5G is the latest buzzword within telecommunications, but is it worth the hype? In 2022, experts predict that US network carriers will spend $23.25 billion on upgrading to this new trend. Todd Fariss, Director, WilsonPro Product Line at Wilson Electronics, shares how this latest network trend has the power to transform a business and tighten cybersecurity.Â
5G is short for fifth-generation wireless cellular network and is the newest network standard for wireless communication. Major network carriers and global technology leaders alike are racing to become the first-mover in their industry to implement roll-out plans. In essence, 5G enables lightning-fast data rates to be transmitted at a much lower latency (the time taken for data to make a roundtrip). With 5G, data is transmitted at a speed of 1 Gbps or faster with less than one millisecond of latency.
How Will 5G Transform Business?
This new spectrum also significantly increases network bandwidth, allowing up to 500 times more devices to be on a network at once. With the number of connected devices on the rise, user density is more critical than ever. In addition, 5G allows for more energy-efficient technology, resulting in less power being used.
There’s undoubtedly a reason for all the hype. The benefits and opportunities from implementing this next-gen piece of tech are extensive and directly impact a business’s bottom line.Â
- Greater efficiency: The most obvious benefit a company will experience is instantly faster internet speeds, increasing productivity businesswide. Businesses can also centralize operations utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT). With IoT technology, one overall system can manage every area of operations. For instance, a business’s account management system, payroll, IT, HVAC, building security, etc., can be controlled in one central wireless location. These various systems communicate in real-time, automatically updating one another without manual entry and creating levels of efficiency businesses have never experienced before.
- Increased user-happiness: Enhanced customer and employee experience is a crucial transformation indicator. Providing reliable speeds to customers and employees leads to increased customer and employee satisfaction, lower customer and employee turnover, repeat customers, and more. After the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, customers and employees expect a seamless digital experience.
- Deeper and wider innovation: Organizations will be empowered to drive innovation with the ability to collect more data quickly, access new information, and new opportunities to make better decisions. In fact, according to BCGOpens a new window , it is estimated that in the next decade, 5G will contribute $1.4 trillion to $1.7 trillion to the US GDP and create 3.8 million to 4.6 million jobs. With 5G, the potential for business growth and innovation is exponential.
See More: Three Keys to Unlocking Value from 5G
How Can Businesses Tighten Cybersecurity with 5G?
5G is proven to be more secure than WiFi technology or often even ethernet-wired LAN and can tighten a business’s cybersecurity in many aspects.Â
- Not dependent on passwords: Without relying on password-encrypted security, no one can infiltrate a network due to password infringement, one of the most common cybersecurity threats.Â
- Enables secure connections: With direct connections between a business’s device and a cellular network, companies aren’t required to utilize third-party hardware that is often not as secure or reliable.Â
- Encrypted at the modulation level: Modulation is the process of encoding information into a transmitted signal. Because of 5G’s modulation level, information transmitted is extremely difficult to decode, thus providing an added boundary of defense.
How to Effectively Incorporate 5G into Business Operations?
Incorporating 5G may sound costly, but in reality, businesses looking to take the leap don’t need to spend a fortune. Enterprise devices such as laptops and tablets can now be purchased with physical SIM slots or eSIM capability so that they can be connected to an outside carrier’s wireless network, such as Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. Native network capability eliminates the need for WiFi and wired internet, which are often cumbersome and insecure. In-building cellular reception technology has come a long way in recent years, and businesses can now implement 5G utilizing affordable and straightforward technology.Â
One easy way to upgrade is to utilize cellular repeater technology. Put simply, cellular repeaters harness an outside cellular signal, amplify it, and then distribute the improved signal within a business space. Professionals work with businesses to plan a design that distributes the maximum cell signal within a building. This solution is inexpensive, primarily because it doesn’t require any type of costly hardware infrastructure and can be implemented in weeks.Â
The 5G Way of Life
With 5G anticipated to reach 45% Opens a new window of the global population within the next five years, it is paramount that businesses examine their operations and decide how and when to make the shift. Tightened cybersecurity, streamlined processes, better customer and employee experiences, and unlocking innovation capabilities make this a worthwhile investment.Â
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