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Connectivity

5G

The fifth generation of cellular networks, defined by 3GPP, that adds very high throughput, low latency modes and massive device density on top of LTE-era IoT options.

5G is less a single radio than a set of capabilities grouped by 3GPP into three families: enhanced mobile broadband for high data rates, ultra-reliable low-latency communication for control loops and safety systems, and massive machine-type communication, where NB-IoT and LTE-M carry on as the low-power options. A new core network, virtualized and service-based, allows features such as network slicing.

For IoT, the interesting parts are not phone speeds but predictable latency, time-sensitive networking support and the ability to run a private 5G network inside a factory or port. Most IoT devices will not need a full 5G modem, which is costly and power hungry; the RedCap profile was created to fill that gap. Coverage of the low-latency modes is still uneven across operators.

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