What is 5G mobile T-technology?
5G refers to the term “5th generation.” Before transitioning to this latest version, wireless cellular technologies have evolved from 2G to 4G through 3G. Based on 3GPP standards, each generation offered increasing upload speeds, bandwidth, and levels of security.
5G was first deployed in 2019 in South Korea before gradually expanding to Europe. Truly revolutionary, this technology paves the way for innovation and offers a myriad of interesting opportunities, such as private 5G networks.
What are the benefits of 5G for IoT?
5G stands out due to its ability to achieve unprecedented levels of connectivity and speed. Compared to the 4G network, it offers:
- Even faster speeds
Latency is the time delay required to transfer data from one place to another. The lower the latency, the more capable devices are of communicating in real-time and operating simultaneously. This criterion is crucial for machines whose operation depends on real-time data processing, such as autonomous driving or augmented reality. With 5G, devices are more responsive, thus offering a better user experience.
- Higher bandwidth
5G offers bandwidth up to 10 times greater than that of 4G. This allows a larger number of IoT devices to coordinate within the same network.
- The possibility of private 5G
With private 5G, an organization can benefit from its own mobile network and configure it according to its needs (privacy, low-latency access, etc.). This type of 5G network allows for reliable connections while offering more control and security. For example, a factory can isolate certain devices from the public network to reduce the risk of attacks.
- Enhanced security
5G implements new security protocols aimed at addressing previously unresolved threats. Among these are improved user authentication and strengthened data encryption. With extended encryption keys (256 bits compared to 128 bits with 4G), 5G thus reinforces the protection of company data.
What IoT applications does 5G enable?
Via the Internet, 5G allows the control of a massive number of smart and autonomous sensors and devices. Its capabilities drive innovations for IoT project developers and revolutionize sectors such as:
Healthcare
5G has led to innovations such as remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, surgical assistance, and early-stage medical diagnostics. These technologies rely on connectivity and real-time data transmission.
Highly secure, private 5G is particularly beneficial for highly specialized doctors. For example, a surgeon can operate remotely via medical robots and monitor the patient’s condition with connected devices.
Smart cities
5G plays a crucial role in the development of smart cities. With real-time processing of a large volume of data, it will be particularly useful for video surveillance, alarm systems with video, and the interconnection of vehicles with city interfaces (such as traffic lights).
Factories
In China, industrial automation is one of the main use cases for IoT: its adoption rate is 62% higher than the global average.
In industries, it is possible to monitor factory machines and stocks in real time thanks to IoT devices. Connected to 5G, they ensure real-time monitoring of production sites and alert teams in case of urgent situations.
While 5G opens the door to numerous IoT applications, most of the Internet of Things can also be served by 4G, LTE-M, and NB-IoT. Each project has its network!
5G RedCap, a specification to bridge the gap between 4G and 5G
With its dramatically increased data rate, 5G paves the way for a multitude of possibilities in fields like smart cities and Industry 4.0. However, this ultra-low latency is not a critical requirement for most IoT devices. For instance, while wearables and industrial sensors require good connectivity, they do not need all the features of 5G. This is why a complement to the 5G family has been added: 5G RedCap (or 5G NR-Light).
“RedCap” stands for “Reduced Capability”: as the name suggests, this innovation offers a reasonable average data rate, but it is more than sufficient for a wide range of IoT applications. It provides a good level of performance, similar to LTE Category 4, while being more cost-effective and energy-efficient. 5G RedCap aims to facilitate a wider adoption of 5G and is an attractive solution for devices such as industrial sensors or video surveillance.
While 5G RedCap can currently be compared to LTE CAT4 in terms of performance for 3GPP release 17, release 18 will bring it closer to LTE CAT1 with more simplifications for IoT devices.
Take advantage of Objenious 5G connectivity offers
Do you have an IoT project with specific connectivity requirements? As a brand of Bouygues Telecom dedicated to IoT, Objenious leverages its multi-technology portfolio, including 5G, to offer comprehensive and customized solutions. Benefit from fast, reliable, and low-latency connectivity with our 5G IoT network and discover our XXL plans tailored to your data-hungry IoT needs.