Even though having a refrigerator connected to the internet back in the 2000s would have had you troubled and wondering, “why would anyone want something like this?” But today, everything, and everything, is connected to more things: the appliances, the security systems and even the coffee makers. The Internet of Things (IoT) devices is transforming not just our homes but our businesses and communities overall in terms of connectedness.
In an increasingly connected world that currently adopts analogue trends more inspired by nostalgia than usability, we are evolving towards the progress of biological interfaces, towards 5G and the unification of wearables with various digital applications.
With the rapid development of 5G networks, the IoT rapidly increases the number of connected devices and is set to grow to 29.3 billion by 2023. The term 5G refers to the fifth generation of mobile networks. 5G networks guarantee speeds of up to 10 Gbps, significantly reduced latency, and greater coverage in remote areas.
IoT and 5G Technology: What Are the Advantages?
5G offers numerous evident advantages in speed, bandwidth, and latency. Users with 5G-enabled devices will download content faster, experience less buffering, play video games in 4K resolution while experiencing better virtual reality.
5G technology not only applies to user-related use cases. It is a wireless technology that will allow the transmission of enormous amounts of data, which will create an almost perfect connection between the digital and the physical world.
Imagine that it is not just mobile phones that use these networks to create 5G homes, but all types of devices. It’s the future of 5G wireless technology – it’s expected to generate around $ 13.2 trillion in goods and services and create up to 22.3 million jobs by 2035.
Greater speed in transmissions
5G technology promises a lot. On the one hand, 4G reaches up to a theoretical 100 megabits per second (Mbps). While 5G can exceed up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps). In other words, 5G is a hundred times faster than current 4G technology. This means a user can download a full 8k movie 500% faster than the previous 4G LTE.
Lower latency
Latency, the time it takes to transmit information packets through a network, was a problem of the past. The 5G technology takes a great leap forward in lowering the network latency with higher quality and more connectivity for devices. Thanks to the advanced 5G networks, the latency has reduced from 20 milliseconds to a whopping 1 or 2 milliseconds.
Increased number of devices connected
You must have been familiar with the idea of having connected devices in our homes, offices and anywhere we go, such as smart assistants. A 2018 Juniper Research estimated that there would be about 8 billion digital voice assistants worldwide by 2023, thanks mainly to gadgets like Smart TVs and other home devices. Get ready to see more IoT devices like these around your home.
Apart from those activated by voice, many IoT devices will help us automate our homes, offices, and more. For example, you may have smart sensors in the garden that alert you when your tomatoes need water and activate the irrigation system to quench your thirst or other smart sensors placed near the boiler that send you a text message when they detect—a leak.
We’re already getting connected lights and smart thermostats. Imagine a setting called “Movie Night” where you could close the curtains, dim the lights, light the gas fireplace, and heat the popcorn with a simple voice command. And you just had to put on your slippers.
Then add to all of this a level of home AI that can learn your habits and preferences. Some aspects of your home can run themselves or predict things for you, like, for example, your coffee at 5:30 AM on any given day. Your connected coffee machine will have it ready for you.
5G IoT Applications
Smart traffic mobility
According to the United Nations (UN), 68% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. And there will be an estimated 1.2 billion cars rolling in the cities by 2030, making mobility a matter of great importance and concern for the city dwellers.
5G mobility is a new form of circulation that incorporates sensors on the roads to send signals and connect the car to the internet. This complex approach aims to improve traffic flow and maintain instant communication between the connected car and the road.
Smart autonomous cars will improve road safety and be more efficient. In fact, according to McKinsey, smart cars could represent fuel savings of between 15 and 20%. This is because they eliminate waste on actions like unexpected acceleration and braking.
It empowers automated functions, such as assisted lane change, cruise control, and autopilot. Sensors collect data about other vehicles, pedestrians, and conditions of the roads. The information allows drivers to understand better their travel times, traffic conditions, and availability of fuel and parking stations. In addition, it enables authorities to manage aspects of urban mobility, such as traffic lights.
Smart grid automation
With every passing day, the electricity demand is increasing rapidly. With growing IoT and 5G connectivity, virtual power plants and smart grids can cope with increasing demand. The future of energy production and distribution systems will come with the implementation of smart grids. Using AI algorithms and 5G, they will generate new applications based on real-time control and the optimisation of energy management.
Video surveillance
Another important segment of the developing 5G IoT market is connected surveillance cameras. By 2020 these cameras will represent a whopping 6.2 million units in volume and jump to 11.2 million endpoints in 2022.
Gartner points out that the volume of endpoints in operation during 2023 will be close to 49 million units, largely due to connected vehicles. With global challenges and changes, every government is ready to invest in public surveillance and security systems.
Until now, video surveillance systems relied on wired connectivity to share the data, but with the rapid adoption of 5G wireless networks, the change is swaying. With quick set-ups, low costs, and reliable connectivity with high performance compared to the wired ones.
The 5G IoT video surveillance cameras market is expected to grow to $40.2 billion by 2026, augmented with the security and high-bandwidth data flow under 5G connectivity.
Smart city
A smart city encompasses a place where telecommunication networks and digital services are efficiently utilised to benefit the inhabitants and businesses of the city. Smart cities use IoT and 5G technology to collect real-time data to understand and respond swiftly to the solutions.
5G applications optimise existing services, such as lighting, waste collection, public transport, or mobility, and monitoring air or water quality. The primary type of pilot observed is the use of drones, equipped with high-resolution cameras, which monitor public infrastructures such as buildings or bridges.
Conclusion
With every passing year, technology is innovating and taking itself to discover new ideas. 5G and IoT both concepts brought revolutionary changes that would’ve not even been thought of a decade ago. Today IoT is becoming so mainstream, augmented with the hyper-connectivity offered by the super-fast 5G networks. Both the technologies combined are putting their mark and presence across industries and the globe.
Synced watches and phones, smart homes, fitness apps and much more IoT devices are commonplace today and are bound to grow in speed and performance with the capabilities of 5G. The ability to efficiently use resources to minimise the impact on the environment. Controlling devices remotely in real-time such as heavy machinery or even performing remote surgery. Transfer of patient’s data or the innovative wearables tracking your every move and showing vital statistics to your doctor. Now imagine the impact of the benefits that the combination of IoT and 5G can bring for humanity in the next decade.
