Industries That Will be Affected by 5G

Connected healthcare, smart cities, autonomous cars, drones and robotics. 5G technology is powering the future to make experiences more immersive than ever. Connection speeds for 5G wireless technology are expected to be about 10 times faster than 4G, with a 10-times decrease in data transfer that enables faster performance for smart devices. 5G also supports a 100-times increase in traffic capacity, facilitating data transfer like never before.

Consumers are hungry for 5G capabilities. A February 2018 report from Gartner shows consumer spending on connected home devices is expected to increase 18 percent year-over-year in 2018, to total $189 million. At least 3 percent of the world’s mobile communications service providers will launch 5G networks by 2020. As more devices and appliances become Internet of Things-connected, consumers expect technology to fuel more aspects of daily life. Here are four key areas to watch that are sure to be revolutionized by 5G technology.

Healthcare

Aging and increasing populations are creating a demand for smarter healthcare. 5G enhances healthcare by:

• Powering medical IoT devices, including remote sensors, health-monitoring products and clinical wearables
  
• Enabling virtual doctor visits
  
• Providing remote healthcare services for emergency treatments
  

5G enables the right treatments to be delivered to patients more efficiently. Smart medical devices empower patients to better manage their health, and it helps physicians make more informed recommendations.

Automotive

Eliminating human error means self-driving cars can decrease traffic accidents. Autonomous vehicles powered by 5G wireless technology can monitor blind spot traffic, instantly adapt speeds and maneuver lane changes more safely. Road analytics help improve traffic management.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, visitors were able to test out an autonomous SUV that also gave passengers the capability to stream videos or sing karaoke in the backseat, courtesy of 5G wireless technology. The self-driving electric Hyundai vehicle, the first of its kind in the world, is powered by a fuel cell that uses electricity produced from a combination of hydrogen and oxygen. The fuel cell is already powering Hyundai busses, which are equipped with a system that monitors driver facial expressions to detect and warn about sleepiness. This type of current technology is only expected to accelerate with increased 5G capabilities.

Virtual Reality

5G wireless is a key component driving virtual reality developments and adoption. Orbis Research projects the virtual reality market will reach $72 billion in revenue by 2026, with more than 978 million users adopting the technology. More powerful virtual reality will lead to developments like:

• Streaming 4K video
  
• Real-time remote control
  
• Communications through touch
  
• Immersive entertainment and experiences
  

Virtual reality isn’t all fun and games. VR devices can help physicians prepare better for surgery, help soldiers train for combat, help those who are injured improve recovery time, and much more.

Infrastructure

From the world’s biggest buildings to your very own apartment, 5G is helping conserve energy and enable systems to work optimally for increased comfort and lessened environmental impact. Here’s how:

• Power grids are optimized based on energy demands
  
• Water, gas and electricity consumption can be monitored virtually
  
• Pipelines and wind turbines can be equipped with sensors for instant monitoring
  
• Homes and buildings become more secure with enhanced video security and surveillance
  

With 5G deployed in areas ranging from public parks to airports, 5G wireless technology becomes more available to individual users accessing it on their devices and IoT products. Infrastructure 5G developments help communities become more connected, too.

Where Will 5G Take You?

If you already use a device like a smart watch, smart thermostat or smart technology in your car, you know the difference that having technology right at your fingertips at any instant you need it can make. In the case of 5G, wireless technology can help to save lives through healthcare advancements and safer cars. It makes traveling anywhere in the world immediately possible with virtual reality. Smartphones become lightning-fast and public transportation and home energy use optimize efficiency.

Whatever type of technology you’re currently using or want to use, 5G will make operations faster and smarter than ever before.