5G Is Going Mainstream

5G has created a big buzz in the mobile and business communities over the past couple of years, with the message that previously unheard-of network speed, downloads, and streaming is coming soon.

5G is the 5th generation of mobile networks and 5G boasts network speeds upwards of twenty times faster than the current 4G technology. Bandwidth will also see a huge boost (allowing for 1,000 devices per meter on a connection). 5G is designed to connect machines, objects, and devices and in turn, connect everything in our lives. 

By 2022, several major mobile carriers have already rolled out 5G in test markets, and today we’re seeing 5G make its foray into the mainstream, beginning in major markets. Manufacturers are also upping the 5G compatibility of their devices to usher in the newest trend in communication technology. 

The inevitable mainstream availability of 5G is going to revolutionize the speed and capabilities of mobile networks and devices, but it’s also going to impact business strategy, and communications systems and support other key trends shaping the modern workplace. Is your business ready to leverage all the potential in 5G?

5G comes with an increased capacity for data transmission than the previous 4G iteration of network technology. 5G is going to impact business in several important ways, giving companies key advantages and new digital strategies to embrace. Here’s a closer look at the business implications of 5G now and in the near future.

Speed is one of the biggest advantages that 5G is going to introduce to mobile networks. With increased speeds, real-time voice and video connections will be easy and seamless, with fewer dropped calls or slowed video communications. The upped speed of 5G will also support faster online sales processing and make file-sharing, particularly during video meetings, faster than ever before.

In sum, 5G is predicted to make online meetings and connections faster and easier with low latency which means virtually interruptions typically caused by slow streaming and download speeds will be a thing of the past. 

Remote work is quickly becoming the norm in modern companies, thanks to the prominence of the internet and the widespread availability and affordability of cloud-based software and other online tools that all work to make remote work not only possible but more efficient for companies and ideal for employees. 

5G will continue to support remote work by making communication, support, and sales systems faster and more reliable with increased speeds and network capacity. More people and devices will be able to communicate at the same time using 5G and quicker mass adoption of this technology can make communication among your teams will greatly improve. 5G and its increased connectivity will also allow you to seek out talent outside your local talent pool, thus expanding your business reach as well. 

Even in its infancy, 5G is bringing about innovations in telepresence with holographic conferencing capabilities and Ultra HD video calling will likely soon be the norm. Additionally, 360-Degree video calling is already in the works, which means you can have even more realistic, personal, face-to-face interactions via video and the opportunity for even more impactful presentations and demonstrations via video with this technology. 5G speeds will allow these interactions to be less glitchy and help you have seamless communication via the internet. 

5G will certainly further the IoT trend of an ever-growing number of connected, smart devices across the globe. The increased speed and bandwidth availability will make it possible to have even more devices connected to the internet, from cloud business software systems and smartphones and tablets to other smart machines and devices that are being used more frequently across a multitude of industries. 

With the increased speed and broadband capacities that 5G will introduce to the market, there are going to be many business opportunities to consider, try out, and embrace. But it’s important that your business is ready for all that 5G will offer.

The increase in speed and bandwidth capacity 5G brings is so substantial that it’s bound to create a lot of opportunities for what you can do in your business when it comes to communication, connections, and more. With 5G on the horizon, you can identify all the best opportunities it’s going to introduce to your business by rethinking your digital strategy to see where you want to take your business, and how the increased speed and capabilities of 5G will support those goals.

If you’ve been considering moving your business systems to the cloud, 5G is another reason to make that switch.

Or it may be time to think seriously about allowing remote work in your company.

Perhaps you want to begin leveraging cutting-edge virtual technology in your company (such as Virtual Reality experiences and training or introduce Augmented Reality features to make your business apps more meaningful and interactive).

5G speeds and capabilities are going to open up a lot of opportunities for tech-savvy companies, but it's important to have a clear strategy in place so everything you leverage on the 5G network is geared toward your company's future and growth. 

You should also keep an eye on any drawbacks that 5G could mean for your unique business and think about how this change is going to impact your teams, company-wide. Make sure you have a plan for addressing those concerns with careful examination of needed system upgrades, equipment updates, advanced security, and employee training.

For now, 5G adoption is still slowly happening among customers with upgrades to their mobile devices. However, mass adoption of 5G speeds is inevitable. Network technologies are always evolving and 5G is the next revolution on the horizon. Improved speeds offered by 5G will help the world feel even more connected and change how everyone around the world can interact with each other.