IoT Insider Editor Kristian McCann speaks with Christopher Gehlen, CEO of Neutroon, on the current 5G landscape, its evolution, and what this smoother connectivity can bring to industrial operations.
The advent of 5G technology, while heralded as a transformative leap in telecommunications, has experienced a slower rollout compared to its predecessors. Firstly, the infrastructure required for 5G is significantly more complex and costly than that of 4G, necessitating substantial investment from network providers. Secondly, the higher frequency bands used by 5G, while enabling faster speeds and lower latency, have shorter ranges and struggle with penetration through buildings and obstacles, leading to challenges in achieving widespread coverage. However, as major telecom companies overcome initial deployment challenges, the expansion of 5G networks is accelerating.
Gehlen, with his expertise in managing multiple private 5G networks, provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of 5G technology.
“For the first time in history, we have a fully programmable cellular network. With a set of APIs, you can change the quality of service to a specific device, and when you add AI capabilities on top, the potential is massive for really driving connectivity to the next level,” Gehlen explains.
The podcast delves into the specific advantages of 5G, including its higher broadband throughput, the ability to connect more devices with ultra-low latency, and its role in supporting advanced digitalisation use cases. Gehlen highlights the ongoing advancements in the field, such as the development of private 5G networks, which are driving significant operational savings and enabling new levels of automation and efficiency in various industries.
Yet, there are challenges as well as opportunities associated with the widespread adoption of 5G technology. Gehlen notes: “There are three main cons at the moment: the upfront cost, which is higher than Wi-Fi; the availability of devices, which is improving; and the skill set required to manage this new technology.” However, he emphasises that these are temporary barriers, and the long-term benefits of 5G far outweigh these initial challenges.
Gehlen also discusses 5G network slicing and the new dynamic it could bring; the rollout of 6G, and shares his vision for the future of 5G and its potential impact on various industries: “Automation and robotics will be enabled by 5G, reshaping any type of industry. Companies moving elements globally will greatly benefit from 5G, making supply chains more predictable and resilient.”
To listen to this insightful conversation with Christopher Gehlen and to learn more about 5G networks and their growing applications in business deployments, tune into IoT Unplugged, available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at the link below.
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