Three misconceptions about 5G

In late 2019, IDC predicted that the number of 5G connections would grow to 1.01 billion by 2023, representing a compound annual growth rate of 217.2% over the 2019-2023 forecast period. While it’s unclear how the pandemic will impact these numbers, one thing is certain: 5G will play a major role in shaping the way we interact with and use connected technology.

However, it would be shortsighted to think that 5G is the only connectivity technology witnessing growth. As 5G deployments increase, we will also see the rise of alternative technologies that offer flexible, cost-effective power and low-bandwidth options for IoT deployments. These technologies can be used in conjunction with 5G or on their own when the application requires it.

This means that the advent of 5G does more than just transform use cases for low latency and high throughput; it also represents a shift in how traditional cellular networks interact with other communications technologies and sit within a larger ecosystem.

With so much buzz surrounding 5G, it’s easy to forget about other technology options that are better suited to a plethora of use cases. To clear up some of the confusion, let’s explore three common misconceptions about 5G.

5G is applicable to all verticals

5G was designed with two specific characteristics in mind: bringing faster speeds and connectivity to those who use it. While the increased bandwidth and performance capabilities brought by 5G are well suited for a wide range of applications, in some cases the trade-off between cost, performance, and ROI opens the door for free “suitable” technologies such as LoRaWAN. So while 5G may be the best technology to support applications such as video calls that require low latency, alternative technologies such as LoRaWAN are better suited for water and gas metering that require low power consumption and long-distance transmission.

5G works alone

Not all use cases are created equal, which means that no one size fits all. That’s why the wireless market embraces a multi-radio access network strategy for connectivity solutions. 5G is the first release of a new 3GPP specification that opens the standard to all communications technologies, whether licensed or unlicensed, mobile, wired or fixed wireless. This means that the 5G ecosystem can adopt the best technology to meet its needs, depending on the application - whether it’s LoRaWAN, 5G, 4G, Wi-Fi, BLE or a combination.

5G is coming

The coronavirus pandemic has had mixed results on 5G rollouts. Kagan's 2020 Global 5G Survey of more than 70 mobile operators found that 38% of respondents were already offering 5G services, with another 36% planning to do so during 2021, according to an S&P Global report. The pandemic will delay the rollout of 5G networks in Europe by 12 to 18 months.

Putting aside the pandemic, the transition from 4G to 5G is already going to take a lot of time. Inevitably, the adoption curve for industry and consumers will be faster, but for the vast majority of the world, the impact of 5G is still a ways off. This is especially true for rural areas where many businesses and communities don’t have reliable connectivity, let alone high-speed internet or mobile data.

5G networks will continue to be a hot topic in the wireless and IoT industries as deployment becomes more realistic. In this context, there should also be a greater focus on the complementary technologies that support 5G. As with most things in life, the key is choice. Consumers and businesses alike must have the choice to implement the technology that best suits a given application.