This is the Part Two; click here to start with Part One, Demystifying 5G
5G is still mostly a future technology, but it will represent a revolution in connection speed. Industry predictions say that within five years or less 5G will be the prevailing technology in mobile broadband communications, and could eventually be the tech that frees us from wires completely. But the current, limited testing environments will not meet our connection needs today or even in the near future. How do we proceed with our personal and business connectivity when 5G it not available for our immediate needs?
5G and Phone Users – What to do
The problem for phone users is balancing current needs with future predictions. At the consumer level it’s an easy decision. If you need (or want) a new phone today, there is no reason to hesitate in buying a device without 5G technology. 4GLTE networks will be operating for many more years. Most people keep their phones three years or less and it will easily be that long before 5G is available everywhere. Waiting will pay off because within the two year life of the phone you might buy today, most units will have 5G capability, not exclusively premium models.
The decision is different if you live in urban, densely populated areas. Although 4GLTE isn’t going to get slower just because 5G arrives, when it is time for new hardware, it makes sense to consider a device with 5G capability, especially if you are buying a premium phone anyways. Right now your 5G choices are limited to two expensive choices, one version of the Samsung S10, and the Motorola Moto G with the 5G Moto Mod. There is no 5G Apple phone. If you keep a device for three years or more and live in a major metropolis, any device you buy should be 5G capable. Even though high speed 5G may not saturate every city block, there will be enough coverage areas that most people will want the option. The next six months or so should see the rollout of many more 5G phones. If you are planning to purchase new device, it might pay to use your existing hardware until early 2020 when more 5G phones will fill the market.
5G for Business – What to do
Business class cellular devices have a longer life than consumer products. Many M2M and IoT deployments still operate successfully everyday on 4G and even 3G. AT&T shut down 2G networks in 2016, and 3G networks are in sunset. Verizon will shut down their 3G networks by December of 2019, and the other major carriers are expected to take 3G offline by 2021. Anyone with 3G hardware should have replacement plans ready. 4GLTE on the other hand it still completely viable.
Secreted away in boardrooms there may be plans to phase out 4GLTE, but they are not public. 5G systems, when fully implemented, will operate side by side with 4GLTE for at least a few years after full 5G roll-out. 4G began to replace 3G in 2010, and ten years later 3G is still in operation. While the technology timeline is constantly compressing, hardware infrastructure replacement is still limited by funding and human labor. Anything operating successfully on 4GLTE will remain viable beyond the life of the hardware, well into the second half of the next decade. New 4GLTE hardware is still a good investment, particularly where it has demonstrated application and success. There will be significantly better bandwidth with 5G connections in the future, but 5G is not yet a machine communication solution for today.
The 5G Business Strategy
5G is future, so no long term strategy should ignore what’s coming. There are key strategies to adopt when buying cellular equipment. First choose hardware with a history of compatibility between generations. Second, look for hardware that is future ready, or upgradable, particularly with high dollar purchases.
Device Compatibility
A manufacturer’s devices from different generations should work together. Will a 3G device be able to login to the same management system as a 4GLTE unit and the newest 5G models? Introduction of a new unit into an existing system should not present compatibility issues for existing networks or hardware. For example, Peplink’s InControl2 remote management software can host older technology equipment alongside the latest offerings. The InControl2 console will offer the same management tools for all units of every generation. Similarly The Peplink FusionHub virtual router can host 3G, 4GLTE and 5G devices, and its SpeedFusion Technology can work with a 4GLTE device on one end of a VPN tunnel and a 5G device at the other end. With any vendor, look for a history of full line compatibility between generations as the first preparation for emerging technology.
Favor upgradable hardware
Investments in high cost devices should be protected with upgradability. Businesses still need to replace and add equipment while 5G is developing. Peplink has introduced modular devices with built-in upgradability in mind. The EPX has eight interchangeable modules for connections ranging from SFP+ fiber and gigabit Ethernet to 4GLTEA modules. The units can be purchased with any combination of modules installed, or left with slots open for future technology. The new HD4-MBX is a 4GLTEA cellular router with gigabit WAN and LAN ports. The HD4-MBX is designed so the 4GLTEA module can be removed and replaced. For both devices, when 5G networks are viable, the Cellular modules can be added or changed out for immediate compatibility without major hardware replacement and without even opening the cases.
Look for Future Capabilities, Built-in Now
Several LTE antennas are limited to 410-2700 MHz bands where most current 4GLTE connectivity occurs. Instead, look for LTE antennas that are engineered to include frequencies in the 3.2 to 3.8 GHz range as well as the 5-6 GHz frequencies previously reserved for Wi-Fi. These antennas are ideal for current 4GLTE, but include bands the 5G networks will use for wide area coverage. The gigahertz bands will offer the soonest and widest 5G connectivity. While the highest 5G speeds will be in the millimeter wave bands 24GHz to 86GHz, they have the shortest range and will proliferate last. We are still not seeing millimeter wave band antennas, but even when millimeter wave band antennas are available it will still be necessary for them to have the 3.2-3.8 and 5-6GHz frequencies included because they will provide the 5G wide area foundation.
No one can be sure when 5G service will dominate the landscape, but with modularity, backward compatibility, and future capable hardware a business can be ready. Currently, and for the near future we have the highly effective and tested 4GLTE technology available. With reasonable planning and foresight, 4GLTE can be used today and painlessly transitioned to 5G when it is finally a reality.
Frontier Computer Corp. is the world’s largest distributor of Peplink, the industry leader in high speed data connection technology.
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