The new 5G networks will transform many industries in the coming years. From factories and workshops to healthcare, financial services, and even the entertainment industry, these sectors will enter a new phase of connectivity due to the gradual implementation of 5G network technology.
5G, Edge Computing, and Industrial IoT
In addition to significantly increasing speed and throughput, 5G networks can utilize network virtualization to provide “network slicing” for the unique needs of industrial IoT. While this will transform many industries, the manufacturing sector stands to gain immensely from higher bandwidth, lower latency, and more reliable wireless networks!
5G: Renovating Factories
Currently, most factories are connected through wired connections to traditional field buses or industrial Ethernet, serving as the backbone network connecting field-level devices to control systems and programmable logic controllers. New standards like OPC-UA allow factories to connect with enterprises by providing structured and secure data access and control methods.
In the second phase of the 5G specifications (3GPP Release 16), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (uRLLC), enhanced massive machine-type communication (eMTC), and enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) are the goals for factory automation. The most significant enhancements focus on latency and reliability, aimed at achieving mission-critical applications in industrial environments.
5G networks can provide low latency, high reliability, and the ability to support a large number of devices, which are critical features for factories and workshops. Furthermore, 5G-enabled devices can offload some of their processing to the network, simplifying and reducing costs for the devices.
The Impact of 5G “Network Edge” on the Internet
Industrial IoT requires a variety of complementary technologies to enhance automation, efficiency, and flexibility. It necessitates a dashboard for managing various device types, communication and management functionalities for operating intelligent real-time processes, machine learning capabilities for pattern recognition and behavior prediction, and augmented reality for enhanced manual guidance and training.
5G, with its low latency, high security, and customizable networks, enables factories to fully leverage sensors and IoT for asset monitoring and automation, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Many of these will be implemented locally, but an increasing number will be integrated at scale with cloud platforms like Amazon AWS and Microsoft Azure, which will become key drivers for achieving a 5G IIoT ecosystem.
To support latency-sensitive applications at the 5G network edge, Amazon and Verizon jointly announced the launch of AWS “Wavelength Zones.” By embedding a portion of the AWS infrastructure within Verizon’s data centers, the journey from devices to the AWS cloud can be shortened. Microsoft has also leveraged past collaborations with AT&T and recently launched the Azure Edge Zones. Additionally, Microsoft’s recent acquisition of a subsidiary network company aims to bring cloud-based 5G networks to market. As 5G specifications mature, the “network edge” can become an innovation hotspot among major manufacturers, operators, and IIoT platform providers, thereby enabling latency-sensitive IIoT applications for industrial automation.