Telecom companies in the US are in a fierce battle to be the “first” to deliver 5G technology. Verizon launched its 5G broadband internet on October 1 in Houston, TX, Sacramento and Los Angeles in California, and Indianapolis, IN. AT&T claims to have made “the world’s first” mobile 5G millimeter wave connection after a test in Waco, TX.
Not surprisingly, there are doubters who challenge these claims; still, 5G networks are all the rage around the globe, and European and East Asian countries, Australia and India are all in various stages of development of their own 5G infrastructure.
But, amidst all the frenzy surrounding this cutting-edge technology and its promises of driving IoT innovations, small business owners are more concerned with the nitty-gritty of their enterprises. How much will an upgrade to 5G network, whether it’s for home or mobile, cost compared to the current 4G? Will the outlay see a tangible benefit to the business? Is it worth the money to do so?
All types of businesses need an online presence, even local mom-and-pop, brick and mortar stores. According to a study of shopping habits in the US, 88 percent of consumers take to the internet to research on a product before buying it, and in-store pick up after ordering online is gaining ground as a preferred practice. So, having a digital identity, including a social media page if not a website, is now a requisite rather than an option.
Small businesses where internet is crucial to their existence will benefit more from upgrading to 5G.
Downloading files and streaming are, according to different sources, twenty to a thousand times faster. If you own an internet café and clients are doing research or playing online games, you’ll have an edge over the competition with a super-fast internet connection. If you’re in the transportation sector, your business will have greater control and better visibility of the transport system, leading to better delivery and travel of goods and people. 5G also supports a lot more devices, so if you have 10 or more employees using the internet, downloading data, making calls or sending emails, they can work without lagging and overall productivity increases. Businesses whose target market are people in the 18-34 age range could also benefit from an upgrade, as these are the consumers who do online research and shopping the most.
That everything is so much faster with 5G is what everyone is touting. What isn’t made known are its drawbacks. 5G comprises a group of technologies bundled together, the most popularly mentioned being millimeter waves, small cells, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), beamforming, and duplex.
Although these are too technical for small business owners, their impact is real. The millimeter waves that are sent from the small cells have narrow wavelengths and are in the 30-300GHz frequencies. The high frequencies do not get interference from the nearby signals, which is good, but this high feature cuts their ability to penetrate physical objects like walls and even trees, hence, interrupting connectivity.
Security concerns are also present in 5G network infrastructure, mainly because of its newness. Hence, as 5G evolves, so must its security capabilities. To protect your small business from potential online infection, data theft or breach, it’s best to have a virtual private network, like Best VPN.
The 5G network has been much publicized but in the real world, it won’t be available for home or mobile just yet. Telco companies predict that by 2019 or 2020, it will become mainstream, although 4G will still be available.
For small business owners planning to upgrade to 5G, plan for an upgrade to hardware as well, and higher broadband and mobile charges. It’s worth doing a study before making a decision. But one thing’s for sure – at some point in your business, not too far ahead, you’ll have to go for a 5G connection to remain successful and relevant.
