Tag Archives: 5G

Boost Your Telecommunications Functionality and Security with 5G

Five years after the release of fifth generation (5G) wireless technology, its growth steadily continues and is expected to increase. Read on to learn about how your company can harness this technology’s advantages for a positive user experience.

 

A Brief History of 5G Technology

 

In 2020, the fifth generation of Internet technology arrived and has been growing ever since. By April of that year, some providers had expanded to more than 7000 cities. A few years later, 5G mobile subscriptions were expected to increase to 2.3 billion; subscriptions are expected to more than double by 2030. Some forecasts are more ambitious than others, but your company will need to look past the hype and consider what advantages 5G can bring to your telecommunications. 

 

Advantages of 5G for Telecommunications

 

Business telecommunications require strong connectivity to run without interruption. Wireless 5G offers enhanced bandwidth hand-in-hand with low latency to provide a seamless telecommunications experience. Files can be shared easily, supporting file sharing which in turn can facilitate collaboration in the office and remotely. Scalability allows companies to add more devices and bandwidth as business needs grow. Private 5G in particular can provide security by using encryption to keep data safe. 

 

5G and SD-WAN Together

 

According to a CompTIA article, the combination of the 5G technology and Software-Defined Wide Area Networking can provide speed (5G) and reliability at the same time, reducing costs while maximizing uptime. Companies can simply pay for 5G coverage and use the provider’s circuits. Network slicing enhances security by isolating cyberthreats from the rest of the network. 

 

The newest generation of Internet connectivity has great applications for telecommunications and other applications. For further guidance, contact your trusted technology advisor today. 

 

What you need to know about 5G

Fifth Generation (5G) networks can expand data capacity, bandwidth and boost reliability. Read on to learn more about how the expansion of 5G networks can enhance your business telecommunications and improve user experience, and the role cybersecurity plays.

 

The Evolution of 5G Technology

 

Since its release in 2019, the use (and use cases) of fifth generation (5G) cellular networking has experienced remarkable growth and continues to grow. The market has expanded by trillions of dollars, and 5G has applications across numerous industries. At this time, it has superseded all previous generations, from the first in the 1980s powering analog voice communications to the fourth which ushered in mobile broadband. 

 

And how does 5G surpass previous generations? It offers an increase in internet connection speed, along with increased bandwidth (it can function on low, medium and high bands). It has an even greater capacity for data, and offers low latency so data can travel at even higher speeds. Telecommunications applications will function more quickly and reliably. Video conferencing and telephone calls run smoothly, delighting both workers and customers. Files can be shared quickly, helping you serve customers more efficiently, giving you a competitive edge.

 

Private 5G – A More Secure Choice

 

Another trend to watch is the use of private 5G networks. Though similar to public 5G, private 5G offers a personalized experience that fits your company’s needs. For example, access can be limited to a single entity (your company) and you can control the network and protect your data. Since 5G is cloud-native, the provider handles the infrastructure and saves you capital expense. You can deploy and control your own data, an advantage in this age of increasing cybersecurity risks.

 

Considering Cybersecurity

 

With its capabilities, 5G can present cybersecurity challenges. Along with the potential of 5G, your company needs a plan for handling security challenges. First, the increased capacity for data means considering how to store that data. Second, more data is moving from place to place. Third, with more devices connected, the threat surface increases. Vulnerabilities might be introduced by components of previous generations, and these could threaten data security. Future concerns might be present that are as yet unknown. As always, your company needs to thoughtfully consider 5G and what telecommunications use cases fit with business goals. 

 

The latest generation of wireless technology offers both potential and challenges. For further information and guidance, contact your trusted technology advisor today.

Is 5G in Your Future?

There’s been a lot of hype about 5G, the next generation of cellular technology. It will build on 4G and LTE, offering faster mobile broadband speeds, extremely reliable low-latency connections, and enabling machine-to-machine connections like never before. As wonderful as this new technology is, it is a work in progress, and requires consideration before adopting. Read on to learn more about the promise and progress of 5G cellular technology. 

 

Business Benefits of 5G Technology

 

While 5G will provide more streamlined and enjoyable experiences of non-business computing, the benefits to businesses of all sizes are even more exciting. The key questions about cellular coverage have always been about coverage, capacity and bandwidth. Is there a strong signal between the device and the cell tower? Can that tower handle traffic from multiple users at all times? Will data transfer be fast enough for requested services? The new generation of cellular technology aims to answer these questions.  Data that might have been lost due to latency will be easily captured, allowing sharper decision-making in real time. The higher broadband speeds (1-2 gigabytes-per-second downloads) will accommodate more traffic and facilitate uninterrupted communication. Companies can convert from a local cable/DSL internet connection to one powered by 5G. The technology will promote automation, leading to smart cities, wearable healthcare telemetry, and real-time management.

 

Progress Catching up to Hype

 

While this technology has wonderful potential, much still needs to be done. Since 2019, though, 5G has caught on with cellular technology, with some carriers providing 5G to their customers. Instead of larger cells that were a hallmark of previous generations of technology, 5G will require the building of numerous small cells. Such cells can be placed on light poles or on building rooftops.  Another decision relates to the spectrum used–whether high- mid- or low-band, and how large a block is owned in each market. Will the frequency travel far enough, and be able to penetrate buildings to allow workers to use the bandwidth? One source suggests using different frequencies in different areas (for example, high bandwidth in urban areas). The technology will be deployed in stages, in order to accommodate greater numbers of mobile, internet-connected devices. In the coming decade, 5G will become mainstream, and companies need to be sure their networks and employees are ready.

 

Is Your Company Ready for 5G? 

 

With so much data being generated, the question arises: how to protect it? Since more and more devices will be connected to 5G, the threat attack surface is expanded perhaps exponentially. Questions to consider include how to store the data generated, and keep it safe as well as in compliance with privacy regulations. Not only will the network need to be protected with monitoring and current definitions for malware and virus protection, but devices too. And workers will need to be trained (or need a refresher) on password policies. Finally, business networks need to be robust enough to handle the rapid bandwidth increase.

 

The fifth generation (5G) of cellular technology is exciting, and it will be interesting to see what the next few years bring. For guidance in your preparation for 5G, contact your trusted technology advisor today. 

From 5G to IOT: 2019 Technology Trends to Consider for Your Business

According to a recent report on Technology, Media and Telecommunication Predictions 2019 by professional services firm Deloitte, expect a range of new technologies to drive technology and business innovation next year. As the velocity of change accelerates at an unimaginable pace, here are a short list of considerations.

5G Addresses the Need for Speed

There are more than 70 operators testing 5G technologies according to the report by Deloitte. Deloitte expects 25 or more to bring this faster smartphone connection to market. Beyond smartphones, other connectivity, including WiFi and fixed wireless access, will rely on this “faster than 4G” technology when it hits the market. Consider upgrading Smartphones, WiFi and fixed wireless access during 2019 if this service becomes available in your market.

IoT Adoption and the Need for Enhanced CyberSecurity

Cyberthreat will continue to nag business owners in 2019, with Phishing, Spearfishing, Cryptolockers and Ransomware continuing to penetrate the workplace. With your employees as the weakest link, consider training them to identify these threats to reduce your risk. What’s more, the Internet of Things (IoT) will continue to connect billions of devices to the Internet. Everything from parking meters to smart controllers for lighting, water, temperature and more, will increase security risks if not properly monitored and managed.

Microsoft End of Support (EoS)

Microsoft recently announced End of Support for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. This means Operating System (O/S) patches and updates will not be available upon EoS. These are critical to your cybersecurity protection plan. Consider reviewing your infrastructure to identify resources relying on these operating systems. You may need to upgrade or replace these devices. Some workloads may also be moved to the Cloud.

With so many new technologies coming to market in 2019 it is important for you to review your technology infrastructure and plan for updates as needed. Not only will you gain productivity by adopting new technologies, but you will also be able to do this in a secure manner. Contact your technology advisor today to find out how you can take advantage of emerging technologies for your business.