The number of 5G connections is expected to grow from about 10 million in 2019 to 1 billion in 2023, a compound annual growth rate of 217%. While impressive, these numbers don't convey the full significance of this development, and that's because 5G is much more than a new generation of wireless technology.

Its combination of exceptional bandwidth, reliability and extremely low latency will undoubtedly fundamentally change mobile communications. But it will also boost the performance of other technologies, especially IoT, cloud and edge computing, to unlock use cases previously thought impossible. In return, these technologies will give 5G its purpose, and a way to realize its potential.

Extending IoT for Edge Computing

Since 5G transfers data 100 times faster than 4G, it will enable IoT devices to communicate faster than before. Being highly reliable, it will provide a stable connection, which is essential for devices that must work in real time, such as security cameras, self-driving cars, or devices used in immersive entertainment. With latency reduced to (near) zero, devices that require real-time network performance will be able to work without interruption, even in remote locations - think sensors in hazardous environments, such as robots used in oil fields or remote surgery .

When billions of IoT devices communicate over 5G networks, all this data needs to be processed somewhere. Depending on the criticality or computing power required, this data can be processed at the edge (on the device itself), in the cloud, or somewhere in between. Self-driving cars do most of the processing in the vehicle itself because they have zero tolerance for latency. Home automation systems, voice assistants and location tracking applications are also suitable for edge computing. On the other hand, temperature and weather sensing devices that typically do not require real-time analysis can easily send their data to a central server in the cloud. But there are also use cases for processing between the two (also known as fog computing) - oil wells transmit large amounts of data that cannot be processed in the sensor, because this requires considerable computing power, so they are at the edge (in the sensor) Process a portion of the data and send the rest to a computer bank located somewhere in the field.

By opening the floodgates to edge computing, 5G localizes computation and storage, reducing the consumption of expensive bandwidth as devices only need to send data to a central server or cloud that they cannot process on their own. That being said, 5G networks also need IoT and edge computing to demonstrate their capabilities; without this combination, data processing will continue to take place on a remote cloud somewhere, negating the low-latency benefits 5G provides.

give back

In 2020, the cloud has become a game-changer in IT infrastructure provisioning. When the pandemic hit, it became a lifesaver, enabling people around the world to work and collaborate safely from home. The cloud's scalability and security make it ideal for sharing large files and providing backup and recovery in the event of a cyber attack or natural disaster; these attributes also allow the cloud to compensate for poor network speed and stability.

Now, 5G is returning the favor. With fast networks, IoT devices will generate so much data that huge cloud capacities of all forms will be required—public, private, and hybrid.

Symbiosis

5G may be one of the most exciting developments of the decade, but it will only deliver on its promise when combined with other technologies such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing and edge computing. There is a symbiotic relationship between all these technologies and they will go hand in hand to inspire future use cases.