Teleport operators ready to embrace 5G as video and IoT opportunities loom

摘要

Teleport operators anticipate "significant" increases in bandwidth and data consumption with the deployment of 5G, especially in video distribution, IoT and communication with moving vehicles. These are some of the insights from the World Teleport Association's recently released report: Factoring 5G into the Future. It details the opportunities and challenges of the coming deployment of 5G mobile for teleport and satellite operators. The report involved interviews with the senior executives of large and small teleport operators as well as mobile industry and technology experts. None of the respondents perceive 5G as a threat to their business. The 5G standard, which will not be finalised until 2020, promises speeds up to 100 times faster than existing 4G/LTE networks. In addition, 5G provides latency of one to four milliseconds, while current networks have latencies of around 20 milliseconds. Multiple frequencies are being requested and approved for 5G, including those in the super high frequency range of 3 to 30 GHz where satellites transmit. The lower frequencies are suitable for IoT and extending service to more rural areas, because signals at these frequencies will have a greater range and support larger cells. The higher frequencies - also referred to as millimetre waves - are expected to dominate in metro areas where the small-cell model will find the best economic fit.