What's New In 5G - June 2021

Unified Communications, Network Security

Article | July 10, 2023

5G trends are shaping the future of various technologies, from the Internet of Things to Virtual Reality. Learn more about the top trends in 5G to stay ahead of the competition in this sector. Contents 1 The Value of 5G for Businesses 2 5G Trends to Watch in 2023 2.1 Shift to Standalone 5G 2.2 Edge Computing for IoT 2.3 Adoption of Private 5G Networks 2.4 General Availability of 5G 2.5 Partnerships for Rapid Deployments 3 Conclusion 1 The Value of 5G for Businesses The fifth-generation network technology, or 5G, promises to revolutionize the way businesses communicate and operate. It offers lower latency, faster data transfer speeds, more robust security, and new and enhanced experiences. These capabilities enable 5G to support high-quality video conferencing, real-time collaboration, immersive virtual experiences, and more. By investing in 5G, businesses can stay competitive and meet the evolving needs of their employees and customers. With the growing adoption and use cases of this technology, keeping up with the technology trends in 5G is essential for staying ahead in today's business landscape. 2 5G Trends to Watch in 2023 2.1 Shift to Standalone 5G The rapid deployment of 5G across the world has been made possible due to the existence of an already-established 4G infrastructure. This has allowed operators to concentrate on developing the radio access network components while relying on 4G networks as a failsafe. This approach has enabled operators to deploy 5G networks at a faster pace, thereby allowing the benefits of this technology trend to reach a wider audience. The integration of a 5G core and radio forms the backbone of 5G infrastructure, enabling the 5G stand-alone network to achieve its full potential. Wireless providers have been actively promoting the key features of 5G, such as ultra-low latency and complete network slicing, which are exclusively available through the stand-alone version of this advanced technology. By utilizing this emerging technology, businesses can unlock an entirely new level of performance, allowing them to deliver innovative and immersive services to their end-users. Stand-alone 5G is also a necessity for certain unique use cases, and many 5G trends in 2023 will rely on its capabilities. It is essential for businesses to understand the benefits of this advanced technology and adopt it to remain competitive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. 2.2 Edge Computing for IoT The convergence of 5G technology and IoT is transforming how businesses operate across industry verticals. This 5G trend enables edge computing for the IoT by providing low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity. With 5G, data can be transmitted and processed at the edge of the network, closer to the source of the data, rather than being sent to a central data center for processing. While extensive IoT fleets can operate on a 4G network, a 5G network will improve upon those capabilities with massive multiple-input, multiple output capabilities, enabling an increased number of devices to connect with the cell tower. This is especially useful in IIoT, where a large number of IoT devices are present within a small area, which requires this level of connectivity. The low latency and high bandwidth offered by 5G infrastructure also support innovative IoT solutions, such as integrating artificial intelligence, by enabling real-time processing of data and faster response times. Edge computing allows IoT devices to perform complex processing tasks and make decisions locally, rather than relying on a centralized cloud server. Businesses that operate in industries that require real-time processing will especially benefit from the digital transformation through 5G. 2.3 Adoption of Private 5G Networks Private wireless networks are suitable for many industrial applications, and the market for private 5G networks is set to expand rapidly. Private 5G networks offer greater cybersecurity, control, and reliability, making them ideal for mission-critical applications that require high levels of security and privacy. This is one of the key 5G trends because it is applicable to industries such as manufacturing, healthcare, and finance, where IoT devices collect and share sensitive data that requires greater cybersecurity. Businesses can also utilize private 5G networks to benefit from higher bandwidth, lower latency, and greater flexibility compared to public networks. Private 5G networks can be customized and tailored to meet the specific requirements of each application, making them ideal for specialized functions. As more enterprises look to benefit from network-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and big data, the demand for private wireless networks will continue to rise. Network operators are also more willing to offer private 5G networks because they represent a new revenue stream and a growth opportunity while also allowing them to provide a more personalized service to their customers. 2.4 General Availability of 5G The 5G trends have moved towards access to 5G across the world, with 5G now available in 95 countries and reaching to more than 1.2 billion people. 5G networks are becoming more widespread in 2023, and as a result, many 5G trends and technologies are expected to emerge. Furthermore, 5G has become standard across all premium devices and many mid-range ones, making it an attractive option for consumers. For businesses, this means a whole new world of possibilities. 5G networks offer faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and lower latency, enabling businesses to offer more innovative products and services. With the increased availability of 5G, businesses can develop and deploy emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning, augmented reality, and virtual reality. Remote work and related use cases will also rise in popularity as 5G becomes more common. However, the distribution of 5G networks differs by region. 5G trends indicate that urban populations will likely be the first beneficiaries of public 5G rollouts and will benefit the most from 5G capabilities such as network densification and massive MIMO. With the deployment of 5G small cells for connectivity, 5G networks will support new use cases and faster, more reliable connectivity for the general public, especially in urban areas. 2.5 Partnerships for Rapid Deployments By connecting disjointed B2B and B2C networks with ecosystems, service providers can become service enablers, working with businesses, consumers, and even competitors to create unique 5G offerings. Digital transformation is possible through new approaches to partnerships, through which service providers manage commoditization pressures and a hyper-competitive market. Partnerships also provide businesses with access to industry skill sets that are in high demand, such as cloud, cybersecurity, and automation. By partnering with players who are already experts, cellular network providers offer specialized solutions to their customers that they may not have been able to provide otherwise. Hosted labs also help to speed ecosystem validation of use cases and new technology, ensuring that solutions are effective and efficient. Furthermore, partnerships enable service providers to create products with global scale, as demonstrated by SAP, IBM, ServiceNow, and Deutsche Telekom, which have collaborated to create global connectivity offerings ranging from 5G to software-defined networks. In the race to increase revenue and control costs in the 5G industry, collaborating with industry experts and integrating solutions will become one of the key 5G technology trends. Through collaboration, service providers can offer unique solutions to their customers, access necessary industry skill sets, and create products with global scale. These partnerships are necessary for businesses to remain competitive in an ever-changing market. 3 Conclusion The ongoing rollout of 5G networks is set to transform businesses across all industries, bringing faster speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect more devices than ever before. As technology continues to evolve, businesses need to stay up-to-date with the future trends in 5G in order to take advantage of its full potential. The growing demand for low latency and massive connectivity due to new use cases such as edge computing and the IoT is driving the growth of 5G networks. These trends will enable businesses to create new products and services, increase efficiency and productivity, and ultimately transform the way they operate. As 5G networks continue to mature, businesses that invest in this technology will have a competitive advantage over those that do not. They will be able to deliver faster, more reliable services to customers, streamline operations, and reduce costs. With the right approach, organizations can capitalize on the latest trends in 5G and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation in the years to come.

5G

Article | May 18, 2023

The year 2020 was supposed to be a breakthrough year for many technologies but, most businesses have now been forced back into building an infrastructure to transit their workforce to work remotely and ensure continuity of workflow. Nevertheless, an unprecedented set of events have pushed several industries to accelerate the adoption of technologies as they continue to work from home. 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are two tech advancements that have been turning eyes around the world since their introduction. The two wireless technologies are well on their way to revolutionize the Internet of Things as businesses move fast towards digitization and the world is excited. Table of Contents: - Wi-Fi 6: A Breakthrough in Wireless Technology - 5G: For a Better Connected World - How are Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Transforming the IoT? - 5G and Wi-Fi 6: Rivals or Allies? Wi-Fi 6: A Breakthrough in Wireless Technology The next-generation Wi-Fi with boosted speed was introduced last year to meet the demand for faster internet amongst the rising internet users. But, Wi-Fi 6 is simply more than a tweak in the speed. Technically called 802.11ax, Wi-Fi 6 is the advancement in the wireless standard doing the same basic things but with greater efficiency in the device-dense areas, and offering much greater bandwidth than its predecessor 802.11ac or Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6 promises a speed up to 9.6 Gbps up four times than that of Wi-Fi 5 (3.5Gbps). In reality, this is just a theoretical maximum that one is not expected to reach. Even still, the 9.6Gbps is higher speed and doesn’t have to go to a single device but split up across a network of devices. A new technology in Wi-Fi 6 called the Target Wake Time (TWT) lets routers set check-in times with devices, allowing communications between the router and the devices. The TWT also reduces the time required to keep the antennas powered to search for signals, which in turn also improves battery life. Wi-Fi 6 also comes with a new security protocol called WPA3, making it difficult to hack the device passwords by simple guesswork. In short, Wi-Fi 6 means better speeds with optimized battery lives, and improved security. 5G: For a Better Connected World 5G is the next in line to replace 4G LTE. While Wi-Fi covers small scale internet requirements, cellular networks like 5G are here to connect everyone and everything virtually on a larger scale. The technology is based on the Orthogonal frequency-division Multiplexing (OFDM) that reduces interference by modulating a digital signal across several channels. Ability to operate in both lower bands (like sub-6 GHz) and mmWave (24 GHz and above), 5G promises increased network capacity, low latency and multi-Gbps throughput. 5G also uses the new 5G NR air interface to optimize OFDM to deliver not just better user experience but also a wider one extending to many industries, and mission-critical service areas. The 5G technology, in a nutshell, has brought with it ultra-high speeds, increased and scalable network capacity, and very low latency. How are Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Transforming the IoT? 5G and Wi-Fi 6 will fill up the speed gaps that our existing networks are not able to especially, in crowded homes or congested urban areas. It's not just about the speed. The two wireless technologies will increase network capacity and improve signal strengths. On the business front, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are both living up to the hype they created since their introduction. Wi-Fi 6 has emerged, as the enabler of converged IoT at the edge. It has put IT into OT applications, connected devices and processed data from devices such as IP security cameras, LED lighting, and digital signage with touch screen or voice command. Wi-Fi 6 can now be used in office buildings for intelligent building management systems, occupancy sensors, access control (smart locks), smart parking, and fire detection and evacuation. It’s (Wi-Fi 6) built for IoT. It will connect many, many more people to mobile devices, household appliances, or public utilities, such as the power grid and traffic lights. The transfer rates with Wi-Fi 6 are expected to improve anywhere from four times to 10 times current speeds, with a lower power draw, i.e. while using less electricity. - Tom Soderstrom, IT Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Similarly, 5G will open doors for more devices and data. It will increase the adoption of edge computing for faster data processing close to the point of action. The hype around 5G is because of the three key attributes it comes with: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency (uRLLC), and massive IoT device connectivity (mMTC). But there is the fourth attribute that sets it apart from its predecessor: use of a spectrum that operates at the low-end frequency range (typically 600 MHz). Called as ‘low-band 5G’, it delivers high speeds with signals that go for miles without propagation losses and ability to penetrate obstacles. The 5G operates in the new millimetre-wave bands (24 to 86 GHz) delivering more capacity to enable many low-power IoT connections. If we were to point down the benefits, these two wireless technologies are bringing to the Internet of Things those would be: Increased Human-Device Interactions Increased Data and Devices More IoT investments Advancing to the Edge Acceleration towards Industrial IoT Enhanced use of IoT devices Better VUI 5G and Wi-Fi 6: Rivals or Allies? In February, Cisco estimated that by 2023 M2M communications will contribute to 50% or about 14.7 billion of all networked connections. Cisco’s Annual Internet Report reveals that 5G will enable new IoT applications with greater bandwidth and lower latencies and will accelerate innovations at scale. The same report estimates that 10.6% of global mobile connections in 2023 will be 5G, while Wi-Fi 6 hotspots will be 11.6% of all public Wi-Fi hotspots growing 13 times from 2020 through 2023. Wi-Fi6 will serve as a necessary complement to 5G. A significant portion of cellular traffic is offloaded to Wi-Fi networks to prevent congestion and degraded performance of cellular networks (due to demand). - Thomas Barnett, Director of Thought Leadership, Cisco Systems The two technologies are here to feed different data-hungry areas with gigabit speeds. With lower deployment costs, Wi-Fi 6 will be dominating the home and business environments where access points need to serve more users covering devices like smartphones, tablets, PCs, printers, TV sets, and streaming devices. With an unlicensed spectrum, the performance of Wi-Fi 6 depends on the number of users, that are using the network at the same time. 5G, with its longer range, will deliver mobile connections and accelerate smart city deployments and manufacturing operations. Like LTE, 5G speeds will depend upon users’ proximity to base stations and the number of people using that network. The performance of the two depends largely on the area where they are being deployed. For instance, Wi-Fi can very well handle machine-to-machine communications in a managed manufacturing unit, whereas 5G can enhance campus-wide manufacturing operations efficiently. Businesses will have a decision to make which among the two wireless networks fulfils their data appetite. In conclusion, the two wireless technologies continue to develop in parallel and causing the next big wave in the Internet of Things.

Enterprise Mobility

Article | June 15, 2023

Wi-Fi and the Internet have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. Because of the importance and convenience of a business Wi-Fi network, it is now a must-have service for most businesses. Unfortunately, numerous small-to-medium-sized businesses lack the resources and cyber skills required to appropriately secure their networks. This can be a major issue because an unsecured network exposes the company to attacks from hackers looking to steal valuable company information or customer data. How Can Businesses and IT Leaders Strengthen Their Wi-Fi Security? A data breach can cripple your business. It not only undermines consumer trust, but data breaches cost an average of $4.24 million. Fortunately, improving your Wi-Fi security is not difficult. To safeguard your company's wireless Internet connection, follow the steps outlined below. Use Up-To-Date Wi-Fi Encryption You should upgrade your hardware if it can only support WEP or WPA encryption. The Wi-Fi Alliance strongly encourages the widespread use of WPA2. Cutting-edge encryption has been demonstrated to be protected against even the most persistent attackers when correctly implemented. If you run an enterprise environment, you should take advantage of the extra security provided by specific digital certificates. Encrypt Wi-Fi Router Administration Pages Taking your Wi-Fi security a step further needs the use of a Wi-Fi digital certificate to secure your admin login pages. Self-signed certificates that come pre-installed on a few routers are untrusted, easy to copy, and prone to Man-In-The-Middle (MITM) attacks. TLS certificates from reputable certificate authorities can ensure that all of your Wi-Fi connectivity is safe and confidential. If your router's quick start guide does not contain digital certificates, you can obtain information on the manufacturer's support page. Consider Restricting MAC addresses Smaller network managers can lock down MAC addresses for more control. Wireless routers and access points use MAC (Media Access Control) address filtering to block attacks. Every WiFi-enabled device has a unique MAC or physical address and a list of connected devices. You can manually enter addresses to define network access, but hackers can fake MAC addresses. Use Always-On SSL You must utilize HTTPS across your website and apply it to Wi-Fi. Accessing an account on an encrypted page and subsequently interacting with the site through unencrypted pages exposes the user to session-side jacking. Create a Guest AP with Tighter Security Not all businesses must enable guests or customers to connect to their networks, but some companies do offer guests access by providing them with guest login credentials. If your company falls into this category, set up a dedicated guest AP that is isolated from the rest of the company network. You can set up a second AP on your router and utilize a firewall to limit access from that AP to certain services that you want your visitors to be able to access. Closing Lines Nowadays, having an internet connection is critical for organizations, as is keeping it secure from hackers. Moreover, when conducting business, it is crucial to keep critical information and customer data secure. Otherwise, you risk compromising your company's image. So, if you want to maintain your Wi-Fi network security and keep your business working effectively, you must adhere to a few fundamental principles. Finally, you are on the path to make your Wi-Fi network safer and more robust by following all of these techniques at once or step by step.

Article | July 27, 2021

The third Annual OCP China Day, organized by the Open Compute Project (OCP) Foundation and hosted by Inspur, will be held on July 27, 2021 in Beijing. It marks another step in the right direction to popularizing open computing across the globe. This year is the tenth anniversary of the open compute project and the theme of OCP China Day is “Open compute for a new decade: Decarbonization, Efficiency, Adoption”. Omdia has tracked the open computing market in detail for 5 years and over that period we have seen the end-user base expand and adoption take off. We expect 40% of the servers shipped in 2025 to be developed based on open standard, up from 7% in 2016. This is a very significant number, partularly given that our forecast takes into account large scale adoption at only two or three of the hyperscale cloud service providers. Most of the net new deployments are expected to be at tier-2 cloud, communication service providers and enterprises, including the public or government sector.