What is 5G and how will it impact major industries?

The journey to 5G connectivity in South Africa has begun, with mobile network operators including Vodacom, MTN and Rain starting to deploy commercial 5G networks in various parts of the country. While experts suggest that it will be another few years before 5G is widely spread across South Africa, the revolution has begun, and Vodacom has recently announced an exciting partnership with Nokia to expand its 5G networks. The future of 5G is bright, and companies in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and retail can look forward to reaping the benefits. By taking a look at how the international rollout of 5G has impacted companies in these sectors, we get a preview of everything that 5G will make possible locally.

First things first: what is 5G?

5G is the next-generation mobile network that follows on from the 4G that we have been using in recent years. The capabilities of 5G are game changing, and the network comes with unprecedented speed, ultra-low latency and greater-than-ever reliability. In a nutshell, 5G is capable of connecting people, machines and computers in ways that were previously impossible.

Putting 5G to work in manufacturing

In the field of manufacturing, data linking and product tracking on assembly lines are becoming a reality thanks to the speed and latency of the 5G network. This makes production opportunities that previously seemed liked dreams into realities. For example, 5G car production is coming to a Mercedes-Benz plant in southern Germany, courtesy of Ericsson and Telefónica Germany. Automotive industry experts agree that this facility will bring unprecedented speed and accuracy to the luxury vehicle manufacturer's operations. 

Bringing speed and latency to the logistics industry

The exponentially faster data speeds and lowered latency brought about by 5G are set to revolutionise the logistics industry, with autonomous trucks and self-driving systems set to become the norm. The possibilities have been put to the test in a logistics facility in Jönköping, Sweden, where the T-Pod, a driverless and fully electric truck has been strutting its stuff. Since making its debut, the T-Pod has been travelling on public roads between two warehouses. It is estimated that operating the T-Pod is 60% cheaper than using a diesel truck with a driver. 

Staying in Europe, groundbreaking research is being carried out in the Port of Livorno in Italy, where a connected port is being piloted. Machines, human operators and devices can share information in real-time thanks to the capabilities of 5G, allowing port operations to become smarter and safer. 

The smart way to work towards ongoing food security

Farming is another industry that will be forever changed by the 5G revolution, and with startling statistics about the world's growing food needs, it is an industry that must pursue every possible avenue of efficiency. Research undertaken in Switzerland by telecommunications company Sunrise in conjunction with Huawei and a Swiss centre for agricultural research, Agroscope, has shown that the ongoing real-time data that can be provided 5G makes remarkable differences. Data about various factors such as weather, plant growth and animal behaviour can be obtained. Crop data can then be cross-referenced with weather data to ensure optimal fertilisation and minimise wastage. Thanks to soil sensors providing constant information about water levels, water wastage can also be reduced. 5G makes agriculture smarter, more efficient and less wasteful.

Bringing 5G's wow factor to the retail environment

A massive shift is taking place in the retail sector, in which shoppers are coming to expect personalised and memorable experiences. Thanks to the power of 5G, elements of the new shopping experience such as virtual and augmented reality, as well as video recognition of shoppers, become easier for retailers to provide. In the future, shoppers can expect dynamic pricing, connected fitting rooms, automated checkouts and many other futuristic features - and it's all thanks to 5G.

One spectacular example of how 5G has brought retail to life can be found in PUMA's flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York. Thanks to 5G and a smorgasbord of technology, store visitors can share fitness moves with virtual representations of sporting heroes such as Lewis Hamilton, or experience being on a football field in a packed stadium. That which would have previously been considered impossible has been made possible with 5G.

5G will bring its game-changing capabilities to every industry imaginable. When it comes to finding the ideal premises from which to harness technological developments, 3Cube Property Solutions is the ideal partner. We are committed to innovation, technology and the connected future that 5G promises.