Tech Trend Radar: 5G and IoT

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Development around the IoT has been limited by bandwidth and latency. Typically 5G transmission speeds may be as high as 15 or 20 gigabytes. With 5G, latency will also be ten times less, and the number of devices that can be connected scales up greatly — from 100,000 devices per square kilometer (with 4G) to a million devices per square kilometer (with 5G).

The 5G IoT use cases that will advance wireless technology are those that can combine new edge devices and applications quickly. Industrial distributed factories, traffic control, high-touch telemedicine, and retail are just a few of the industries that could be directly affected by IoT development aided by 5G.

John Deere, located in Moline, Illinois, plans to put its CBRS spectrum to work for 5G-enabled applications at its facilities in America’s heartland. The company was one of a number of non-traditional bidders who sought to acquire spectrum licenses for the first time, winning licenses in Rock Island, Illinois; Scott County, Iowa; Dubuque, Iowa; Polk County, Iowa; and Black Hawk County, Iowa.

General Motors has inked a 5G connected car deal with AT&T. Starting from 2024, all new GM cars, including household names such as Buicks, Cadillacs and Chevys will be 5G-enabled.