The Future of Business 5G and Its Impact on Enterprises

Few technologies are getting as much attention lately as 5G. Wireless providers are hawking it to attract customers, it’s improving mission-critical communications for medical facilities, and even the auto industry is finding new ways to incorporate the technology. But what does 5G mean for enterprises? The short answer is a whole lot more performance. In this article, we’ll discuss the future of 5G and how it will impact enterprise technology.

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How 5G will improve remote work

With the speed 5G offers for data and communications, working from home is about to get a lot less frustrating. How many times have you been on a Zoom call only for everything to freeze while you miss critical information? Whether it’s due to storms, bandwidth limits, or poor connectivity due to your location, cable internet isn’t always the most reliable for work. The COVID-19 pandemic has already made a perfect case for 5G just by the massive increase in employees working from home.

As companies realize the benefits of remote work, many are planning to keep at least some employees at home. With employees working remotely long-term, they’ll need a reliable internet connection to improve their productivity and quality of life. Companies that haven’t done so before might also start providing 5G-enabled laptops and phones to their employees, especially once they see how 5G’s speed – theoretically many times faster than cable as technological hurdles are overcome – can improve productivity.

Increasing enterprise bandwidth

Organizations want the ability to work faster and more efficiently. Thanks to the extra speed 5G offers, it will be able to remove the current limitations on bandwidth for IoT devices. This means businesses can send and receive more data at once. With the increased bandwidth, employees won’t have to worry about the network slowing them down when they’re trying to work online, even if everyone else in the office is also using the internet. Additionally, remote employees won’t have to fight for bandwidth when their kids are engaging in remote learning or their partners or roommates are also working from home.

5G will greatly increase the upload and download speeds of devices. In fact, the extra bandwidth should allow a smartphone to download a full-length movie in just a few seconds. Imagine what that speed could do for your business. This extra bandwidth may be able to prevent some delays on production lines, improve video conferencing quality, and reduce your spending on business travel.

Also read: The Impact of 5G on Cloud Computing

5G and device security

Right now, home networks are some of the most vulnerable entry points for enterprise data. Many internet-connected devices, like smart doorbells or routers, use weak or default passwords that attackers can simply find online. Additionally, devices like printers and smart home devices aren’t updated as often as they should be, leaving them vulnerable to attacks.

While 5G can’t force users to change passwords or install patches, it can allow users to download and install updates faster, so there’s less downtime. 5G will also offer improved encryption and be better at verifying network users.

Finally, 5G can increase the monitoring speed of real-time security applications to detect vulnerabilities and threats faster on both home and enterprise networks. With faster detection, IT security teams can contain and remove threats before they access any sensitive data.

5G reduces blackouts

Rural and remote areas are currently facing connectivity issues due to the lack of coverage. Because 5G can increase internet speeds in these areas, they won’t have as many blackouts. 5G can improve remote learning capabilities, farming technology, and telehealth in these previously underserved regions. It can also benefit organizations in other industries, like manufacturing, that choose to place their facilities in rural areas for the extra space needs or cheaper land costs.

Access to 5G also means businesses in these areas can modernize like never before. Retail stores can use POS systems that are connected to the internet or real-time inventory tracking software. Restaurants can purchase tools that allow their customers to pay from the table to save servers time. 5G can offer new opportunities to help these local businesses thrive and for chain organizations to expand their reach.

Should you ditch standard cable for 5G?

Whether or not ditching standard cable internet for 5G is the right call depends on a variety of factors, including your location, bandwidth requirements, and your current level of connectivity. If you’re located in a metropolitan area where high-quality, reliable cable internet is easy to come by, maybe there’s no need to switch. If not, you should consider making the initial investment for the speed, security, and flexibility 5G will offer. With more devices offering fewer blackouts in coverage, the 5G network will change the future of enterprise technology as we know it.