Knowing How 5G Technology Works

Over the last three years, understanding how 5G technology works has become one of the most popular buzzwords in the technological industry. The promise of a wild new world of connectedness with self-driving vehicles, remote surgery, future cities, and so on - the possibilities are limitless.

Critics of 5G argue that the technology is just hype, citing a lack of developer creativity and a lack of real-world use cases as reasons it will not be as pervasive as its predecessor, 4G. But I wouldn't be too hasty to reject 5G; after all, it's still a young technology. Consider the healthcare industry: according to a new EY survey, 85% of respondents believe the global health problem is driving 5G enthusiasm.

We've also shifted our focus to converging technologies, where cloud meets edge computing, compute joins mobile, and 5G trends drive innovation. According to Gartner, cloud-native systems will account for over 95% of new digital efforts by 2025, and the telco cloud market is estimated to reach $125 billion by 2030. CSPs are capitalizing on the potential of 5G by implementing cloud-native techniques that provide increased flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. With the introduction of 5G, there has also been an emphasis on open and virtual RAN, allowing engineers to build up their networks and satisfy crucial connection requirements, including emerging 5G applications.

Now the issue is, how long will it be before we realize the full benefits of 5G and AI? To answer that, we must first accept the difficulties we face.

Security

Cybersecurity has emerged as the most serious danger to a technologically advanced planet. With a cybersecurity employment deficit of 2.72 million, our area is low on cybersecurity expertise. While security automation and machine learning solutions can help bridge the gap (see here for my thoughts on AI and ML as emerging technologies), they cannot cover all risk areas. Because of the increased frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks, today's digital firms must foster a strong security-awareness culture among their workers, where everyone plays a role in cybersecurity threats.

Disaggregation

Disaggregation enables enterprises to create new dynamic and flexible services while avoiding the constraints of a single telecom service provider. However, the true revolution in hardware disaggregation has yet to take place. Many vendors are still constrained by their own network management tools. Integrating multi-vendors and managing RAN framework across geographically distributed locations has proven difficult. As a result, an ecosystem of Open RAN partners is required to innovate and evaluate solutions to expedite and simplify the upfront requirements for CSPs implementing Open RAN.

End-to-End Captivating Experience

A truly seamless open RAN system would remove performance gaps from end to end and eliminate the need for numerous parties. However, end-to-end service orchestration is becoming more difficult due to the different architectures of greenfield, brownfield, and mixed networks. A fair playing field requires network virtualization maturity to be consolidated. If we can prepare the ground, we will be one step closer to establishing a fully engaged ecology.

Creating a Strong Ecology

Although 5G offers the potential to speed even more real-world applications, we must first address technical skills, network architectures, and customer expectations. Furthermore, the distinctions between industrial sectors are becoming increasingly hazy. To establish, configure, and best service new industry verticals and digital tech suppliers, CSPs must embrace the change from open ecosystems to vertical integration and form strategic commercial alliances.

To ride the 5G wave, CSPs' business models and IT infrastructure will undoubtedly undergo considerable changes. Ecosystems enable our clients to access into the knowledge, talent, and experience of best-in-class partners. As a result, consider how the company might expand inside the ecosystem while creating commercial use cases. These strategic business connections will assist operators in developing innovative services for various industrial verticals.

Summary

The effort to realize the full potential of 5G and understand how 5G technology works cannot be undertaken alone. For any firm to effectively utilize the benefits of 5G, the right alliances across the spectrum would be key to accomplishing the intended goals. Customers will have new options to freely select and implement best-of-breed solutions that match their demands and enable the next generation of real-world applications. The 5G revolution is only getting started, and these are exciting times.