Internet of Things and 5G

5G networks will be extensively used for IoT connectivity.5G will enable massive IoT deployment.5G’s low latency will allow more computing of data produced by IoT devices at the edge of the network before being sent to the cloud.

5G enables up to one million connections per kilometer at very low power and hence will keep pace with growing IoT.

Automation driven by 5G includes the growing use of IoT applications in industrial settings. The new bandwidth and speed benefits offered by 5G will enable smart factories to utilize robots and unmanned warehouse transportation to automate the critical, yet time-consuming aspects of their manufacturing process. In addition to traditional communications, 5G networks will connect billions of IoT sensors. With these come new machine-type communications (MTC) and networks, as well as broader use of the RF (Radio Frequency) spectrum. 5G will significantly advance the IoT technology.

Apart from consumer benefits, 5G designed to connect virtually everyone and everything including machines, objects and devices will arguably have an even larger impact in the enterprise market.

Some 5G manufacturing use cases are:

• Predictive maintenance. IoT-enabled systems can sense warning signs, use data to create maintenance timelines and preemptively service equipment before problems occur. 5G technology allows massive volumes of sensor data to be quickly and reliably collected, enabling predictive maintenance algorithms to identify potential problems and respond in milliseconds.
• Monitoring supply chains. IoT can also simplify inventory management by monitoring the supply chain and offering a clear view of a company’s moving parts. Materials and parts can be tracked from the source to the production line more efficiently, enabling just-in-time inventory and minimizing slowdowns and shortages.
• Advanced robotics. With 5G, industrial processes can be monitored and controlled with greater precision and less network gear.

In near future, machines will be able to talk to each other on 5G networks, launching a large-scale Internet of Things communications era — sensors embedded in everything. At home, appliances like toasters, microwaves, refrigerators and ACs will communicate with you or other devices, bringing it closer to be a smart home.

Amazon Echo or Google Home will get updates from the kitchen and the bathroom and replenish stock — at least regular-use items like butter, tea bags and shaving blades.

5G offers more than just faster speed when it comes to making the most of IoT devices. 5G can translate to longer battery life for many devices, sometimes up to 10 years, since it uses less spectrum and less-complex encoding, which means using less power in the long run.

5G is important to the Internet of Things because of the need for a faster network with higher capacity that can serve connectivity needs. The 5G spectrum expands the frequencies on which digital cellular technologies will transfer data. This wider spectrum available for use increases the overall bandwidth of cellular networks, allowing for additional devices to connect. 5G could enable IoT to run virtually instantaneous traffic analyses, improve security and public safety and possibly enable remote surgery.