5G and Beyond: The Future of Networking
5G (or 5th Generation mobile networks) is the set of telecommunication standards beyond current so-called 4G/LTE. Aside from increased bandwith, lower latency, and lowering the cost of implementing existing 4th generation tech, 5g encompasses hardware focused elements of web communication. Lower battery consumption, or better batteries, will naturally need to accompany a technology with greater speed and overall capability.
As the “IOT” grows increasingly ubiquitous, a higher bandwith capacity is arguably the most critical component of a 5th generation network. We already have web-enabled technology hidden within our phones, cars, wearables, and etc. It is no stretch to say that in the near future, as the cost of microchips in general has decreased, “The Internet” has achieved a presence in the life of the average person that is almost impossible to dismiss.
METIS, the “EU flagship project” for the development of a 5g protocol has set the following definition for what they hope to create and implement. Because there is currently not any accepted standard protocol for 5G, these points do not necessarily point to anything exact yet.
I have linked my source in the sources (ieeexplore.ieee.org ), but here is a basic breakdown.
- Data rates should exceed 100mbps for users in metropolitan areas–1gbps in industrial or office settings
- Better overall coverage, lower latency, and various wireless sensors allowing several hundreds of thousands of connections.
These central points should be considered the minimum requirements, and depending on a variety of circumstances, speeds may have potential of approaching 10gbps in more ideal settings.
The technical details behind achieving the new network will of course be more or less entirely immaterial from the experience of the user. If we assume any rate of improvement in wireless communications technologies, and if those creating such tech are to be considered an authority on the subject, 5G will be a major leap, with improvements eventually allowing the connection of essentially arbitrarily large numbers of devices.
STST makes use of a wide aray of “IOT”-like devices already, as do many other companies and industries. Mobile connections can be used as backups for hard-wired connections in security solutions, but are more critical when a system needs to include 24/7 personal video and control access to a user or users wherever they are. The security industry in general is likely to become increasingly centered around the usefulness and convenience of mobile communication tech, as many of us certainly seem to be already with our personal and social lives.
Sources:
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/6815890/?reload=true§ion=abstract
Wikipedia.com
Wired.com
Image source:
Kaspersky.com
