Making sense of 5G launch in India

It might take 6-12 months before we see the actual roll out of 5G in India. However, one big question is the price point and its affordability for all

- HEMANT KASHYAP

The next generation of mobile connectivity, 5G, is buzzing again with the media writing, talking and debating about the proposed trial of the new network, its benefits, dangers and the different standards. However, do we really need it right now?

The curious case of 5G use cases

Use cases are basically how we can use a given technology – its applications, so to speak. 5G being the next generation of connectivity leaves nothing to the imagination with its performance. It is capable of delivering as much as 100 times the speed and latency as low as 1 ms, which means that there can be as many use cases as you can think of. Here are the few most exciting ones.

1 Internet of things: 5G will make IoT and internet of everything (IoE) a reality in every practical sense. Right now, IoT is limited by the speed of the internet, which causes latency issues over long distances. With 5G, IoT can truly become an everyday thing.

2 Smart factories and automation: 5G will make factories smart in every sense of the word. Connecting production lines across the facility is only the beginning. For example, Ericsson and China Unicom are developing the port of Qingdao as a 5G smart port. This will allow the port to save as much as 70% of labour costs. Incidentally, this port is one of the top 10 busiest ports in the world, and a successful implementation of automation would really be a testament.

3 Industry 4.0: The aforementioned automation also comes under Industry 4.0, as much as it comes under IoT. With further automation across the board, expect to see more and more manufacturing plants to go automatic. This also covers medical sector. With the 5G, doctors can perform surgeries with higher precision and lower risks remotely.