5G and IoT: How They Work Together to Revolutionize Industries

In this article, we’ll define 5G and discuss its benefits for the Internet of Things (IoT), specifically in the industries of smart cities, industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and agriculture. We’ll also cover 5G frequency bands and spectrum allocations, expectations for 5G, and the impact of 5G on IoT.

Here’s what we cover…

• What is 5G?
• 5G Frequency Bands and Spectrum Allocations
• Expectations for 5G Are High
• The Impact of 5G on IoT
• The Benefits of 5G for IoT
• 5G IoT Use Cases
  • 5G IoT for Smart Cities
  • 5G IoT for Industrial Automation
  • 5G IoT for Autonomous Vehicles
  • 5G IoT for Healthcare
  • 5G IoT for Agriculture
• Want to Learn More About the Internet of Things?

What is 5G?

5G stands for fifth-generation mobile network, which promises to be vastly more powerful than its predecessors. It offers faster and more reliable wireless communications with higher data transfer rates, lower latency, and greater capacity to support large numbers of devices. With its extended capacity, 5G will be critical in enabling next-generation user experiences, empowering new deployment models, and delivering new services.

5G Frequency Bands and Spectrum Allocations

5G operates on low, mid, and high radio frequency bands, and the specific bands used may vary depending on the country and network operator. Low-band 5G offers wide coverage and can penetrate walls and other obstacles, making it ideal for use in rural areas and indoors. Mid-band 5G offers faster data transfer speeds but with less coverage. High-band 5G offers extremely fast data transfer speeds but has limited coverage and is primarily used in dense urban areas. Some countries and operators may also set aside other frequency bands for 5G, such as the unlicensed 5 GHz band used for high-speed Wi-Fi.

Expectations for 5G Are High

Widespread adoption of 5G is expected to arrive closer to 2025, and the expectations are high. Many anticipate that 5G, and the services and technologies it enables, will change the way people live and work. 5G will be at least 10 times faster than 4G, and from what some experts are saying, it could be up to 100 times faster. 5G’s lower latency and greater capacity for remote execution, connected devices, and the implementation of virtual networks will enable a wide range of new applications and use cases.

The Impact of 5G on IoT

5G’s superior speed and capacity are critical to helping the IoT industry meet and surpass the estimated 75 billion connected devices by 2025. 5G’s lower latency means that IoT devices can communicate with each other and the cloud more quickly, enabling time-sensitive applications such as industrial automation and self-driving cars. 5G’s faster speeds enable faster data transfer rates for IoT devices, which is important for applications that require large amounts of data to be transferred quickly, such as video surveillance and remote monitoring. 5G’s increased reliability ensures that IoT devices can always stay connected, even in areas with poor network coverage.

The Benefits of 5G for IoT

5G benefits IoT in seven critical ways: increased capacity, lower latency, faster speeds, improved reliability, network slicing, edge computing, and energy efficiency. These benefits enable a wide range of applications, from smart devices operating inside homes, offices, and other commercial and private residences, to those comprising sophisticated Smart City solutions and services.

5G IoT Use Cases

5G networks can support a variety of applications and use cases in the industries of smart cities, industrial automation, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and agriculture. For example, 5G can enable real-time communication and data transfer required for autonomous vehicles, remote patient monitoring, and precision agriculture applications. Here are some examples from each industry:

5G IoT for Smart Cities:

• Traffic management: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between traffic signals, autonomous vehicles, and other smart city infrastructure, allowing for more efficient traffic flow.
• Environmental monitoring: 5G networks can support real-time monitoring of air quality, water quality, and other environmental factors, allowing for more effective management of natural resources.
• Public safety: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between law enforcement, emergency responders, and other public safety personnel, allowing for faster response times and more effective emergency management.

5G IoT for Industrial Automation:

• Factory automation: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between industrial robots, sensors, and other equipment, allowing for more efficient and flexible manufacturing processes.
• Robotic manufacturing: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between robots and other equipment, allowing for more precise and accurate manufacturing processes.
• Remote control of heavy machinery: 5G networks can enable real-time remote control of heavy machinery, such as cranes and bulldozers, allowing for safer and more efficient construction and mining operations.

5G IoT for Autonomous Vehicles:

• Self-driving cars: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between self-driving cars, other vehicles, and smart city infrastructure, allowing for safer and more efficient transportation.
• Drones: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between drones, allowing for more precise and accurate delivery and surveillance operations.

5G IoT for Healthcare:

• Remote patient monitoring: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between patients and healthcare providers, allowing for more effective remote monitoring of health conditions.
• Telemedicine: 5G networks can enable real-time communication between healthcare providers and patients, allowing for more effective and efficient healthcare delivery.
• Surgical robotics: 5G networks can enable real-time remote control of surgical robots, allowing for more precise and accurate surgical procedures.

5G IoT for Agriculture:

• Soil monitoring: 5G networks can support real-time monitoring of soil conditions, allowing for more precise and efficient irrigation and fertilization.
• Irrigation management: 5G networks can support real-time monitoring of water usage and crop moisture levels, allowing for more efficient and sustainable irrigation practices.
• Livestock tracking: 5G networks can support real-time monitoring of livestock location and health conditions, allowing for more efficient and effective management of animal health and productivity.

Want to Learn More About the Internet of Things?

We’d love to walk you through the basics! At Syntegra, we offer IoT connectivity solutions that leverage world-class cellular and Wi-Fi networks. Our patented SmartConnect technology will even manage and secure IoT connections and provide actionable device connectivity insights.

Challenges concerning security, interoperability, costs, local knowledge, and storage make it difficult to take IoT solutions to market. At Syntegra, we provide all the IoT connectivity components necessary for manufacturers and OEMs to build connected products that maximize the benefits of IoT.

To learn more, be sure to reach out to our team!

About Syntegra

Syntegra connects people and devices around the world using secure, ubiquitous, and highly scalable Wi-Fi and cellular solutions to deliver data, voice, video, media, and more. 

We empower enterprises, CSPs, ISPs, MNOs, MVNOs, early-stage innovators, developers, IoT solutions builders, and countless others with the freedom and control to create, deliver, and scale innovative communications experiences. 

For more information about Syntegra’s connectivity solutions, set up a meeting!