban networks and buildings can exchange data in realtime. Data analysis and AI algorithms help authorities make decisions that improve life for end-users. New services and uses are also emerging in mobility and IOT (LTE-M, Lora and, soon, 5G). With 5G, we’re building a network that’ll adapt to rapid urbanisation while offering greater security and energy efficiency in keeping with the green transition.

Development in connected cars and autonomous vehicles opens up new avenues for optimising entire transport networks and introducing shared mobility strategies. From cars to bikes, trains and lorries, 5G applications cover a wide range of vehicles, particularly when it comes to developing sustainable transport networks, shared mobility and smart cities. 5G allows for the real-time collection and processing of massive amounts of data from vehicles and infrastructure.

‘Children can discover a museum as if they’re physically there and enjoy a fun and immersive experience’