What is 5G?

5G or fifth-generation cellular networks are set to replace earlier generations of technology in the telecom world. 3G and 4G offered substantial connectivity and bandwidth, but 5G represents a leap on the same spectrum, creating even better use cases for modern telecom users. In addition, critical communications, enhanced mobile experiences, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are leveraging the 5G capability for connecting people, machines, and objects into one seamless network.    

Is 5G Technology Dangerous? Pros and Cons of 5G Network 

The 5G network has such enhanced capability, reliability, and efficiency that it is increasingly a must-have in telecom infrastructure. Yet some questions arise about its safety. Is 5G technology dangerous? Before we get into that, let’s understand more about the 5G network. 

5G leverages new signal spectrums and transmits massive volumes of data over shorter distances than prior generations like 4G and 3G. Network signals are more robust, more consistent, reliable, and efficient. There is much less latency, and even power consumption is reduced, making it a desirable option in the long term. 5G is driving numerous new applications across industries with its capability to allow a significantly increased scale of operating devices. One of the essential benefits of 5G is that it is also pushing usage costs down. Users expect affordable network access and high-quality service as they continue to add connected devices into their everyday routines. Billions of such connected devices are already in use, and the forecast is that this trend will grow exponentially.  

What are some of the possibilities with 5G? 

Applications in IoT

IoT is already here, and millions of users in homes, offices, and factories leverage this technology. The very nature of the technology implies the availability of significant internet bandwidth. Connected devices span Mobile phones, Smart TVs, Smartwatches, Medical devices, factory machines and robots, smart infotainment systems, intelligent drones, and hundreds of other devices, bringing the previously unimagined capability to day-to-day operations. With 5G, connected battery-operated devices can stay hot for extended periods, opening up possibilities with connected devices in remote areas, where regular maintenance work is impossible. 

Smart Cities and Industry 4.0

We’ve already seen connected devices radically change production operations, warehousing, transportation, and logistics. Industry 4.0 is ushering in a new way of highly controlled autonomous and semi-autonomous devices which increase productivity, reduce errors, lower downtime, and lower carbon footprints. Smart cities rely on millions of remote devices embedded in street lights, traffic signals, water management systems, pollution control equipment, etc., making the development at a massive scale genuinely possible. 

What is the Difference Between 4G and 5G? 

Why is 5G such a big deal? How does it score over 4G? These are just a few advantages. 

  • Speed: Remember when it took ages to do a file transfer or download a film? 5G now helps users complete these transactions in minutes or even a few seconds; with the massive increase in bandwidth, the data transmitted per second is exponentially higher. 
  • Low Latency: Every device operates successfully in a network depending on how well it communicates with the nodal points in the network. This movement of signals between the device and the network takes time, and when it’s slower than desired, it creates what is called latency. This causes users immense frustration when their work is slowed down because of this latency. 5G reduces this latency through its much higher responsiveness. 
  • Lower Power Consumption: When cellular radios are not in use, 5G enables devices to switch to low power consumption mode giving them longer battery life and fewer dependencies on frequent interventions. Compared to 4G, the capability of 5G offers a far more robust economy and efficiency.

5G Security Concerns – The Future of 5G and Cyber Security 

Now that we’ve seen the benefits of 5G, is there a downside to using 5G network towers? Are there 5G security-related issues to contend with? 

Installation and deployment: 5G requires many more transmitting devices to be installed and managed for an area of the same size as compared to, for instance, a 4G network. This larger scale of infrastructure poses a long-term challenge. Some areas are difficult to access, have physical and topographical constraints, and are hard to supervise and monitor. This denser infrastructure requirement involves costs, workforce, logistics, and oversight. Yet once this initial setup is done, the advantages of the enhanced network will accrue for many years. 

Security Concerns: 5G’s even more distributed network with far more devices spread across a region also poses enhanced security threats. It’s more challenging to manage and ensure the same level of security across multiple traffic routing points in such a decentralized security monitoring system. 

The other challenge is compromised IoT devices. Not all IoT devices, such as TVs, Smart Watches, etc., are designed with the same consistent level of security. This varied device level security can present gaps in the network and expose vulnerabilities for cyber-crimes and hacking. This is mainly because devices from different manufacturers do not follow the same security benchmarks and standards. It is challenging to superimpose an industry-standard security norm across many devices and manufacturers. The lack of or poor data encryption between devices and the network can also expose user and device data to cyber criminals. These weaknesses may be long-standing security challenges with no easy solution in sight.

How You Should Prepare for 5G 

5G network technology has its advantages and a few drawbacks we just looked at. When adopting this enhanced network helps to take some precautions as well. For instance, relying on industry-renowned anti-virus and protection software can help prevent malware and other attacks on your devices. It also helps to frequently update devices with security patches so that your infrastructure is well insulated in terms of hardware, OS, and software applications. Using strong passwords and a VPN can also augment these precautions, giving you the best chance of ensuring long-term safety on the internet. 

5G is here to stay, and as you adapt to the new enhanced world of super-connectedness, it helps keep you sharp and safe.