By 2025, the number of Internet of Things (IoT) endpoints or “things” will expand from a few million to more than 55 billion. The growth of 5G networks will be among the most significant elements leading to this expansion.
The impending introduction of 5G, or the 5th gen of cellular mobile connectivity, is excellent news for the Internet of Things market. This is partly because 5G networks will significantly enhance the performance and dependability of these interconnected devices.
What Does 5G Mean for IoT?
5G or Fifth-generation wireless is the most recent version of cellular technology, designed to improve the responsiveness and speed of wireless devices significantly.
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) developed minimal guidelines for a new technology, which the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) further defined and standardized.
While the initial 5G standard release, 3GPP Release 15, focused on upgrading mobile broadband (eMBB) to provide greater capacity, speedier throughput, and reduced latency, it also defined the 5G New Radio (NR) technical foundation that would serve as the platform for future developments.
In the following 5G specifications update, 3GPP Release 16, a determined push to extend 5G’s reach into other sectors occurred — by adding new features. Release 16 offers improved ultra-reliable low latency communication (eURLLC) for millisecond delays, time-sensitive networking (TSN) enabling timing-deterministic communications, as well as unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) with private network assistance for more flexible deployments.
Release 16 also introduces high-reliability 5G geolocationing, which complements current location services such as GNSS and enables a variety of 5G IoT use cases like asset tracking.
5G will also effectively interconnect billions of IoT devices with modest complexity, like environmental sensor devices and utility meters. Typically, these Internet of Things devices are delay-tolerant, low-complexity, and energy-efficient.
While Release 16 began to handle IoT requirements at any of these mission-critical nodes of very high performance (for instance, IIoT) and extremely minimal intricacy (e.g., NB-IoT), there is a wide range of IoT use cases in between. In response, 3GPP Release 17 introduces 5G NR-Light, which will provide new efficiency to devices with reduced complexity, like industrial cameras, high-end wearables, and entry-level smartphones.
Benefits of Using IoT Devices in a 5G Cellular Network
5G provides faster, more reliable, and more secure communication, which is pushing the development of autonomous cars, intelligent grids for renewable power, and AI-enabled bots for deployment on factory floors. It is unleashing a vast IoT ecosystem in which networks can service billions of linked devices with the appropriate bandwidth, latency, and pricing tradeoffs. Let’s examine these advantages in more detail:
1. Enabling high-speed data exchange between devices
The profitability of any IoT implementation is ultimately based on its functionality, which is determined by how rapidly it can connect with several other Iot systems, tablets and phones, technology in the shape of its website or app and other types of software. With 5G, data transmission rates will drastically rise. Reports indicate that 5G will indeed be 10X faster than LTE networks. This improvement in speed will enable Internet of Things devices to converse and exchange data more rapidly than ever before.
2. Making networks more reliable
In addition to providing faster connections, 5G networks will function more consistently, resulting in more security and reliability. Dependable and stable network conditions are crucial for any IoT, but particularly for monitoring systems that rely on real-time updates, like security systems, surveillance cameras, and other connected devices. Users will enjoy increased dependability of various connected devices as a result of a 5G network’s capacity to support additional connected devices.
3. Improving the user experience with lower latency
Latency is the interval that exists before an action is completed, and its subsequent response. For instance, the time from clicking the link to a website and the browser displaying that website. 5G networks will substantially reduce latency, when compared to 4G LTE. One experiment suggests that it may be below 5 milliseconds. This lowered latency will allow real-time networking, which will support new applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI).
4. Supporting massive IoT implementations
5G will provide a broad frequency range and up to 1,000 times more capacity than 4G. It will be able to connect numerous internet-enabled devices, such as smartphones, sensors, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and manage numerous high-demand applications simultaneously. Due to its low costs, energy efficiency, and dependable coverage, it allows large-scale deployment of more productive and easy-to-use equipment.
5. Segmenting IoT usage through network slicing
5G enables the installation of virtualized networks, often referred to as network slicing, which enables users and manufacturers to deliver customized connections. Prioritizing connections and adjusting latencies helps guarantee network resilience in the event of an overloading or disaster. In a hospital, for instance, the network may be built to prioritize the connections existing between surgeons and bots, as opposed to communications in use by patients. Thus, emergency communications may be safeguarded even while the network is at maximum capacity.
Top IoT Use Cases for 5G in 2024
In 2024, the mainstreamization of 5G networks will make the biggest difference in the following areas of IoT implementation:
1. Smart homes and smart cities
Smart houses, watch-and-phone-synchronized IoT gadgets and fitness apps have become all the rage now. With the current dependence on cellular IoT on a large scale, the future of 5G will look drastically different in 20 years. There will be widespread deployments of driverless vehicles and automation of utility services such as garbage management. In order to minimize greenhouse emissions and pollution, there will also be an increase in the usage of smart grids and environmental monitoring.
2. Smart grids and utility operations
Today, power demand continues to rise. Smart grids and virtual power plants are the technological answers for this problem.. 5G enables the incorporation of real-time management and the automation of the smart electrical grids. Once we begin identifying problems promptly and provide remedies, maintenance will also be streamlined.
When compared to wired alternatives, 5G has faster deployment rates and lower costs, hence it is being widely accepted. Consequently, utility operators are gradually incorporating new sensors, control systems, and renewable energy sources into their networks.
3. National security and video surveillance
Video surveillance is yet another 5G-focused IoT app that is anticipated to flourish. In light of recent global developments, the government is willing to make investments in public monitoring and security measures. Currently, video surveillance systems depend on wired communication, but the introduction of wireless networks may expedite installation and reduce costs, while improving connectivity and performance in comparison to wired systems.
Conclusion
5G, a worldwide technology, is continuously deployed utilizing 3GPP international standards. It was created to assure compatibility and support for the Internet of Things, and it is still evolving with ongoing improvements to agreed-upon standards. In addition to 4G’s support for the Internet of Things, Release 15 and 16 of the 3GPP standards will give additional support for IoT devices with 5G characteristics, such as ultra-security and dependability, and low latency.
Additional 5G advancements, like network slicing, secure networks, and the 5G core, will help fulfill the vision of a worldwide IoT network capable of supporting a vast range of connected devices. This entire process is scheduled to start in 2024, with the rapid mainstreamization of 5G and growing IoT adoption.
