5G and IoT: Benefits of this Symbiosis and Key Use Cases

The Internet of Things is constantly transforming the way business is conducted. Despite the wide range of opportunities IoT-powered tools are already bringing to various industries, IoT continues to evolve. 5G may be the technology that is having the strongest impact on the development of Internet of Things systems. In this article, we’ll explain some of the peculiarities and benefits of 5G IoT systems and their applications within different industries.

To begin with, let’s define what 5G IoT solutions are and what makes them stand out from all other IoT-powered systems.

One important thing to note about the Internet of Things is that this technology allows us to create a network of real-life objects that traditionally are not united and don’t even have an Internet connection. By adding smart sensors to various devices and ensuring their connection to a server, we can get valuable insights that will play a crucial role in making business decisions. IoT helps make traditional appliances “smart,” so that it’s possible to manage them fully remotely.

None of this is possible without a stable connection.

5G is the fifth-generation cellular communication system. This is a new standard gradually being adopted around the world. 5G is capable of ensuring a download speed of 10 Gbps (with a peak speed of 20 Gbps), which is a hundred times better than what the 4G network can offer. This is of vital importance in supporting the stable connectivity of smart devices.

The beginning of wide 5G IoT adoption marks an important milestone for the many industries that rely on connected devices in their business processes. Let’s summarize the core benefits of 5G IoT to see how a new cellular communication standard can transform IoT technology.

• Higher speed of data exchange. That’s the greatest benefit on our list. The exchange of various data and files between mobile devices can take place in practically in no time. This allows IoT developers to streamline processes and ensure data transmission without delays. The role of cloud platforms is growing rapidly in modern software solutions and will be boosted further thanks to the high data exchange speed made possible by 5G. This will allow users to rely less on the internal memory of their mobile devices.
• Wider networks. 5G lets developers connect more devices in the same network than 4G permits. With a 5G connection, 1 million smart devices can be united within one system in every square kilometer. All these connected devices can interact with each other and exchange real-time data. This capacity can be used for distributed coordination of IoT drones and robots and can push the development of smart cities to a completely new level.
• Low latency. In the context of the Internet of Things, latency can be explained as the time that passes between the moment an order is sent to IoT devices and the moment when they react with the required action. 5G latency is significantly lower than that experienced with 4G. Lower latency can seriously change the way sensors and smart devices are used at industrial facilities. With 5G, remote monitoring and management can be executed with higher accuracy. Moreover, it can revolutionize the healthcare industry. Thanks to the possibility of executing various manipulations with the help of precision instrumentation that can be controlled and managed by doctors remotely, complicated surgeries will become possible in remote locations, saving lives.

To better understand how you can use 5G IoT systems for the needs of your business, let’s consider some examples of how this emerging technology is being applied today in solutions for various industries.

• Smart cities

IoT devices and smart sensors located throughout cities can be used to gather real-time data and distinguish patterns in people's behavior, identifying needs and providing solutions as quickly as possible. Thanks to the capacities of 5G IoT systems, developers can incorporate a huge number of objects in one network, using them efficiently. Collecting relevant data can help local authorities make cities much safer and more convenient, especially when it comes to organizing urban traffic.

• Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, there are two key directions for IoT applications and wireless technology. The first is related to remote patient monitoring. Thanks to more reliable and faster data exchange, necessary measures can be taken faster. The second is the possibility to conduct delicate surgeries with the help of remotely operated robots.

• Automated transportation

Despite the controversy right now over autonomous vehicles, such cars are being tested step-by-step and introduced to the market. 5G may become a technology to rely on with a view to minimizing risks. Using it, vehicles will be able to receive and process data related to changing road conditions practically immediately, allowing them to react to any threat properly. 

• Smart manufacturing

Smart manufacturing is among the other popular 5G IoT use cases. Thanks to the possibility of fully eliminating wired connections, a 5G network can make the manufacturing space much more flexible than it is now and take the automation of production processes to a new level. A stable connection ensured by 5G will help to operate all processes in a remote format and avoid downtime.

• Retail and logistics

5G can greatly enhance real-time supply chain monitoring, as well as inventory and fleet management. Thanks to 5G technology, even tasks related to time-sensitive and urgent deliveries can be fulfilled successfully and without mistakes. Better product visibility has a very positive influence on the quality of customer service.

The IoT industry is expected to grow with the further adoption of 5G. That means that, while automation and IoT-powered systems today provide a competitive advantage for enterprises, in a few years, these systems will be standard, and it will be impossible for companies to stay afloat without implementing connected devices in their processes. Thanks to the 5G network, integrating innovative technologies into IoT systems will become easier.

Among the most breathtaking innovations that will expand the existing use cases for 5G IoT are these:

• AIoT (AI and IoT). This duo can open whole new opportunities for businesses and radically change the way they work with data.
• IoRT (the Internet of Robotic Things). These solutions will combine IoT and autonomous robotics systems with AI, distributed ledger technologies, AR/VR, and digital twin tools. Thanks to these combinations, it will be possible to ensure interaction between robots without human intervention.

5G is a very promising technology for further IoT development and adoption, and modern 5G IoT use cases have already proved that. It has a wide range of capacities that can be used by IoT developers to build solutions for various industries. At the moment, the implementation of IoT systems in some spheres is restricted by the imperfection of the currently existing solutions. But 5G IoT will change the game.

If you want to learn more about the potential of IoT apps to transform your business, do not hesitate to contact us. Our experts will deeply analyze the peculiarities of your business processes and will offer ways to optimize them. And if you already have an idea for an IoT solution, we will be happy to support you at any step of your project realization.