Sunday, March 26, 2023

5G for ME!

If you are reading on a smartphone, use landscape / hold phone sideways. 


 OK, Google: What is 5G?

5G is the 5th generation mobile network. It is a new global wireless standard after 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G networks. 5G enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices.

This past week, I attended a 5G Lunch 'n Learn in NYC. And I learned that:

  • 5G is much faster than previous generation networks, like 100 times faster. So you can download movies in seconds, rather than minutes. One comparison showed that 5G would save people 23 hours (almost a full day) per month in loading time across social media, gaming and music/video streaming sites.
  • Low Latency: this refers to the time that passes between an action and a response. For instance, the delay between when someone clicks on a link to a webpage and when the browser displays the webpage. 5G could make this less than 5 milliseconds. Reduced latency will support new applications, such as IoT (Internet of Things) and artificial intelligence, allowing for real-time connectivity.
  • Increased Capacity: 5G will deliver up to 1000x more capacity than 4G. Gone are the days of using coffee shops for free Wi-Fi.
  • More Bandwidth: more versatility and possibilities to achieve far more in less time. With 5G there is no more fighting for data. With more bandwidth we are able to do more with our devices.
  • Powering Innovation: Industries such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing and entertainment will see huge technological advancement. 
In the manufacturing sector 42% of unplanned downtime is due to equipment failure. Connected devices will enable businesses to produce more in less time, therefore meaning a more affordable product for the consumer. In retail, shops are increasingly shutting down their physical presence and moving online. 5G will enable retailers to build more dynamic websites which will greatly improve the customer experience. In automotive, 5G and IoT has seen driverless vehicles go from something you would only see in a science fiction movie to reality. And in healthcare, the speed and reliability of 5G will see faster medical services and better patient outcomes. The advances in AI and robotics powered by 5G could see remote surgeries becoming the norm in the not so distant future. 

I run the Distance Learning Association, and (for years) I have been saying that Distance Learning has really become DIGITAL Learning, but now it is all just DIGITAL LIVING. Ecommerce. Telehealth. IoT. Remote Work. Over the past 20 years our association grew from servicing just the 5 boroughs of New York City to servicing "The New York Megalopolis" (Maine to Virginia) to today servicing all of North America (NADLA.org). 

I remember like it was yesterday getting our first cable modem at home. Making the leap from dial-up Internet to Cable was dramatic to say the least. I also remember getting our first Wi-Fi router, cutting the cord at home and taking my laptop - into the Living Room! Amazing

So this past week I took the bus into NYC from my home in North New Jersey. I always sit in the last row, center aisle. This way I can use my laptop on 5G the entire time, during the 50 minute commute. I used my laptop on the free Wi-Fi at the hotel, and I used 5G on my ride home. There will be pros and cons with 5G, and it is important to have a good understanding if you are to make good informed business decisions. It is predicted that 5G will pump $12 trillion into the global economy by 2035 and that 5G will certainly revolutionize the way we live, learn, work and play. Ah yes, there is plenty to be excited about including faster speeds, and opportunities to digitally transform our world. 

If there only was a group - you know, an ASSOCIATION that a business (of any size) could easily join to gain clarity and guidance about all things 5G

You know, if only there existed a trusted group of really smart people - industry experts - subject matter experts who could help (all of us) to get www.5Gfor.biz  the best way possible. Yeah, that would be really cool. 











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