The promise of 5G encompasses a vast array of benefits, including increased speed, reliability and bandwidth to support futuristic applications such as the Internet of Things and a host of other use cases. Although, the path to 5G has not been a short one, and true rollout of this next-generation network remains shrouded in myths, assumptions and widespread speculation.
To delve into some of these myths and explore the reality and trajectory of 5G, the 2019 NEDAS NYC Summit, an event promoting education, exploration and collaboration at the intersection of wireline and wireless, offered a presentation titled The Journey to 5G – Technology and Spectrum Implications for In-Building Connectivity. Featuring Lori Blair, Channel Sales Director for Ericsson, and Roger Galuban, Senior Product Manager for Ericsson, the presentation discussed the ins and outs of supporting 5G in real estate properties.
To start, Galuban notes that 5G is an evolution that the market is just starting to experience. There’s a variety of solutions for spectrum assets that currently exist, so deploying the 5G system to meet different needs is a journey and an exploration. Blair notes that when it comes to in-building 5G, the main considerations should center around what the unique use case or individual challenge is.
To begin exploring how to deploy this next-generation network in buildings, it’s critical to note that there is new spectrum that is coming available that is dedicated to 5G. This is where the industry sees one of the myths associated with commercial rollout. Galuban notes that many individuals think of millimeter wave, or high-frequency, when they think of 5G. While the two are connected, millimeter wave is not the sole way of providing next-generation capabilities. In fact, large operators in the U.S., including Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and others, that have low-band spectrum assets can still turn on 5G utilizing that spectrum as well.
However, although millimeter wave spectrum is not the only spectrum to use for 5G, Blair notes that it does offer benefits for larger venues such as stadiums or airports. This is due to the fact that it provides a wide amount of bandwidth — a vital resource in the digital era. This makes millimeter wave a high-capacity option for high-demand venues with lots of devices and lots of applications in use. This will become an even bigger benefit as the industry moves into an era of IoT (Internet of Things), smart cities and sky-high numbers of connected devices.
As we collectively head into the digital and technological future, 5G implementation is becoming a growing conversation. As industry minds begin to explore deployment further, it becomes clear that — depending on the use case, building requirements or other aspects — there are many avenues to achieve seamless transitions to the next generation of network. At the end of the day, regardless of the myths and misconceptions of 5G, there remain more opportunities and options for in-building deployment, ensuring that a growing number of entities can garner the benefits.
To hear more about 5G and its many facets, click here to listen to view the whole presentation.
To learn more about NEDAS, please visit www.nedas.com.
