Real World Applications of 5G

Last week’s message discussed the science behind 5G. One key component of 5G that you need to understand is that it’s not just 100 times faster than 4G, it also has the capacity to carry much more data. That means many more people can use a network at the same time without slowing it down or that tremendous amounts of additional data can be disseminated. This week, we’ll discuss how that science applies to the real world and some examples of innovative technologies that are coming our way.

Self-Driving Cars
5G network speeds will bring self-driving cars to the masses. Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication over super broadband will make this possible. Cars will be able to communicate with each other - location, speed, direction, acceleration, steering, etc - faster than we can blink. Cars will know before you do that a hard-braking accident occurred five vehicles ahead of you, or that someone entered your car’s blind spot. While really possible only in urban areas, this technology has the potential to be a major life-saving breakthrough.

Virtual Reality        
The real world contains millions of stimuli that affect a human’s senses every second - sound and light waves, heat, cold, air density, smells, etc. It’s like a fire hose of data coming at you all the time. Virtual reality is designed to immerse you in an alternate world that approaches reality. However, if the bandwidth is more like a garden hose than a fire hose, all of those stimuli won’t be available to make the virtual experience truly immersive. 5G definitely has the potential to make better VR a reality.

Drones
Amazon and Wal-mart have been testing drone delivery technology for a few years now. Part of the issue with both services was the ability for the drone to fly autonomously and safely at ALL times. One bad incident would be enough to kill the programs. These programs will be implemented mainly in urban areas, which is where 5G will be located. This works out perfectly for both, as the 5G networks will allow vast amounts of data transfer, which will aid in safer flights. In August 2020, Amazon received FAA approval to operate their fleet. The goal for Amazon is to offer delivery within 30 minutes or less. Walmart has also received FAA approval and has teamed with Zipline for health and wellness product delivery via drone.

While we’ve highlighted a few technologies that are very close to being implemented, there are many more that haven’t even been thought of yet. 5G has the ability to be truly transformative in the world of technology.