Is 5G Ready for IoT?

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5G-and-IoT
Source: circuitdigest.com

5G has finally arrived but the real question for those looking to hire IOT development services is, Is 5G viable for IoT applications? We’ll determine through advantages and disadvantages.

5G has finally arrived and consumers have started to get a glimpse of it in the first world countries like the US, UK and South Korea. Being the first network that is built with IoT in mind, 5G is expected to make a big difference in the long term. As for those looking to hire IOT development services for their projects, the question remains, Is 5G viable for IoT applications?

Advantages of 5G for IoT

It is indeed surprising to know that some of the big advantages of 5G regarding consumer applications like high connection speed and greater data capacity aren’t relevant when it comes to IoT because IoT uses a large number of devices sending small amounts of data. Although theoretically speaking, this extra capacity could be a boon for IoT app development but practically there is no case where the density of devices has been too much for any existing network.

When we say 5G was built keeping IoT, we are not talking about the high connection speed or greater data capacity, on the contrary, it is the low power usage of this technology that hits home. The previous existing technology was built with an assumption that the main users will be using mobile phones which have high battery reserves and are needed to charge only once a day. While one can notice that seeing the increasing battery capacity of each mobile phone generation, but 5G is different here. 5G is much better when it comes to optimization which means it is much better equipped to deal with devices sending small amounts of data which in turn reduces the overhead of signalling and the payload for any particular bit of data.

Either way, the benefits of a lower battery consumption technology model of 5G are there to see in case of usage in IoT because devices with lower battery capacity can provide higher flexibility in how an IoT device is deployed while devices with high battery capacity can be left in the field for longer durations of time without needing maintenance.

Drawbacks and Alternatives of 5G

In spite of the buzz that is being created around 5G, according to PWC only about a third of the consumers are willing to pay the money it takes for 5G services. As of today, the industry needs to find ways to reduce this cost so that the technology is accessible to more people and this isn’t going to happen soon. IoT networks need mass networks to be available wherever they are and this won’t be possible before the festive season. In this case, it is only intelligent for IOT development services companies to look for alternatives and luckily other solutions can solve most of the IoT problems we are facing currently.

LoRa Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN)

LoRa is a Low power Wide Area network technology which is based on an unlicensed public spectrum developed back in 2009. Although old, this system has finally started to see widespread recognition and adoption due to its specific design that allows it to send really small amounts of data with very low overhead.

Of course, there are limitations to this technology as well. LoRa can work only in a radius of 10km in an open space, this confines the technology to only the static devices, unlike the cellular technology which has no problem with moving ones. Although Public LoRa networks are also available these days they are only available in major urban city spaces while cellular networks can be connected in almost any settlement on earth.

So, whether LoRa or Cellular is the right technology for you depends on your use case, this includes location, bandwidth and security functions while you may be better served by the existing cellular technology by accommodating the large battery needs through a combination of technologies and programming.
Today, the majority of IoT applications can be easily implemented using the existing Cellular technology, so it is recommended that you to implement your applications first correctly so that it can become easier for you to switch to 5G once the technology is more freely available and the hardware becomes more affordable.

Conclusion

Though still in its development stage, 5G has already created shockwaves around the world and there is no doubt that it will be a technology to consider in the future, but when it comes to present, its viability for IoT remains a question that can only be answered by your coverage requirements. In the case of major urban areas like Capital cities and Metropolises, the problem is expected to be solved shortly while a wider coverage will take lots of time to be implemented correctly.

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