Enterprises will need to power 5G with complementary technologies such as WiFi and other infrastructure. The real value of 5G may lie not just in speed and bandwidth, but in its integration with established technologies. This article is part of the 5G and Connectivity Playbook series. One of the most important technological innovations of our time.
Thank you for registering!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed on the go. Download the app
By clicking “Sign Up”, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You can opt-out at any time by visiting our settings page or by clicking “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the email.
Businesses typically adopt 5G for speed, increased bandwidth, and reliability. But to maximize its value, organizations need to focus on how it interacts with the complementary technologies that surround it, said Dan Crawford, strategic manager at Cisco. Ta.
“It’s time to rethink the definition of connectivity,” Crawford said. “Instead of just looking at it through the lens of speed and bandwidth, let’s look at connectivity as a holistic experience.”
He said that rather than relying solely on 5G for all business problems, companies should focus on enhancing 5G’s capabilities with other technologies such as WiFi and combining them with hardware and other infrastructure. said it should. “This approach makes the network more accessible to innovative applications that shape the user experience,” he added.
Crawford told Business Insider this could be complicated for some companies. In many cases, you must decide whether the cost and time required to upgrade your infrastructure and equipment to become 5G-ready is worth it.
BI spoke with Crawford about these challenges, the types of complementary technologies that can help businesses improve connectivity, and how to unlock the full potential of 5G.
The following has been edited for length and clarity.
What types of complementary technologies should companies look to to enhance 5G capabilities?
WiFi is the most universal technology. Computers, laptops, and other devices are connected to WiFi. If you don’t rely on WiFi, it will use whatever protocol your phone is connected to. All of these must work together, but the common element is the touchpoint to the network.
Supporting anything around a single technology like 5G requires building an entire ecosystem of devices, tool sets, and common employee knowledge.
While the complexity of 5G may seem daunting to businesses, especially considering the added challenges of existing technology, we have the ability to simplify connectivity for service providers, businesses, and ultimately end users. have a responsibility to become
We are also working to eliminate the silos that have existed in the past. Mobile networks have always been separate from physical broadband networks. There are reasons behind that, but how do you integrate them to ensure the experience is seamless and flawless?
How can breaking down silos and focusing on complementary technologies benefit your business?
If we can change the way we think, 5G could usher in a new era focused on multi-access user experiences. There could be a future where consumers no longer need to know whether they’re connected to WiFi, 4G, 5G, 6G, or whatever next-generation connectivity technology is coming out. It doesn’t matter how the user is connected, as long as their experience expectations are met.
5G network elements are designed to decentralize the role of giving enterprises control, access, and insight. This gives businesses the tools to operate as they do now, without feeling like they’re handing over the communications arm of IT to the business. How much of an impact would a power outage or network outage have on your business? No business wants to anticipate that risk when planning.
5G allows businesses to understand what mobile networks look like and shift control to them without having to hire experts to negotiate handoffs between public and private networks. It’s all simplified.
It’s a simplification tool that extends and expands the scope of what businesses can do today, globally.
Do you have any advice for businesses to get the most value from 5G?
First of all, you need to understand your use case and have a good grasp of your existing technology stack. Looking at the big picture is important not only to understand today’s needs, but also to ensure that tomorrow is not forgotten. It is very important that the ecosystem is central to the decision-making process.
The goal is to simplify and extend what you can already do. It’s the democratization of connectivity and access.
Investing in 5G is not a one-time thing. This is a long-term decision and a continued commitment to innovation, development and opportunity. It’s important not to buy technology for technology’s sake. It’s okay to trust your partner even if you don’t know everything.
