How 5G will affect IoT services

Article

The fifth-generation mobile network called 5G, is able to offer much better features in terms of network speed and power than its predecessors. More reliable and faster wireless, lower latency and more devices supported simultaneously are the key factors offered by the 5G network. This introduces new digital experiences and provides innovative IoT services. Let us, therefore, analyse the advantages of 5G compared to previous technologies, the areas of use of 5G and what the future with 5G holds for us.

IoT and 5G: What are the advantages over previous technology

The 5G network is more appropriate for current and upcoming IoT services as it greatly enhances download and upload speeds and provides a wider range of features compared to 4G.It offers the advantage of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine-type communications (mMTC). All these features will, therefore, enable a diverse availability of applications in the fields of IoT, virtual and augmented reality and Smart Cities.

Better IoT connectivity with 5G

Based on our projections, 5G networks are expected to provide speeds ranging from 15 to 20 Gbps by 2025. With this increased speed, users and devices will be able to access files, programs, and remote applications in real-time, utilise cloud services more efficiently, and rely less on internal storage and data hoarding. Let’s see what the main benefits of 5G-based IoT are:

Increased capacity: 5G networks are designed to manage many devices at the same time, an ideal feature for IoT implementations. This feature enables numerous sensors and devices to communicate with each other, promoting efficient resource management.
Low latency: the lower latency of 5G favours the use of applications such as industrial automation.
High data speed: 5G’s higher speeds enable immediate data transfer for IoT devices, which is essential for applications such as IoT Security and remote monitoring.
Improved reliability: ensures that IoT devices are connected without interruption.
Energy efficiency: crucial to extend the battery life of IoT devices in applications such as asset tracking and remote monitoring.

Increased capacity: 5G networks are designed to manage many devices at the same time, an ideal feature for IoT implementations. This feature enables numerous sensors and devices to communicate with each other, promoting efficient resource management.

Low latency: the lower latency of 5G favours the use of applications such as industrial automation.

High data speed: 5G’s higher speeds enable immediate data transfer for IoT devices, which is essential for applications such as IoT Security and remote monitoring.

Improved reliability: ensures that IoT devices are connected without interruption.

Energy efficiency: crucial to extend the battery life of IoT devices in applications such as asset tracking and remote monitoring.

Examples and practical benefits of using 5G

Concrete examples will help to better understand the benefits of 5G IoT connectivity. Here is a list of use cases of IoT in combination with the 5G network.

Smart City: as part of the design of a smart city, 5G networks can contribute to the use of various applications for traffic management, environmental monitoring and public safety, with significant advantages in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in resource management.
Smart Industry: low latency and high reliability, leading to greater efficiency and safety, are the basic cornerstones among the many benefits of 5G in applications dedicated to industrial automation, robotic production and remote control of heavy machinery.

Smart Mobility: the high speed of 5G technology supports real-time communication and data transfer necessary for autonomous moving vehicles, such as drones, thus making transport safer and more efficient. 5G also enables various applications in the area of smart tracking, particularly in the area of IP-connected cameras, in the automotive sector and the area of intelligent transport systems.
Smart Agriculture: in the world of agriculture, apps related to soil monitoring, irrigation management and livestock monitoring can be managed in real-time, thus offering more efficient and sustainable performance.

Smart Healthcare: The implementation of 5G technology in the healthcare industry can lead to improved management and monitoring of applications that promote the well-being and health of citizens. This can involve several advantages, including remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and surgical robotics.

5G IoT connectivity: a challenge that will start soon

The challenge of 5G connectivity related to IoT is fundamentally based on expanding the deployment of the technology, estimated by 2025, and large-scale deployment is expected to globally revolutionise the very way people live and work. According to the GSMA, a wireless industry trade group dedicated to advancing innovation in business and society, 5G technology will be at least 10 times faster than its predecessor, 4G, and could even reach up to 100 times faster. Thus, expectations are for a 5G network that will be able to provide more diverse and sophisticated connectivity modes to meet a highly specialised 5G IoT standard in transport, remote healthcare, precision agriculture, digitised logistics and many other areas.

melita.io, a European leader in IoT connectivity solutions

One of the prominent IoT service providers in Europe is melita.io. Their exceptional IoT services have been catering to a wide range of private and public companies for a considerable period of time. The company provides tailor-made IoT connectivity services by interpreting individual customer requirements, meeting the need for end-to-end solutions comprising devices, sensors and applications. The solutions offered by melita.io, developed in collaboration with their extensive network of IoT partners, mainly cover the Smart Buildings and Smart Cities sector, the transport and logistics sector, the waste management sector, agriculture, and the construction sector, but other applications are available for diversified markets. 5G IoT connectivity isa challenge that affects everyone. Thanks to companies like melita.io, this can translate into a better future where sustainability and efficiency are