5G, edge computing and the Industrial Internet of Things

The new 5G network will transform many industries in the coming years. From factory floors to healthcare, financial services and even entertainment, industries will enter a new stage of connectivity as 5G network technology is gradually implemented.

In addition to significantly increasing speed and throughput, 5G networks can also leverage network virtualization to provide "network slicing" for the unique needs of the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things). While this will transform many industries, the manufacturing industry can benefit greatly from higher bandwidth, lower latency, and more reliable wireless networks!

5G: Transforming the factory

Currently, most factories are connected via wired connections with traditional fieldbuses or Industrial Ethernet, which act as the backbone connecting field-level devices to control systems and PLCs. New standards such as OPC-UA allow factories to be connected to the enterprise by providing a structured and secure way to access and control data.

The second phase of the 5G specification (3GPP Release 16) targets factory automation with ultra-reliable, low-latency communications (uRLLC), enhanced massive machine type communications (eMTC), and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB). The most significant enhancements are in latency and reliability, aimed at enabling mission-critical applications in industrial environments.

5G networks can provide critical capabilities on the factory floor in terms of low latency, high reliability and support for a large number of devices. In addition, 5G-enabled devices can "offload" some of their processing to the network, making the equipment simpler and cheaper.

The impact of 5G “network edge” on IIoT

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) requires multiple complementary technologies to achieve improvements in automation, efficiency, and agility. It requires dashboards, device communications and management capabilities for managing a variety of device types, real-time streaming for actionable intelligence, machine learning capabilities to recognize patterns and predict behavior, and AR to enhance manual guidance and training.

5G has low latency, high security, and customized networks that enable factories to take full advantage of sensors and IoT for asset monitoring and automation as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Many of these will happen locally, but also increasingly in the cloud. IIoT platforms that can integrate with cloud hyperscale (such as Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure) will be a key enabler of the 5G-enabled IIoT ecosystem.

To support latency-sensitive applications at the edge of 5G networks, Amazon and Verizon jointly announced the launch of AWS "Wavelength Zones". By embedding a portion of AWS infrastructure into Verizon's data centers, the journey from devices to the AWS cloud can be shortened. Microsoft also leveraged its past partnership with AT&T and recently launched Azure Edge Zones. In addition, Microsoft's recent acquisition of Affirmed Networks aims to bring cloud-based 5G networks to market.

As 5G specifications mature, the “network edge” can become a hotspot for innovation among hyperscalers, operators, and IIoT platform providers to enable latency-sensitive IIoT applications for industrial automation.