TRANSFORMING CONNECTIVITY, REDEFINING TECH POSSIBILITIES

Anticipate a landscape of ubiquitous computing, edge processing, and Al-driven applications to transform communication technologies in 2024

- DR KUMAR N SIVARAJAN BELIZE

The launch of 5G has triggered a massive multiyear capital expenditure cycle in wireline and wireless network infrastructure, both in India and globally. The average mobile data usage on a 5G connection worldwide is nearly double that of 4G, due to a greater propensity of consumers to use higher bandwidth applications. Beyond offering an enhanced mobile and fixed wireless connection, 5G is set to introduce diverse services in the coming year, leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity, ultra-reliable low-latency (URLLC) communications, and network slicing.

These advancements pave the way for novel applications, including robotic manufacturing, remote healthcare, Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, VR/ AR-based learning, and smart farming using drones, promising transformative social impact.

In parallel, 5G is also unlocking opportunities for various industries like manufacturing, mining, and utilities, allowing them to achieve higher performance efficiencies, superior reliability, and secure communications through cost-effective private cellular networks. As India embraces large-scale electronic manufacturing, the country is poised to outpace its global counterparts in adopting 5G to improve industrial productivity.

The pandemic has heightened the urgency among Communications Service Providers (CSPs) to accelerate the rollout of both fixed and mobile broadband networks, and the need for addressing the persistent digital divide.