Nothing benefits more from the move to 5G wireless technology than the Internet of Things (IoT).
In his keynote speech at IoT Evolution Expo, David Smith, vice president of IoT Solutions for Get Wireless, spoke about how the conversion to 5G wireless technology enhances the adoption of IoT.
First, Smith explained how the wireless spectrum advanced from 1G to 2G to 3G to 4G LTE. Now we’re heading into 5G, where powering IoT devices becomes easier and more important.
“Each of those hops took about nine years,” he said. “In another nine years, we’ll take another hop.”
4G wireless, which is employed now, comprises only two components. 5G wireless adds a third component that’s dedicated to low-power, intermittent-usage devices.
Called Massive Machine Type Communications (MMTC), the technology specifically supports mobile IoT operations as well as low-power, wide-area applications.
With the addition of MMTC, Smith said 5G offers improvement in three areas of wireless:
- IoT, where massive infrastructures can now be supported
- Mission-critical control systems, which now have less latency
- Enhanced mobile broadband, with improved coverage and penetration.
The improvement, called Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications, is targeted towards IoT applications, Smith said. The system maintains the reliability of communications between cell phones and sensors.
We’re talking about monitors that, while they may deliver data infrequently, must “absolutely, positively be available,” Smith said. Remote control operations require low latency because they often need to be performed quickly, he added.
Though it’s just getting deployed now, the technology for 5G came out in 2016. In the meantime, there’s been plenty of opportunity to enhance the features of 5G that make it special.
5G works for IoT because it’s “really great for sending little bursts of data up to the network,” Smith says.
Because of its stronger signal, 5G wireless can penetrate deeper into buildings than 4GLTE wireless. Those enhancements include:
- Better mobility
- Lower latency
- Reduced energy use
- Increased high-density support.
Smith is looking forward to the next release of 5G, which features support for 5G radio and the scaling down of 5G noise reduction. The future of 5G promises fewer antennas, as well as enhancements for narrower bandwidths and lower power signaling.
“The network is being modified to accept smaller, less frequent bursts of data,” Smith said.
To the IoT ecosystem – from device manufacturers to network operators to end customers – that sounds great.
Edited by
Erik Linask
