The positive effects of 5G
Broadly speaking, the Internet of Things (IoT) enables equipment in industrial settings to gather and share data and carry out connected operations using wired and wireless networks.
The advent of 5G could have a revolutionary effect on the IoT and its potential for the increased efficiency and productivity of companies. In fact, it has been suggested that 5G could contribute up to £15.7 billion per year to the UK economy by 2025.
5G communications technology promises ultra-low latency (the time it takes for data to travel between two points), superfast data rates and massively increased network capacity. Because it is a managed network (built, operated, secured, and managed by a third party provider), it offers reliable, timely and secure communications. 5G also offers a networking system capable of supporting multiple devices as they simultaneously transmit data.
This has the potential for real-time feedback in industrial settings allowing, for example, predictive analysis of data to enable reactive and timely maintenance before problems occur. The opportunities to boost productivity and increase efficiency are significant yet companies still appear to be sceptical and adoption is limited.
To combat this, in an effort to encourage companies to adopt the technology, Digital Capital, together with Ericsson, has created the Industrial 5G Accelerator programme which shows 5G’s capabilities through real-life examples of how 5G can improve performance, sustainability and operation costs.
The capabilities of 5G are transformational – now companies need to be aware of it.