With every generation of mobile network, new functionality was unlocked for users. 5G promises to be on a completely different level, with Qualcomm citing the economic impact at $12 Trillion by 2035. How much of it is hype to justify the massive infrastructure investment, only time will tell. But as 5G starts rolling out in various markets including the US and UK, I list a few big market opportunities for TME (Technology, Media and Entertainment) startups, some of our areas of focus at Remagine Ventures.
First some context
- 1G delivered analog voice.
- 2G introduced digital voice
- 3G brought mobile data (the picture era)
- 4G LTE ushered in the era of mobile Internet (the video era), for the first time data delivery didn’t depend on the physical network, as it was optimised in the cloud which enabled the introduction of OTT (over the top) services like Netflix, Youtube, Spotify, Whatsapp, etc.
So what is 5G?
f 5G was just about faster download speeds, it wouldn’t justify the level of interest from governments and industry players. According to Qualcomm:
The 5G Smart Network is a software-defined, programmable platform that integrates distributed compute, storage with high-speed communication…5G will be a new kind of network, supporting a vast diversity of devices with unprecedented scale, speed and complexity,
Why ‘smart network’? Because 5G will allow a separation between the infrastructure itself and the software that powers it – making possible faster and cheaper provision of services, on demand.
If you’re interested in the technical aspects of 5G, and how packets will pass, I encourage you to read the Qualcomm 5G microsite.
In In practical terms, 5G will enable the following use cases:
- Faster Mobile Broadband everywhere: this not only applies to smart phones, but also to IOT devices, AR/VR, cloud gaming, streaming etc.
- A software defined network offers the ability to change configuration based on needs, so potentially managing latency and number of connections per device based on device needs (or other reasons).
- Mission-Critical communications: imagine everything is controlled on the same network… this is where smart cities use cases come in. “ultra-reliable/available, low latency links — such as remote control of critical infrastructure, vehicles, and medical procedures”
- Massive Internet of Things: 5G will seamlessly connect a massive number of embedded sensors in virtually everything through the ability to scale down in data rates, power and mobility to provide extremely lean/low-cost solutions. This also relates to sensors on cars and Mobility as a Service.