5G’s Impact on Edge Computing & IOT

Future-Proof Your Network with Secure, High-Speed 5G Connectivity

The next generation of wireless technology is here. 5G enhances connectivity across all platforms, delivering faster speeds, improved efficiency, and stronger signal strength, opening new possibilities across cellular networks. It is predicted that by 2024 more than 1.5 billion devices will be connected to 5G.1 So how will 5G enhance your cellular connectivity?

Differentiating Between 4G and 5G

5G will drive the expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT), given the speed and versatility it will bring to networks. 5G has a range of benefits when compared to 4G, based on its use of the 30 GHz to 300 GHz spectrum:

  • Higher speeds: 5G peak speeds, at up to10 Gigabits/s, will potentially be ten times the speed of 4G. 2
  • Lower Latency: 5G offers latency below 1ms, compared to a typical 4G performance of 10-50ms. 2
  • Greater capacity: 5G networks will have capacity for a larger number of connected devices, by some estimates as much as one million devices per square kilometer3

5G is gradually being rolled out, so later iterations are expected to have even stronger capabilities.

Ref: Statista

It’s important to note that 5G, unlike previous iterations, is not expected to replace 4G. Many applications, such as standard mobile phone calls and low-data transactions, will still be carried on a 4G network, with 5G being applied primarily to large-compute and low-latency uses.

Given the higher frequency spectrum, 5G also requires a higher density of towers to cover a given area, meaning that rollout of 5G will initially be limited to metropolitan areas. It is also impacted more severely by physical barriers such as walls, trees, and even bad weather.

5G, IoT and the Edge

Compute locations are moving increasingly to the edge, driven by the growth of IoT and the desire to process and prioritize data closer to the collection point. Faster connections associated with 5G will support that migration as enterprises distribute their network power between Data Centers, Cloud Computing and the Edge.

The low latency and high speed of 5G particularly suit applications such as consumer VR/AR, AI, and autonomous vehicles, with high data density and rapid response requirements, enabling faster adoption of these technologies.

Cellular IoT use case segments
Credit: Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2019

5G and Out-of-Band

Users expect consistent uptime and responsiveness from their network, no matter where computing occurs. Reliable, always-on access to the network devices, via out of band management, is a critical component of that network resilience.

As levels of automation continue to increase, with technologies such as edge computing and IoT putting new demands on infrastructure, enterprises will also have to extend the reach of their management and monitoring tools

Opengear’s CM8100-10G-5G meets this challenge directly, delivering a 5G-powered out of band solution that ensures fast, secure, and reliable remote network management—even in complex and dense IT environments. Integrating 5G technology enhances bandwidth, reduces latency, and improves remote management, supporting applications from cloud computing to deploying IoT devices and supporting AI-driven innovation.

Overall, Opengear smart solutions equipped with 5G cellular modems provide engineers at the Network Operations Center (NOC) with the ability to reach devices located at the edge or at the data center. Lighthouse ensures access and visibility remotely, during critical failures while Smart Out of Band provides advanced troubleshooting to remediate issues that may arise at the network’s edge. The Network Resilience Platform provides additional functionality to streamline repetitive workflows such as secure provisioning and event management.

Article: Breaking down the hype: What can we expect from 5G?

Deciding When to Adopt

Each organization has a core IT infrastructure and line of business applications. Constantly improving technologies provide an opportunity to help them operate more efficiently. Once enterprises identify the right technologies, they must determine the optimal time to adopt them for meaningful results.

For 5G specifically, determining the right time to act requires understanding the most immediate use cases for it within the enterprise. The first is fixed internet connectivity. Instead of using cable, satellite or copper wires/ADSL, edge locations could potentially use 5G to get fixed internet connectivity. Because this eliminates the need for burdensome physical cables and wires, 5G may provide an easier method for deployment.

For many enterprises, it is too early to fully embrace 5G. Unless there are already specific applications that are limited by speed/latency of existing connectivity technologies, the value of deploying it will not yet be realized. For now, the focus should be on understanding 5G at a high level and identifying the most beneficial use cases, so they can be prioritized once adoption becomes more feasible.

1. https://www.ericsson.com/assets/local/mobility-report/documents/2019/ericsson-mobility-report-june-2019.pdf

2. https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/5g-vs-4g/

3. https://www.androidauthority.com/what-is-5g-explained-944868/